Joe Koloa, and at last struck a Chinaman who had met the carriage-driver about six months before.
"He very strange man," said the Celestial, who had lived in San Francisco and spoke English fluently. "Sometime he no workee but go round so,"—he threw up his arms,—"and say he makee much money an' be Pearl King."
"Pearl King!" cried Oliver, and looked at Dan and me. "That looks as if he knew something."
I motioned for him to be careful of what he was saying. "It would appear as if this Koloa was somewhat crazy," I observed.
"Great Scott! don't say that," put in Dan. "We've had bad enough men to deal with, without falling in with somebody who is out of his mind."
"You want to see dis Koloa?" asked the Celestial curiously.
"Yes, if we can find him."
"He no in Wailuku any more. He go to some place back of the coast—little village called Rulukoa. He great man in that village."
This was all the Chinaman could tell us, and we thanked him kindly, and Oliver slipped a silver quarter into his yellow palm, which made him grin with pleasure. The Celestial was a rice-planter, and later on told us how he raised the
