CHAPTER IV
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 havingacquired all the knowledge concerning the bay that I could obtain underthe circumstances in which I was placed, I now deliberately turned over inmy mind every plan of escape that suggested itself, being determined toact with all possible prudence in an attempt where failure would beattended with so many disagreeable consequences. The idea of being takenand brought back ignominiously to the ship was so inexpressibly repulsiveto me, that I was determined by no hasty and imprudent measures to rendersuch an event probable.
I knew that our worthy captain, who felt such a paternal solicitude forthe welfare of his crew, would not willingly consent that one of his besthands should encounter the perils of a sojourn among the natives of abarbarous island; and I was certain that in the event of my disappearancehis fatherly anxiety would prompt him to offer, by way of a reward, yardupon yard of gaily printed calico for my apprehension. He might even haveappreciated my services at the value of a musket, in which case I feltperfectly certain that the whole population of the bay would beimmediately upon my track, incited by the prospect of so magnificent abounty.
Having ascertained the fact before alluded to, that the islanders, frommotives of precaution, dwelt together in the depths of the valleys, andavoided wandering about the more elevated portions of the shore, unlessbound on some expedition of war or plunder, I concluded that if I couldeffect unperceived a passage to the mountains, I might easily remain amongthem, supporting myself by such fruits as came in my way until the sailingof the ship, an event of which I could not fail to be immediatelyapprized, as from my lofty position I should command a view of the entireharbour.
The idea pleased me greatly. It seemed to combine a great deal ofpracticability with no inconsiderable enjoyment in a quiet way; for howdelightful it would be to look down upon the detested old vessel from theheight of some thousand feet, and contrast the verdant scenery about mewith the recollection of her narrow decks and gloomy forecastle! Why, itwas really refreshing even to think of it; and so I straightway fell topicturing myself seated beneath a cocoa-nut tree on the brow of themountain, with a cluster of plantains within easy reach, criticizing hernautical evolutions as she was working her way out of the harbour.
To be sure there was one rather unpleasant drawback to these agreeableanticipations--the possibility of falling in with a foraging party of thesesame bloody-minded Typees, whose appetites, edged perhaps by the air of soelevated 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 theirheads to make a convivial meal of a poor devil, who would have no means ofescape or defence: however, there was no help for it. I was willing toencounter some risks in order to accomplish my object, and counted muchupon my ability to elude these prowling cannibals amongst the many covertswhich the mountains afforded. Besides, the chances were ten to one in myfavour that they would none of them quit their own fastnesses.
I had determined not to communicate my design of withdrawing from thevessel to any of my shipmates, and least of all to solicit any one toaccompany me in my flight. But it so happened one night, that being upondeck, revolving over in my mind various plans of escape, I perceived oneof the ship's company leaning over the bulwarks, apparently plunged in aprofound reverie. He was a young fellow about my own age, for whom I hadall along entertained a great regard; and Toby, such was the name by whichhe went among us, for his real name he would never tell us, was every wayworthy of it. He was active, ready, and obliging, of dauntless courage,and singularly open and fearless in the expression of his feelings. I hadon more than one occasion got him out of scrapes into which this had ledhim; and I know not whether it was from this cause, or a certaincongeniality of sentiment between us, that he had always shown apartiality for my society. We had battled out many a long watch together,beguiling the weary hours with chat, song, and story, mingled with a goodmany imprecations upon the hard destiny it seemed our common fortune toencounter.
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, andhis conversation at times betrayed this, although he was anxious toconceal 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 overthe world as if pursued by some mysterious fate they cannot possiblyelude.
There was much even in the appearance of Toby calculated to draw metowards him, for while the greater part of the crew were as coarse inperson as in mind, Toby was endowed with a remarkably prepossessingexterior. Arrayed in his blue frock and duck trousers, he was as smart alooking sailor as ever stepped upon a deck; he was singularly small andslightly made, with great flexibility of limb. His naturally darkcomplexion had been deepened by exposure to the tropical sun, and a massof jetty locks clustered about his temples, and threw a darker shade intohis large black eyes. He was a strange wayward being, moody, fitful, andmelancholy--at times almost morose. He had a quick and fiery temper too,which, when thoroughly roused, transported him into a state bordering ondelirium.
It is strange the power that a mind of deep passion has over feeblernatures. I have seen a brawny fellow, with no lack of ordinary courage,fairly quail before this slender stripling, when in one of his furiousfits. But these paroxysms seldom occurred, and in them my big-heartedshipmate vented the bile which more calm-tempered individuals get rid ofby a continual pettishness at trivial annoyances.
No one ever saw Toby laugh--I mean in the hearty abandonment ofbroad-mouthed mirth. He did smile sometimes, it is true; and there was agood deal of dry, sarcastic humour about him, which told the more from theimperturbable gravity of his tone and manner.
Latterly I had observed that Toby's melancholy had greatly increased, andI had frequently seen him since our arrival at the island gazing wistfullyupon the shore, when the remainder of the crew would be rioting below. Iwas aware that he entertained a cordial detestation of the ship, andbelieved that should a fair chance of escape present itself, he wouldembrace it willingly. But the attempt was so perilous in the place wherewe then lay, that I supposed myself the only individual on board the shipwho was sufficiently reckless to think of it. In this, however, I wasmistaken.
When I perceived Toby leaning, as I have mentioned, against the bulwarksand buried in thought, it struck me at once that the subject of hismeditations might be the same as my own. And if it be so, thought I, is henot the very one of all my shipmates whom I would choose for the partnerof my adventure? and why should I not have some comrade with me to divideits dangers and alleviate its hardships? Perhaps I might be obliged to lieconcealed among the mountains for weeks. In such an event what a solacewould a companion be?
These thoughts passed rapidly through my mind, and I wondered why I hadnot before considered the matter in this light. But it was not too late. Atap upon the shoulder served to rouse Toby from his reverie; I found himripe for the enterprise, and a very few words sufficed for a mutualunderstanding between us. In an hour's time we had arranged all thepreliminaries, and decided upon our plan of action. We then ratified ourengagement with an affectionate wedding of palms, and to elude suspicionrepaired 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 besent ashore on liberty; and, availing ourselves of this opportunity wedetermined, as soon after landing as possible, to separate ourselves fromthe rest of the men without exciting their suspicions, and strike back atonce for the mountains. Seen from the ship, the summits appearedinaccessible, but here and there sloping spurs extended from them almostinto the sea, buttressing the lofty elevations wi
th which they wereconnected, and forming those radiating valleys I have before described.One of these ridges, which appeared more practicable than the rest, wedetermined to climb, convinced that it would conduct us to the heightsbeyond. Accordingly, we carefully observed its bearings and locality fromthe 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 ourselvesfrom sight until the departure of the vessel; then to take our chance asto the reception the Nukuheva natives might give us; and after remainingupon the island as long as we found our stay agreeable, to leave it thefirst favourable opportunity that offered.