友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
合租小说网 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

sequel-第1部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!






                            SEQUEL

                 CONTAINING THE STORY OF TOBY



    NOTE… The Author of 〃Typee〃 was more than two years in the South

Seas; after escaping from the valley; as recounted in the last

chapter。 Some time after returning home the foregoing narrative was

published; though it was little thought at the time that this would be

the means of revealing the existence of Toby; who had long been

given up for lost。 But so it proved。 The story of his escape

supplies a natural sequel to the adventure; and as such it is now

added to the volume。 It was related to the Author by Toby himself。



    THE MORNING my comrade left me; as related in the narrative; he

was accompanied by a large party of the natives; some of them carrying

fruit and hogs for the purposes of traffic; as the report had spread

that boats had touched at the bay。

    As they proceeded through the settled parts of the valley; numbers

joined them from every side; running with animated cries from every

pathway。 So excited were the whole party; that; eager as Toby was to

gain the beach; it was almost as much as he could do to keep up with

them。 Making the valley ring with their shouts; they hurried along

on a swift trot; those in advance pausing now and then; and

flourishing their weapons to urge the rest forward。

    Presently they came to a place where the path crossed a bend of

the main stream of the valley。 Here a strange sound came through the

grove beyond; and the islanders halted。 It was Mow…Mow; the one…eyed

chief; who had gone on before; he was striking his heavy lance against

the hollow bough of a tree。

    This was a signal of alarm;… for nothing was now heard but

shouts of 〃Happar! Happar!〃… the warriors tilting with their spears

and brandishing them in the air; and the women and boys shouting to

each other; and picking up the stones in the bed of the stream。 In a

moment or two Mow…Mow and two or three other chiefs ran out from the

grove; and the din increased tenfold。

    Now; thought Toby; for a fray; and being unarmed; he besought

one of the young men domiciled with Marheyo for the loan of his spear。

But he was refused; the youth roguishly telling him; that the weapon

was very good for him (the Typee); but that a white man could fight

much better with his fists。

    The merry humour of this young wag seemed to be shared by the

rest; for in spite of their warlike cries and gestures; everybody

was capering about and laughing; as if it was one of the funniest

things in the world to be awaiting the flight of a score or two of

Happar javelins from an ambush in the thickets。

    While my comrade was in vain trying to make out the meaning of all

this; a good number of the natives separated themselves from the

rest and ran off into the grove on one side; the others now keeping

perfectly still; as if awaiting the result。 After a little while;

however; Mow…Mow; who stood in advance; motioned them to come on

stealthily; which they did; scarcely rustling a leaf。 Thus they

crept along for ten or fifteen minutes; every now and then pausing

to listen。

    Toby by no means relished this sort of skulking; if there was

going to be a fight he wanted it to begin at once。 But all in good

time;… for just then; as they went prowling into the thickest of the

wood; terrific howls burst upon them on all sides; and volleys of

darts and stones flew across the path。 Not an enemy was to be seen;

and what was still more surprising; not a single man dropped; though

the pebbles fell among the leaves like hail。

    There was a moment's pause; when the Typees; with wild shrieks;

flung themselves into the covert; spear in hand; nor was Toby

behindhand。 Coming so near getting his skull broken by the stones; and

animated by an old grudge he bore the Happars; he was among the

first to dash at them。 As he broke his way through the underbrush;

trying; as he did so; to wrest a spear from a young chief; the

shouts of battle all of a sudden ceased; and the wood was as still

as death。 The next moment; the party who had left them so mysteriously

rushed out from behind every bush and tree; and united with the rest

in long and merry peals of laughter。

    It was all a sham; and Toby; who was quite out of breath with

excitement; was much incensed at being made a fool of。

    It afterwards turned out that the whole affair had been

concerted for his particular benefit; though with what precise view it

would be hard to tell。 My comrade was the more enraged at this boys'

play; since it had consumed so much time; every moment of which

might be precious。 Perhaps; however; it was partly intended for this

very purpose; and he was led to think so; because; when the natives

started again; he observed that they did not seem to be in so great

a hurry as before。 At last; after they had gone some distance; Toby;

