Thoughts previous to attempting an escape—Toby, a fellow-sailor, agrees
to share the adventure—Last night aboard the ship.
Having fully resolved to leave the vessel clandestinely, and having
acquired all the knowledge concerning the bay that I could obtain under
the circumstances in which I was placed, I now deliberately turned over
in my mind every plan of escape that suggested itself, being determined
to act with all possible prudence in an attempt where failure would be
attended with so many disagreeable consequences. The idea of being
taken and brought back ignominiously to the ship was so inexpressibly
repulsive to me, that I was determined by no hasty and imprudent
measures to render such an event probable.
I knew that our worthy captain, who felt such a paternal solicitude for
the welfare of his crew, would not willingly consent that one of his
best hands should encounter the perils of a sojourn among the natives
of a barbarous island; and I was certain that in the event of my
disappearance his fatherly anxiety would prompt him to offer, by way of
a reward, yard upon yard of gaily printed calico for my apprehension.
He might even have appreciated my services at the value of a musket, in
which case I felt perfectly certain that the whole population of the
bay would be immediately upon my track, incited by the prospect of so
magnificent a bounty.
Having ascertained the fact before alluded to, that the islanders, from
motives of precaution, dwelt together in the depths of the valleys, and
avoided wandering about the more elevated portions of the shore, unless
bound on some expedition of war or plunder, I concluded that if I could
effect unperceived a passage to the mountains, I might easily remain
among them, supporting myself by such fruits as came in my way until
the sailing of the ship, an event of which I could not fail to be
immediately apprized, as from my lofty position I should command a view
of the entire harbour.
The idea pleased me greatly. It seemed to combine a great deal of
practicability with no inconsiderable enjoyment in a quiet way; for how
delightful it would be to look down upon the detested old vessel from
the height of some thousand feet, and contrast the verdant scenery
about me with the recollection of her narrow decks and gloomy
forecastle! Why, it was really refreshing even to think of it; and so I
straightway fell to picturing myself seated beneath a cocoa-nut tree on
the brow of the mountain, with a cluster of plantains within easy
reach, criticizing her nautical evolutions as she was working her way
out of the harbour.
To be sure there was one rather unpleasant drawback to these agreeable
anticipations—the possibility of falling in with a foraging party of
these same bloody-minded Typees, whose appetites, edged perhaps by the
air of so elevated a region, might prompt them to devour one. This, I
must confess, was the most disagreeable view of the matter.
Just to think of a party of these unnatural gourmands taking it into
their heads to make a convivial meal of a poor devil, who would have no
means of escape or defence: however, there was no help for it. I was
willing to encounter some risks in order to accomplish my object, and
counted much upon my ability to elude these prowling cannibals amongst
the many coverts which the mountains afforded. Besides, the chances
were ten to one in my favour that they would none of them quit their
own fastnesses.
I had determined not to communicate my design of withdrawing from the
vessel to any of my shipmates, and least of all to solicit any one to
accompany me in my flight. But it so happened one night, that being
upon deck, revolving over in my mind various plans of escape, I
perceived one of the ship’s company leaning over the bulwarks,
apparently plunged in a profound reverie. He was a young fellow about
my own age, for whom I had all along entertained a great regard; and
Toby, such was the name by which he went among us, for his real name he
would never tell us, was every way worthy of it. He was active, ready,
and obliging, of dauntless courage, and singularly open and fearless in
the expression of his feelings. I had on more than one occasion got him
out of scrapes into which this had led him; and I know not whether it
was from this cause, or a certain congeniality of sentiment between us,
that he had always shown a partiality for my society. We had battled
out many a long watch together, beguiling the weary hours with chat,
song, and story, mingled with a good many imprecations upon the hard
destiny it seemed our common fortune to encounter.
