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第2章

sequel-第2章

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of the moment; he started to hurry back into the valley。 But hardly

was his back turned; when a dozen hands were laid on him; and he

learned that he could not go a step farther。

    It was in vain that he fought with them; they would not hear of

his stirring from the beach。 Cut to the heart at this unexpected

repulse; Toby now conjured the sailor to go after me alone。 But

Jimmy replied; that in the mood the Typees then were; they would not

permit him so to do; though; at the same time; he was not afraid of

their offering him any harm。

    Little did Toby then think; as he afterwards had good reason to

suspect; that this very Jimmy was a heartless villain; who; by his

arts; had just incited the natives to restrain him; as he was in the

act of going after me。 Well must the old sailor have known; too;

that the natives would never consent to our leaving together; and he

therefore wanted to get Toby off alone; for a purpose which he

afterwards made plain。 Of all this; however; my comrade now knew

nothing。

    He was still struggling with the islanders; when Jimmy again

came up to him; and warned him against irritating them; saying that he

was only making matters worse for both of us; and if they became

enraged; there was no telling what might happen。 At last he made

Toby sit down on a broken canoe; by a pile of stones; upon which was a

ruinous little shrine; supported by four upright paddles; and in front

partly screened by a net。 The fishing parties met there; when they

came in from the sea; for their offerings were laid before an image;

upon a smooth black stone within。 This spot; Jimmy said; was

strictly 〃taboo;〃 and no one would molest or come near him while he

stayed by its shadow。 The old sailor then went off; and began speaking

very earnestly to Mow…Mow and some other chiefs; while all the rest

formed a circle round the taboo place; looking intently at Toby; and

talking to each other without ceasing。

    Now; notwithstanding what Jimmy had just told him; there presently

came up to my comrade an old woman; who seated herself beside him on

the canoe。

    〃Typee Mortarkee?〃 said she。 〃Mortarkee muee;〃 said Toby。

    She then asked him whether he was going to Nukuheva; he nodded

yes; and with a plaintive wail; and her eyes filling with tears; she

rose and left him。

    This old woman; the sailor afterwards said; was the wife of an

aged king of a small inland valley; communicating by a deep pass

with the country of the Typees。 The inmates of the two valleys were

related to each other by blood; and were known by the same name。 The

old woman had gone down into the Typee valley the day before; and

was now; with three chiefs; her sons; on a visit to her kinsmen。

    As the old king's wife left him; Jimmy again came up to Toby;

and told him that he had just talked the whole matter over with the

natives; and there was only one course for him to follow。 They would

not allow him to go back into the valley; and harm would certainly

come to both him and me; if he remained much longer on the beach。

〃So;〃 said he; 〃you and I had better go to Nukuheva now overland;

and to…morrow I will bring Tommo; as they call him; by water; they

have promised to carry him down to the sea for me early in the

morning; so that there will be no delay。〃

    〃No; no;〃 said Toby desperately; 〃I will not leave him that way;

we must escape together。〃

    〃There is no hope for you;〃 exclaimed the sailor; 〃for if I

leave you here on the beach; as soon as I am gone you will be

carried back into the valley; and then neither of you will ever look

upon the sea again。〃 And with many oaths he swore that if he would

only go to Nukuheva with him that day; he would be sure to have me

there the very next morning。

    〃But how do you know they will bring him down to the beach

to…morrow; when they will not do so to…day?〃 said Toby。 But the sailor

had many reasons; all of which were so mixed up with the mysterious

customs of the islanders; that he was none the wiser。 Indeed; their

conduct; especially in preventing him from returning into the

valley; was absolutely unaccountable to him; and added to everything

else was the bitter reflection; that the old sailor; after all;

might possibly be deceiving him。 And then again he had to think of me;

left alone with the natives; and by no means well。 If he went with

Jimmy; he might at least hope to procure some relief for me。 But might

not the savages who had acted so strangely; hurry me off somewhere

before his return? Then; even he remained; perhaps they would not

let him go back into the valley where I was。

    Thus perplexed was my poor comrade; he knew not what to do; and

his courageous spirit was of no use to him now。 There he was; all by

himself; seated upon the broken canoe… the natives grouped around

him at a distance; and eyeing him more and more fixedly。

    〃It is getting late;〃 said Jimmy; who was standing behind the

rest。 〃Nukuheva is far off; and I cannot cross the Happar country by

night。 You see how it is:… if you come along with me; all will be

well; if you do not; depend upon it neither of you will ever escape。〃

    〃There is no help for it;〃 said Toby; at last; with a heavy heart;

