Chapter Thirteen - Page 2

few days to return with him to Nukuheva.

Added to this, he could not bear the idea of again returning to
this dangerous place; and as for the expectation of persuading
the Frenchmen to detach a boat's crew for the purpose of rescuing
me from the Typees, he looked upon it as idle; and with arguments
that I could not answer, urged the improbability of their
provoking the hostilities of the clan by any such measure;
especially, as for the purpose of quieting its apprehensions,
they had as yet refrained from making any visit to the bay. 'And
even should they consent,' said Toby, 'they would only produce a
commotion in the valley, in which we might both be sacrificed by
these ferocious islanders.' This was unanswerable; but still I
clung to the belief that he might succeed in accomplishing the
other part of my plan; and at last I overcame his scruples, and
he agreed to make the attempt.

As soon as we succeeded in making the natives understand our
intention, they broke out into the most vehement opposition to
the measure, and for a while I almost despaired of obtaining
their consent. At the bare thought of one of us leaving them,
they manifested the most lively concern. The grief and
consternation of Kory-Kory, in particular, was unbounded; he
threw himself into a perfect paroxysm of gestures which were
intended to convey to us not only his abhorrence of Nukuheva and
its uncivilized inhabitants, but also his astonishment that after
becoming acquainted with the enlightened Typees, we should evince
the least desire to withdraw, even for a time, from their
agreeable society.

However, I overbore his objections by appealing to my lameness;
from which I assured the natives I should speedily recover if
Toby were permitted to obtain the supplies I needed.

It was agreed that on the following morning my companion should
depart, accompanied by some one or two of the household, who
should point out to him an easy route, by which the bay might be
reached before sunset.

At early dawn of the next day, our habitation was astir. One of
the young men mounted into an adjoining cocoanut tree, and threw
down a number of the young fruit, which old Marheyo quickly
stripped of the green husks, and strung together upon a short
pole. These were intended to refresh Toby on his route.

The preparations being completed, with no little emotion I bade
my companion adieu. He promised to return in three days at
farthest; and, bidding me keep up my spirits in the interval,
turned round the corner of the pi-pi, and, under the guidance of
the venerable Marheyo, was soon out of sight. His departure
oppressed me with melancholy, and, re-entering the dwelling, I
threw myself almost in despair