A little while after this they started again, accompanied by many of
the natives, and going up the valley, took a steep path near its head,
which led to Nukuheva. Here the Happars paused, and watched them as
they ascended the mountain, one group of bandit-looking fellows shaking
their spears and casting threatening glances at the poor Typee, whose
heart as well as heels seemed much the lighter when he came to look
down upon them.
On gaining the heights once more, their way led for a time along
several ridges covered with enormous ferns. At last they entered upon a
wooded tract, and here they overtook a party of Nukuheva natives, well
armed, and carrying bundles of long poles. Jimmy seemed to know them
all very well, and stopped for awhile, and had a talk about the
“Wee-Wees,” as the people of Nukuheva call the Monsieurs.
The party with the poles were King Mowanna’s men, and by his orders
they had been gathering them in the ravines for his allies, the French.
Leaving these fellows to trudge on with their loads, Toby and his
companions now pushed forward again, as the sun was already low in the
west. They came upon the valleys of Nukuheva on one side of the bay,
where the highlands slope off into the sea. The men-of-war were still
lying in the harbour, and as Toby looked down upon them, the strange
events which had happened so recently seemed all a dream.
They soon descended towards the beach, and found themselves in Jimmy’s
house before it was well dark. Here he received another welcome from
his Nukuheva wives, and after some refreshments in the shape of
cocoa-nut milk and poee-poee, they entered a canoe (the Typee, of
course, going along) and paddled off to a whale-ship which was anchored
near the shore. This was the vessel in want of men. Our own had sailed
some time before. The captain professed great pleasure at seeing Toby,
but thought from his exhausted appearance that he must be unfit for
duty. However, he agreed to ship him, as well as his comrade as soon as
he should arrive.
Toby begged hard for an armed boat, in which to go round to Typee and
rescue me, notwithstanding the promise of Jimmy. But this the captain
would not hear of, and told him to have patience, for the sailor would
be faithful to his word. When, too, he demanded the five silver dollars
for Jimmy, the captain was unwilling to give them. But Toby insisted
upon it, as he now began to think that Jimmy might be a mere mercenary,
who would be sure to prove faithless if not well paid. Accordingly he
not only gave him the money, but took care to assure him, over and over
again, that as soon as he brought me aboard he would receive a still
larger sum.
Before sunrise the next day, Jimmy and the Typee started in two of the
ship’s boats, which were manned by tabooed natives. Toby, of course,
was all eagerness to go along, but the sailor told him that if he did,
it would spoil all; so, hard as it was, he was obliged to remain.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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