Herndon, but you mustn't think you have any voice in the direction of
affairs."

Holman did not reply. The dangers of the path over which it was evident
that Leith intended to take us dazed him, and he looked at me as if
asking confirmation of his opinions.

"But the young ladies?" I inquired, looking at Leith. "Do you expect
them to go down on to that path?"

"I don't expect the young ladies to do anything against their
inclinations," he answered blandly. "They have come with the expedition
through no urging from me. Regarding the ledge, there is absolutely no
danger, and it is the only path by which we can reach the interior of
the island. Soma, go over the rim and show them."

Edith and Barbara Herndon, with their father, moved up closer to the
edge as the grinning Kanaka stepped forward to obey Leith's order. He
walked quickly to the polished porphyry slab, moved cautiously to the
extreme rim, then, turning his back on the crater, he dropped upon his
hands and knees and lowered himself down till only his grinning face
appeared above the top.

We crept closer and watched him walk along the ledge toward the cavern,
apparently unaffected by thoughts of the death which a slip of his foot
would bring upon him. Returning to the spot beneath the polished
slipping-off place he put his muscular hands into two clefts in the slab
above and drew himself up on to the solid earth.

"No danger," he cried. "All boys go over here before they could call
themselves men. That long, long time ago."

The Professor grabbed his notebook as he heard the explanation, and he
immediately proceeded to deluge the Kanaka with questions.

"What was that?" he squeaked. "You say all the boys had to climb over
there?"

"That's so," grinned Soma. "This place make 'em test. Young boy go over
this quick he make plenty good fighting man. Feller go over slow he no
good."

The Professor's pencil moved quicker than the pen of a court
stenographer. The Kanaka's remark had brought him much copy, and the
dangers of the path were forgotten as he jotted down the information.

"And they went over here?" he cried, his eyes wide open as he gazed at
the edge of the crater.

"Right over here," grinned Soma. "See rock mighty slippery here. All
boys' hands and feet do that. Polish it mighty fine."

"But surely this test is not carried on at the present time?" cried the
scientist. "When was this wonderful custom in force?"

"About the time that Christ