“Well,” said the king, impatiently, “what say the gods?”
“The gods are angry, and the portents are evil,” replied the priest.
“Then promise them a hundred human sacrifices,” exclaimed Hakau. “If their favor is to be purchased with blood, I will drown the heiau with an ocean of it. But,” he continued, “I am not satisfied with these auguries. Let me hear from the anu.”
Immediately behind the altar was the entrance to the inner court of the temple. Within, and about three paces back from the door, which was covered with a wide breadth of kapa, was placed the anu, a wicker enclosure four or five feet in diameter, in which stood the oracle. On each side of the entrance were carved images of Kane, Ku, Lono and other Hawaiian deities, while at intervals of three or four feet along the walls a score or more of gods of lesser potency stood guard above the sacred spot.
To the last request of Hakau the priest replied: “The king shall hear from the anu.”
The lights were then extinguished, and all except the king and high-priest retired some distance from the altar, that no whisper of the oracle might reach them. Hakau was nervous as he stepped with the priest in front of the entrance to the inner temple. A prayer was uttered by the priest; the kapa screen was drawn aside by hands unseen, and the king stood looking into the intense darkness of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
“Speak!” said the priest, withdrawing behind the altar, and leaving the king alone before the anu.
“Speak!” repeated a hollow voice from within the sacred enclosure.
For some minutes Hakau remained awed and silent; then, in a voice which scarcely seemed to be his own, he said:
“Great power, I hear that dangers threaten.”