Chapter Sixteen - Page 2

sacred building, in
company with Mehevi and several other chiefs, when the
announcement was first made. It sent a thrill of joy through my
whole frame;--perhaps Toby was about to return. I rose at once
to my feet, and my instinctive impulse was to hurry down to the
beach, equally regardless of the distance that separated me from
it, and of my disabled condition. As soon as Mehevi noticed the
effect the intelligence had produced upon me, and the impatience
I betrayed to reach the sea, his countenance assumed that
inflexible rigidity of expression which had so awed me on the
afternoon of our arrival at the house of Marheyo. As I was
proceeding to leave the Ti, he laid his hand upon my shoulder,
and said gravely, 'abo, abo' (wait, wait). Solely intent upon
the one thought that occupied my mind, and heedless of his
request, I was brushing past him, when suddenly he assumed a tone
of authority, and told me to 'moee' (sit down). Though struck by
the alteration in his demeanour, the excitement under which I
laboured was too strong to permit me to obey the unexpected
command, and I was still limping towards the edge of the pi-pi
with Kory-Kory clinging to one arm in his efforts to restrain me,
when the natives around started to their feet, ranged themselves
along the open front of the building, while Mehevi looked at me
scowlingly, and reiterated his commands still more sternly.

It was at this moment, when fifty savage countenances were
glaring upon me, that I first truly experienced I was indeed a
captive in the valley. The conviction rushed upon me with
staggering force, and I was overwhelmed by this confirmation of
my worst fears. I saw at once that it was useless for me to
resist, and sick at heart, I reseated myself upon the mats, and
for the moment abandoned myself to despair.

I now perceived the natives one after the other hurrying past the
Ti and pursuing the route that conducted to the sea. These
savages, thought I, will soon be holding communication with some
of my own countrymen perhaps, who with ease could restore me to
liberty did they know of the situation I was in. No language can
describe the wretchedness which I felt; and in the bitterness of
my soul I imprecated a thousand curses on the perfidious Toby,
who had thus abandoned me to destruction. It was in vain that
Kory-Kory tempted me with food, or lighted my pipe, or sought to
attract my attention by performing the uncouth antics that had
sometimes diverted me. I was fairly knocked down by this last
misfortune, which, much as I had feared it, I had never before
had the courage calmly to contemplate.

Regardless of everything but my own sorrow, I remained in the Ti
for several hours, until shouts proceeding at