The circumstances connected with my most unexpected escape may be very
briefly stated. The captain of an Australian vessel being in distress
for men in these remote seas, had put into Nukuheva in order to recruit
his ship’s company, but not a single man was to be obtained; and the
barque was about to get under weigh, when she was boarded by Karakoee,
who informed the disappointed Englishman that an American sailor was
detained by the savages in the neighbouring bay of Typee; and he
offered, if supplied with suitable articles of traffic, to undertake
his release. The Kannaka had gained his intelligence from Marnoo, to
whom, after all, I was indebted for my escape. The proposition was
acceded to; and Karakoee, taking with him five tabooed natives of
Nukuheva, again repaired aboard the barque, which in a few hours sailed
to that part of the island, and threw her main-top-sail aback right off
the entrance to the Typee bay. The whale-boat, manned by the tabooed
crew, pulled towards the head of the inlet, while the ship lay “off and
on” awaiting its return.
The events which ensued have already been detailed, and little more
remains to be related. On reaching the _Julia_, I was lifted over the
side, and my strange appearance, and remarkable adventure, occasioned
the liveliest interest. Every attention was bestowed upon me that
humanity could suggest; but to such a state was I reduced, that three
months elapsed before I recovered my health.
The mystery which hung over the fate of my friend and companion, Toby,
has never been cleared up. I still remain ignorant whether he succeeded
in leaving the valley, or perished at the hands of the islanders.
SEQUEL
CONTAINING
THE STORY OF TOBY
NOTE.—The Author of “Typee” was more than two years in the South Seas,
after escaping from the valley, as recounted in the last chapter. Some
time after returning home the foregoing narrative was published, though
it was little thought at the time that this would be the means of
revealing the existence of Toby, who had long been given up for lost.
But so it proved. The story of his escape supplies a natural sequel to
the adventure, and as such it is now added to the volume. It was
related to the Author by Toby himself.
The morning my comrade left me, as related in the narrative, he was
accompanied by a large party of the natives, some of them carrying
fruit and hogs for the purposes of traffic, as the report had spread
that boats had touched at the bay.
As they proceeded through the settled parts of the valley, numbers
joined them from every side, running with animated cries from every
pathway. So excited were the whole party, that, eager as Toby was to
gain the beach, it was almost as much as he could do to keep up with
them. Making the valley ring with their shouts, they hurried along on a
swift trot, those in advance pausing now and then, and flourishing
their weapons to urge the rest forward.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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