I looked the Kanaka straight in the eyes and made up my mind that he was telling an untruth. He shifted uneasily from one foot to another. I determined to get the truth out of him, or else know the reason why.
"Get down on your knees," I said, more sternly than ever.
"No kill Lola!" he burst out, and I saw him beginning to tremble.
"I shall kill you—unless you tell me the truth."
"No kill—Lola tell eberyt'ing!" he whined.
"All right; go ahead. Tell me about my friends first."
"Lola know nothing. He"
"You do know. Now, no more nonsense. Have my friends been killed?"
The Kanaka paused, and the pause caused my heart to leap into my throat. What if poor Dan and Oliver were really dead. The thought was truly terrifying.
"American boys no dead," came the slow answer. "But both of them hurt a little. Big man try to kill them."
"You mean the man you had in the boat?"
"Yes."
"And where are my friends?"
"Lola show you, if you no shoot."
"You behave yourself and I won't shoot any more," I replied.
