h 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 cocoa-nut 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 th
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