Chapter Ten - Page 2

might be more
open ground, I requested Toby to keep a bright look-out upon one
side, while I did the same on the other, in order to discover
some opening in the bushes, and especially to watch for the
slightest appearance of a path or anything else that might
indicate the vicinity of the islanders.

What furtive and anxious glances we cast into those dim-looking
shadows! With what apprehensions we proceeded, ignorant at what
moment we might be greeted by the javelin of some ambushed
savage. At last my companion paused, and directed my attention
to a narrow opening in the foliage. We struck into it, and it
soon brought us by an indistinctly traced path to a comparatively
clear space, at the further end of which we descried a number of
the trees, the native name of which is 'annuee', and which bear a
most delicious fruit. W hat a race! I hobbling over the ground
like some decrepid wretch, and Toby leaping forward like a
greyhound. He quickly cleared one of the trees on which there
were two or three of the fruit, but to our chagrin they proved to
be much decayed; the rinds partly opened by the birds, and their
hearts half devoured. However, we quickly despatched them, and
no ambrosia could have been more delicious.

We looked about us uncertain whither to direct our steps, since
the path we had so far followed appeared to be lost in the open
space around us. At last we resolved to enter a grove near at
hand, and had advanced a few rods, when, just upon its skirts, I
picked up a slender bread-fruit shoot perfectly green, and with
the tender. bark freshly stripped from it. It was still
slippery with moisture, and appeared as if it had been but that
moment thrown aside. I said nothing, but merely held it up to
Toby, who started at this undeniable evidence of the vicinity of
the savages.

The plot was now thickening.--A short distance further lay a
little faggot of the same shoots bound together with a strip of
bark. Could it have been thrown down by some solitary native,
who, alarmed at seeing us, had hurried forward to carry the
tidings of our approach to his countrymen?--Typee or Happar?--But
it was too late to recede, so we moved on slowly, my companion in
advance casting eager glances under the trees on each side, until
all at once I saw him recoil as if stung by an adder. Sinking on
his knee, he waved me off with one hand, while with the other he
held aside some intervening leaves, and gazed intently at some
object.

Disregarding his injunction, I quickly approached him and caught
a glimpse of two figures partly hidden by the dense foliage; they
were standing close together, and were perfectly motionless.
They must have previously perceived us, and withdrawn into