e mast almost distracted, he
grappled Jimmy as he struck the deck, shouting in a voice that startled
him, "Where is Tommo?" The old fellow faltered, but soon recovering, did
all he could to soothe him, assuring him that it had proved to be
impossible to get me down to the shore that morning; assigning many
plausible reasons, and adding that early on the morrow he was going to
visit the bay again in a French boat, when, if he did not find me on the
beach--as this time he certainly expected to--he would march right back into
the valley, and carry me away at all hazards. He, however, again refused
to allow Toby to accompany him.

Now, situated as Toby was, his sole dependence for the present was upon
Jimmy, and therefore he was fain to comfort himself as well as he could
with what the old sailor told him.

The next morning, however, he had the satisfaction of seeing the French
boat start with Jimmy in it. To-night, then, I will see him, thought Toby;
but many a long day passed before he ever saw Tommo again. Hardly was the
boat out of sight, when the captain came forward and ordered the anchor
weighed; he was going to sea.

Vain were all Toby's ravings,--they were disregarded; and when he came to
himself, the sails were set, and the ship fast leaving the land.

... "Oh! said he to me at our meeting, what sleepless nights were mine.
Often I started from my hammock, dreaming you were before me, and
upbraiding me for leaving you on the island."

There is little more to be related. Toby left his vessel at New Zealand,
and after some further adventures, arrived home in less than two years
after leaving the Marquesas. He always thought of me as dead--and I had
every reason to suppose that he, too, was no more; but a strange meeting
was in store for us, which made Toby's heart all the lighter.

APPENDIX

The author of this volume arrived at Tahiti the very day that the
iniquitous designs of the French were consummated by inducing the
subordinate chiefs, during the absence of their queen, to ratify an
artfully-drawn treaty, by which she was virtually deposed. Both menaces
and caresses were employed on this occasion, and the 32-pounders which
peeped out of the port-holes of the frigate were the principal arguments
adduced to quiet the scruples of the more conscientious islanders.

And yet this piratical seizure of Tahiti, with all the woe and desolation
which resulted from it, cr