“Oh, Ahleka, I will go to him. I am a good nurse and may be able to help Kaelea in caring for him.” So saying, she started in the direction of Captain Thornton’s cottage, Ahleka walking by her side.
“Mabel,” he said, “should I not go to Howcu to tell my father’s son, Allen, of his illness? and it tears my heart to think of leaving him now, when, perhaps, he may die at any moment, to go for the son whom he has only had with him so short a time. But he calls his name more often than mine, which shows that he loves the son of his fair wife, who died beyond the seas, better than he does the son of the wife who rests beneath our warm sun.” He spoke so tenderly, that Mabel was moved to tears, but answered: “No, Ahleka, I am sure he does not love Allen best, but he calls on Allen’s name, because he is away, while you are by his side. Can you not understand that?”
“Well, perhaps so, but at any rate I must go after him, so good-bye, sweet one.”
“Stay a moment. I am sure Captain Gray would be glad to go after Allen for you, and then you may remain by the side of your father. There he comes now.” Saying which she ran to the captain, who was now close behind them and made the request that he should go.
“Certainly, I will go, but first, Ahleka, I will see your father,” saying which he entered the cottage which they had reached while they were talking. He found Captain Thornton indeed very ill. He realized that if Allen was to see his father before he died that no time was to be lost. Captain Gray, in company with two Nahua boys, left immediately for Howcu to bring Allen to his father’s bedside.
Mabel was soon comforting Kaelea and trying to sooth her grief by tender words.
It was some time before Allen had reached his father’s bedside as the village of Howcu, as we have already explained, was on the other side of the arm of the sea which divided the island; so the trip had to be made partly by canoe and in part by land. The news of his father’s serious illness was a great shock to Allen, who immediately started, accompanied by Maula, for Nahua. On arriving there he was met by Ahleka who conducted him to their father. He saw at a glance that his father was very near the dread valley of death. The thought of losing his father was very hard to bear.
“Oh, father, why did you not send for me before!”
“My son, I was not ill until to-day, but now I know my days among you all are numbered, and before I die I want to talk to you of your future. It is my wish that you should remain always here, in this land of happiness.”
“Why, father, I am not likely to leave here. There seems no possibility of such a thing.”