se and said to the princess's
attendant as follows: "Permit me to return to my sisters, to the place
from which you took me, for I tremble with fear at the marvelous nature
of your princess."

Said the princess's attendant, "Do not fear, have no dread, arise and
enter to meet my princess as she has commanded you."

"I am afraid," said the girl.

When the princess heard their low voices, she arose and called to
Kahalaomapuana; then the girl's distress was at an end, and the stranger
entered to visit the princess.

Said Laieikawai, "Is the merry instrument yours that sounded here last
night and this?"

"Yes; it is mine," said Kahalaomapuana.

"Go on," said Laieikawai, "play it."

Kahalaomapuana took her _ti_ leaf trumpet from behind her ear, and
played before the princess; then Laieikawai was delighted. This was the
first time the princess had seen this kind of instrument.

CHAPTER XII

Now, Laieikawai became fascinated with the merry instrument upon which
the girl played, so she bade her sound it again.

Said the girl, "I can not sound it again, for it is now daylight, and
this instrument is a kind that sounds only by night; it will never sound
by day."

Laieikawai was surprised at these words, thinking the girl was lying. So
she snatched the trumpet out of the girl's hand and played upon it, and
because she was unpracticed in playing the trumpet the thing made no
sound; then the princess believed that the trumpet would not sound by
day.

Said Laieikawai to Kahalapmapuana, "Let us two be friends, and you shall
live here in my house and become my favorite, and your work will be to
amuse me."

Said Kahalaomapuana, "O princess, you have spoken well; but it would
grieve me to live with you and perhaps gain happiness for myself while
my sisters might be suffering."

"How many of you are there?" asked Laieikawai, "and how did you come
here?"

Said Kahalaomapuana, "There are six of us born of the same parents; one
of the six is a boy and five of us are his younger sisters, and the boy
is the oldest, and I am the youngest born. And we journeyed hither with
our brother, and because we failed to gain for him his wish, therefore
he has abandoned us and has gone back with his favorite companion, and
we live here in distress."

Laieikawai asked, "Where do you come from?"

"From Kauai," answered Kahalaomapuana.

"And what is your brother's name?"

"Aiwohikupua," replied the girl.

Again Laieikawai