Collected works > Edinburgh edition, 1894-98 - Works of Robert Louis Stevenson > Volume 20, 1896 - Travels and excursion, Volume III

THE ISLE OF VOICES
to the mat on which they were standing came a
snatch or twitch, that seemed to be more swift than
lightning. In the same wink the room was gone
and the house, the breath all beaten from Keola's
body. Volumes of light rolled upon his eyes and
head, and he found himself transported to a beach
of the sea, under a strong sun, with a great surf
roaring: he and the warlock standing there on the
same mat, speechless, gasping and grasping at one
another, and passing their hands before their
eyes.
' What was this ? ' cried Keola, who came to him-
self the first, because he was the younger. 'The
pang of it was like death.'
'It matters not,' panted Kalamake. 'It is now
done. '
' And in the name of God where are we ? ' cried
Keola.
'That is not the question,' replied the sorcerer.
' Being here, we have matter in our hands, and that
we must attend to. Go, while I recover my breath,
into the borders of the wood, and bring me the
leaves of such and such a herb, and such and such a
tree, which you will find to grow there plentifully —
three handfuls of each. And be speedy. We must
be home again before the steamer comes ; it would
seem strange if we had disappeared.' And he sat
on the sand and panted.
Keola went up the beach, which was of shining
sand and coral, strewn with singular shells ; and he
thought in his heart —
159