University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER V.

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 altogether 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

apprised, 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 a 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.

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 trival 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, their 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.