DREAMS OF LIBERTY 91 



the policemen. I soon reached the harbor end. 

 I saw that a sharp curve in the shore line brought 

 the part of the pier on which I was standing close 

 to land. It seemed easy to dive off the pier, swim 

 past a big four-masted English ship unloading 

 alongside, gain the land, and escape to the cane 

 fields which swept up to the edge of the city. 



I sat down behind some freight and began to 

 take off my shoes. I had one off when a bare- 

 footed Kanaka suddenly stepped into view from 

 behind a pile of bales and boxes. He was tip- 

 toeing and peering about him furtively. I knew 

 him for a spy instantly. Directly he saw me 

 staring at him he looked as guilty as one taken 

 in crime, and slunk away sheepishly. I knew he 

 was on his way to inform on me and made up my 

 mind not to get my clothes wet by any hopeless 

 attempt to run away. 



I put my shoe back on and strolled back to- 

 ward the boat. I saw one of my shipmates — it 

 was Richard, the deep-water German sailor — 

 walking up the gangplank of the English ship 

 alongside the dock. I followed him. When we 