thinking all the while that they never would get to the sea; two men

came running towards them; and a regular halt ensued; followed by a

noisy discussion; during which Toby's name was often repeated。 All

this made him more and more anxious to learn what was going on at

the beach; but it was in vain that he now tried to push forward; the

natives held him back。

    In a few moments the conference ended; and many of them ran down

the path in the direction of the water; the rest surrounding Toby; and

entreating him to 〃Moee;〃 or sit down and rest himself。 As an

additional inducement; several calabashes of food; which had been

brought along; were now placed on the ground; and opened; and pipes

also were lighted。 Toby bridled his impatience awhile; but at last

sprang to his feet and dashed forward again。 He was soon overtaken

nevertheless; and again surrounded; but without further detention

was then permitted to go down to the sea。

    They came out upon a bright green space between the groves and the

water; and close under the shadow of the Happar mountain; where a path

was seen; winding out of sight through a gorge。

    No sign of a boat; however; was beheld; nothing but a tumultuous

crowd of men and women; and some one in their midst; earnestly talking

to them。 As my comrade advanced; this person came forward; and

proved to be no stranger。 He was an old grizzled sailor; whom Toby and

myself had frequently seen in Nukuheva; where he lived an easy;

devil…may…care life; in the household of Mowanna the king; going by

the name of 〃Jimmy。〃 In fact; he was the royal favourite; and had a

good deal to say in his master's councils。 He wore a Manilla hat;

and a sort of tappa morning gown; sufficiently loose and negligent

to show the verse of a song tattooed upon his chest; and a variety

of spirited cuts by native artists in other parts of his body。 He

sported a fishing…rod in his hand; and carried a sooty old pipe

slung about his neck。

    This old rover having retired from active life; had resided in

Nukuheva some time… he could speak the language; and for that reason

was frequently employed by the French as an interpreter。 He was an

arrant old gossip; too; for ever coming off in his canoe to the

ships in the bay; and regaling their crews with choice little

morsels of court scandal… such; for instance; as a shameful intrigue

of his majesty with a Happar damsel; a public dancer at the feasts…

and otherwise relating some incredible tales about the Marquesas

generally。 I remember; in particular; his telling the Dolly's crew

what proved to be literally a cock…and…bull story; about two natural

prodigies; which he said were then on the island。 One was an old

monster of a hermit; having a marvellous reputation for sanctity;

and reputed a famous sorcerer; who lived away off in a den among the

mountains; where he hid from the world a great pair of horns that grew

out of his temples。 Notwithstanding his reputation for piety; this

horrid old fellow was the terror of all the island round; being

reported to come out from his retreat; and go a man…hunting every dark


night。 Some anonymous Paul Pry; too; coming down the mountain; once

got a peep at his den; and found it full of bones。 In short; he was

a most unheard…of monster。

    The other prodigy Jimmy told us about; was the younger son of a

chief; who; although but just turned of ten; had entered upon holy

orders; because his superstitious countrymen thought him especially

intended for the priesthood; from the fact of his having a comb on his

head like a rooster。 But this was not all: for; still more wonderful

to relate; the boy prided himself upon this strange crest; being

actually endowed with a cock's voice; and frequently crowing over

his peculiarity。

    But to return to Toby。 The moment he saw the old rover on the

beach; he ran up to him; the natives following after; and forming a

circle round them。

    After welcoming him to the shore; Jimmy went on to tell him how

that he knew all about our having run away from the ship; and being

among the Typees; indeed; he had been urged by Mowanna to come over to

the valley; and; after visiting his friends there; to bring us back

with him; his royal master being exceedingly anxious to share with him

the reward which had been held out for our capture。 He; however;

assured Toby that he had indignantly spurned the offer。

    All this astonished my comrade not a little; as neither of us

had entertained the least idea that any white man ever visited the

Typees sociably。 But Jimmy told him that such was the case;

nevertheless; although he seldom came into the bay; and scarcely

ever went back from the beach。 One of the priests of the valley; in

some way or other connected with an old tattooed divine in Nukuheva;

was a friend of his; and through him he was 〃taboo。〃

    He said; moreover; that he was sometimes employed to come round to

the bay; and engage fruit for ships lying in Nukuheva。 In fact; he was

now on that very errand; according to his own account; having just
返回目录 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!