"I am in more danger than since the first hour after being cast ashore, when my companions were being killed. If the battle had gone in the Typees' favor, then I should have been praised for bringing you in; but now they make a scapegoat of me, and I stand a good chance of being roasted myself before this scrape is over." The fellow really believed what he said, and I could not keep down a feeling of pity for him; but Phil was less soft-hearted, and said quickly:-- "I think it will be a very nice ending, Master Benson. When you have satisfied the hunger of these natives, you will probably have done the first really good deed of your life. Besides, it will save you from being hanged." That Benson was thoroughly cowed and terrified could be told from the fact that he made no reply to this cruel speech, and my pity for him increased, although it is doubtful if I would have saved him had it been in my power, unless I knew for a certainty that he would be sent immediately to a prison from which he could not escape. The Britisher stood before us silently until one of the men prodded him with a sharp point of a knife, and he asked humbly:-- "Are you ready to go back to Nukuheva Bay now, or would you like to rest a while longer?" "We'll go now," I replied quickly, thinking it wisest to take the Typees while they were in the humor, lest they should suddenly come to believe that more might be gained by holding us prisoners; and Phil nodded his head to show that he was quite in my way of thinking. No sooner had Benson repeated the words than two men stepped forward, and the Britisher explained that they would act as our guides during the journey. "Won't you do good for evil by telling Captain Porter that a white man is here in great danger of being killed?" he asked piteously. "Whatever your commander asks now will be granted; and if he sends back such request by those who conduct you, I shall be saved." "You would be brought to Nukuheva Bay, and once there our captain would make you close prisoner." "I care not what he does, so that I am saved from these cannibals." "An hour ago they were your very good friends; but now you are howling to be taken from them," Phil suggested. "They were my friends, and would be now but for the fact that I advised them to make war against the Yankees and the Happars, assuring them they would whip the whole boiling in a twinkling." "And now, after trying not only to have us killed, but to bring about the death of all hands, you coax us to save your miserable life!" Phil cried angrily, whereat half a dozen pairs of hands were stretched out, pulling the Britisher violently backward until he fell with a thud on the stones of the pi-pi. Phil and I rose to our feet, although feeling mighty sore in the joints, and the throng separated in a friendly fashion to give us passage.