“With my own, O king!” replied the girl, advancing to Mahana and laying her head upon his breast.
“So shall it be, indeed,” returned the king. “I have said it, and you are now the wife of Mahana.”
In his gratitude the happy young chief threw himself at the feet of the king and said:
“I am your slave, great king! Demand of me some great service or sacrifice, that you may know that I am grateful!”
“Even as you desire,” returned the king, “I will put you to a task that will tax to the utmost your patience.”
“I listen, O king!” said Mahana, resolutely.
“The sacrifice I ask,” resumed the king, with a merry twinkle in his eye, “is that for full three days from this time you embrace not your bride.”
“A sacrifice, indeed!” exclaimed Mahana, catching the kindly humor of the request, and slyly glancing at the downcast face of Kaha. “It is—”
“Too great, I see, for one whose beard is not yet fully grown,” interrupted the king. “Well, I withdraw the request. The girl is yours; take her with you without conditions!”