[Illustration: I FOUND HIM RIPE FOR THE ENTERPRISE, AND A VERY FEW
WORDS SUFFICED FOR A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN US]
Toby, like myself, had evidently moved in a different sphere of life,
and his conversation at times betrayed this, although he was anxious to
conceal it. He was one of that class of rovers you sometimes meet at
sea, who never reveal their origin, never allude to home, and go
rambling over the world as if pursued by some mysterious fate they
cannot possibly elude.
There was much even in the appearance of Toby calculated to draw me
towards him, for while the greater part of the crew were as coarse in
person as in mind, Toby was endowed with a remarkably prepossessing
exterior. Arrayed in his blue frock and duck trousers, he was as smart
a looking sailor as ever stepped upon a deck; he was singularly small
and slightly made, with great flexibility of limb. His naturally dark
complexion had been deepened by exposure to the tropical sun, and a
mass of jetty locks clustered about his temples, and threw a darker
shade into his large black eyes. He was a strange wayward being, moody,
fitful, and melancholy—at times almost morose. He had a quick and fiery
temper too, which, when thoroughly roused, transported him into a state
bordering on delirium.
It is strange the power that a mind of deep passion has over feebler
natures. I have seen a brawny fellow, with no lack of ordinary courage,
fairly quail before this slender stripling, when in one of his furious
fits. But these paroxysms seldom occurred, and in them my big-hearted
shipmate vented the bile which more calm-tempered individuals get rid
of by a continual pettishness at trivial annoyances.
No one ever saw Toby laugh—I mean in the hearty abandonment of
broad-mouthed mirth. He did smile sometimes, it is true; and there was
a good deal of dry, sarcastic humour about him, which told the more
from the imperturbable gravity of his tone and manner.
Latterly I had observed that Toby’s melancholy had greatly increased,
and I had frequently seen him since our arrival at the island gazing
wistfully upon the shore, when the remainder of the crew would be
rioting below. I was aware that he entertained a cordial detestation of
the ship, and believed that should a fair chance of escape present
itself, he would embrace it willingly. But the attempt was so perilous
in the place where we then lay, that I supposed myself the only
individual on board the ship who was sufficiently reckless to think of
it. In this, however, I was mistaken.
When I perceived Toby leaning, as I have mentioned, against the
bulwarks and buried in thought, it struck me at once that the subject
of his meditations might be the same as my own. And if it be so,
thought I, is he not the very one of all my shipmates whom I would
choose for the partner of my adventure? and why should I not have some
comrade with me to divide its dangers and alleviate its hardships?
Perhaps I might be obliged to lie concealed among the mountains for
weeks. In such an event what a solace would a companion be?
These thoughts passed rapidly through my mind, and I wondered why I had
not before considered the matter in this light. But it was not too
late. A tap upon the shoulder served to rouse Toby from his reverie; I
found him ripe for the enterprise, and a very few words sufficed for a
mutual understanding between us. In an hour’s time we had arranged all
the preliminaries, and decided upon our plan of action. We then
ratified our engagement with an affectionate wedding of palms, and to
elude suspicion repaired each to his hammock, to spend the last night
on board the _Dolly_.
The next day the starboard watch, to which we both belonged, was to be
sent ashore on liberty; and, availing ourselves of this opportunity we
determined, as soon after landing as possible, to separate ourselves
from the rest of the men without exciting their suspicions, and strike
back at once for the mountains. Seen from the ship, the summits
appeared inaccessible, but here and there sloping spurs extended from
them almost into the sea, buttressing the lofty elevations with which
they were connected, and forming those radiating valleys I have before
described. One of these ridges, which appeared more practicable than
the rest, we determined to climb, convinced that it would conduct us to
the heights beyond. Accordingly, we carefully observed its bearings and
locality from the ship, so that when ashore we should run no chance of
missing it.
In all this the leading object we had in view was to seclude ourselves
from sight until the departure of the vessel; then to take our chance
as to the reception the Nukuheva natives might give us; and after
remaining upon the island as long as we found our stay agreeable, to
leave it the first favourable opportunity that offered.