The Happars put many questions to Jimmy about Toby; and Toby himself
looked sharply at them, anxious to recognise the fellow who gave him
the wound from which he was still suffering. But this fiery gentleman,
so handy with his spear, had the delicacy, it seemed, to keep out of
view. Certainly the sight of him would not have been any added
inducement to making him stay in the valley,—some of the afternoon
loungers in Happar having politely urged Toby to spend a few days with
them,—there was a feast coming on. He, however, declined.
All this while the young Typee stuck to Jimmy like his shadow, and
though as lively a dog as any of his tribe, he was now as meek as a
lamb, never opening his mouth except to eat. Although some of the
Happars looked queerly at him, others were more civil, and seemed
desirous of taking him abroad and showing him the valley. But the Typee
was not to be cajoled in that way. How many yards he would have to
remove from Jimmy before the taboo would be powerless, it would be hard
to tell, but probably he himself knew to a fraction.
On the promise of a red cotton handkerchief, and something else which
he kept secret, this poor fellow had undertaken a rather ticklish
journey, though, as far as Toby could ascertain, it was something that
had never happened before.
The island-punch—arva—was brought in at the conclusion of the repast,
and passed round in a shallow calabash.
Now my comrade, while seated in the Happar house, began to feel more
troubled than ever at leaving me: indeed, so sad did he feel that he
talked about going back to the valley, and wanted Jimmy to escort him
as far as the mountains. But the sailor would not listen to him, and,
by way of diverting his thoughts, pressed him to drink of the arva.
Knowing its narcotic nature, he refused; but Jimmy said he would have
something mixed with it, which would convert it into an innocent
beverage that would inspirit them for the rest of their journey. So at
last he was induced to drink of it, and its effects were just as the
sailor had predicted; his spirits rose at once, and all his gloomy
thoughts left him.
The old rover now began to reveal his true character, though he was
hardly suspected at the time. “If I get you off to a ship,” said he,
“you will surely give a poor fellow something for saving you.” In
short, before they left the house, he made Toby promise that he would
give him five Spanish dollars if he succeeded in getting any part of
his wages advanced from the vessel, aboard of which they were going;
Toby, moreover, engaging to reward him still farther, as soon as my
deliverance was accomplished.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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