“Aye,” said Paao.
“The priest is wise and knows the genealogies of the chiefs, the sons of the gods. He knows the chant of the royal line of Hawaii.”
Paao bowed his head.
“The priest understands that our high chief, Kapawa, is descended from Ulu. Is the priest aware that Kapawa is cruel and evil, that he tramples the life out of the land and that he violates the temples and drags out of the city of refuge the man who has safely entered therein? Does the priest know that the high chief is already planning to visit him, to examine his stores and secure whatever new ornaments have been brought from Samoa?”
“I fear no king. I am the voice of the gods. I am the friend of ‘Lono, who walks on the sea.’ I fear no man,” replied Paao, quietly.
“True,” said the chief. “Nevertheless the gods aid the man who crosses the channel in a canoe a [[76]]little more than the man who tries to cross by swimming. We must plan together and hew out our canoe. We want you to consult the gods and tell us their will.”
Paao was practical. He knew that by becoming the high priest of the chiefs he would establish his position in Hawaii. He knew the value of advice that comes through mysterious channels.
He went into the temple. After some time he returned and said to the chief:
“The gods answer slowly. They show that you must gather the chiefs upon whom you can depend and have the hard wood prepared for making spears.”
“The bird that speaks” flew to Kapawa with the news that the priest from afar was seeking the wisdom of the gods to use against him, and that the chiefs were organising a rebellion.