by the glassy sheet
of water.

"It is called _Enamoa_ (Behold the Servant of the Priest) and it has
a terrible history," said Malicious Gossip. "Follow me and we will
enter it."

She swam across the pool and turning lithely in the water curved out
of sight beneath the surface of the vortex. _Kekela_ followed her,
and I made several attempts, but each time was flung back, bruised
and breathless. It was not until Kekela, finding a long stick in the
cave, thrust it through the white foam, that by catching its end in
the whirling water I was able to fight through the roaring and
smashing deluge.

The cave was obscure and damp, its only light filtering through the
moving curtain of green water. Black and crawling things squirmed at
our feet, and darkness filled the recesses of the cavern. Malicious
Gossip's body was a blur in the dimness, and her low soft voice was
like an overtone of the deep organ notes of the torrent.

"The tale of the cave of _Enamoa_ is not a legend," she said,
"for it is more. It was a happening known to our grandfathers. There
were two warriors who coveted a woman, and she was _tapu_ to them.
She was a _taua vehine_, a priestess of the old gods. But they
coveted her, and they were friends, who shared their wives as they
divided their _popoi_."

"_Panalua_," said Kekela. "That is 'dear friend custom.' We had it in
Hawaii. Brothers shared their wives, and sisters their husbands."

"These two were name-brothers, and loved as though they were
brothers by blood," said Malicious Gossip. "And their hearts were
consumed with flame when they looked on this girl. It was evil of
them, for it was against the will of the gods. She was of their own
clan, and the priests had made her _tapu_ until she had reached a
certain age. Her brother was the servant of the priests, and she was
consecrated to the gods. She was guarded by most sacred custom. It
was forbidden to touch her or her food.

"Yet these warriors, _toa_ they were, and renowned in battle,
coveted her with a desire that ate their sleep. And at last when
they had drunk the fiery _namu enata_ till their brains were filled
with flames, they lay in wait for her.

"She came down to this pool to bathe. The pool itself was _tapu_
save for those consecrated to the gods, yet this wretched pair crept
through the lantana there on the bank, and watched her. She stood on
the rock above the pool and put off her _pae_, her cap of gauze, her
long robe, and her