Tabu—let no dog bark.
Tabu—let no rooster crow.
Tabu—let no pig make a noise.
Sleep—sleep till the tabu is raised.”
Five times he called the tabu, beginning at Puukapu near Waimea, as he went to the guarded path to Waipio. When he had established this tabu he travelled down to the place [[154]]where the old women guarded the axe. He called again, “Has sleep come to you two?” And they answered, “Here we are; we are not asleep.” He called again: “Where are you? I would touch that sacred axe of Umi and return and report that this hand has held the sacred stone axe of the king.”
He came near and took the axe and pulled the ends of the string tight around the necks of the old women, choking them and throwing them over. Then he broke the string and ran swiftly up the path over the precipice. The old women disentangled themselves and began to cry out, “Stolen is the tabu axe of Umi, and the thief has gone up toward Waimea.” The people followed Iwa from place to place, but could not overtake him, and soon lost him.
Iwa went on to the king’s place and lay down to sleep. As morning drew near the king’s people found him asleep and told the king he had not been away, but when Iwa was awake he was called to the king, who said, “Here, you have not got the tabu stone axe.”
“Perhaps not,” said the boy, “but here is an axe which I found last night. Will you look at it?” The king saw that it was his tabu axe, and wondered at the magic power of the thief, for he thought it impossible to go to Waipio and return in the one night, and he knew how difficult [[155]]it would be to get the axe and escape from the people.
He determined to give Iwa another trial—a contest with the best thieves of his kingdom. He asked if Iwa would consent to a death contest. The one surpassing in theft should receive reward. The defeated should be put to death. This plan seemed right to the thief from Oahu. It would be a great battle—one against six.
The king called his clan of six thieves and Iwa, and told them that he would set apart two houses in which they could put their plunder. That night they were to go out and steal, and the one whose house contained the most property should be the victor. The report of the contest spread all through the village, and the people prepared to hide their property.