〃I will have to trust you〃; and he came out from the shadow of the

little shrine; and cast a long look up the valley。

    〃Now keep close to my side;〃 said the sailor; 〃and let us be

moving quickly。〃 Tinor and Fayaway here appeared; the kind…hearted old

woman embracing Toby's knees; giving way to a flood of tears; while

Fayaway; hardly less moved; spoke some few words of English she had

learned; and held up three fingers before him… in so many days he

would return。

    At last Jimmy pulled Toby out of the crowd; and after calling to a

young Typee who was standing by with a young pig in his arms; all

three started for the mountains。

    〃I have told them that you are coming back again;〃 said the old

fellow; laughing; as they began the ascent; 〃but they'll have to

wait a long time。〃 Toby turned; and saw the natives all in motion… the

girls waving their tappas in adieu; and the men their spears。 As the

last figure entered the grove with one arm raised; and the three

fingers spread; his heart smote him。

    As the natives had at last consented to his going; it might have

been; that some of them; at least; really counted upon his speedy

return; probably supposing; as indeed he had told them when they

were coming down the valley; that his only object in leaving them

was to procure the medicines I needed。 This; Jimmy also must have told

them。 And as they had done before; when my comrade; to oblige me;

started on his perilous journey to Nukuheva; they looked upon me; in

his absence; as one of two inseparable friends who was a sure

guarantee for the other's return。 This is only my own supposition;

however; for as to all their strange conduct; it is still a mystery。

    〃You see what sort of a taboo man I am;〃 said the sailor; after

for some time silently following the path which led up the mountain。

〃Mow…Mow made me a present of this pig here; and the man who carries

it will go right through Happar; and down into Nukuheva with us。 So

long as he stays by me he is safe; and just so it will be with you;

and to…morrow with Tommo。 Cheer up; then; and rely upon me; you will

see him in the morning。〃

    The ascent of the mountain was not very difficult; owing to its

being near to the sea; where the island ridges are comparatively

low; the path; too; was a fine one; so that in a short time all

three were standing on the summit with the two valleys at their

feet。 The white cascades marking the green head of the Typee valley

first caught Toby's eye; Marheyo's house could easily be traced by

them。

    As Jimmy led the way along the ridge; Toby observed that the

valley of the Happars did not extend near so far inland as that of the

Typees。 This accounted for our mistake in entering the latter valley

as we had。

    A path leading down from the mountain was soon seen; and following

it; the party were in a short time fairly in the Happar valley。

    〃Now;〃 said Jimmy; as they hurried on; 〃we taboo men have wives in

all the bays; and I am going to show you the two I have here。〃

    So; when they came to the house where he said they lived… which

was close by the base of the mountain; in a shady nook among the

groves;… he went in; and was quite furious at finding it empty… the

ladies had gone out。 However; they soon made their appearance; and; to

tell the truth; welcomed Jimmy quite cordially; as well as Toby; about

whom they were very inquisitive。 Nevertheless; as the report of

their arrival spread; and the Happars began to assemble; it became

evident that the appearance of a white stranger among them was not

by any means deemed so wonderful an event as in the neighbouring

valley。

    The old sailor now bade his wives prepare something to eat; as

he must be in Nukuheva before dark。 A meal of fish; bread…fruit; and

bananas; was accordingly served up; the party regaling themselves on

the mats; in the midst of a numerous company。

    The Happars put many questions to Jimmy about Toby; and Toby

himself looked sharply at them; anxious to recognise the fellow who

gave him the wound from which he was still suffering。 But this fiery

gentleman; so handy with his spear; had the delicacy; it seemed; to

keep out of view。 Certainly the sight of him would not have been any

added inducement to making a stay in the valley;… some of the

afternoon loungers in Happar having politely urged Toby to spend a few

days with them;… there was a feast coming on。 He; however; declined。

    All this while the young Typee stuck to Jimmy like his shadow; and

though as lively a dog as any of his tribe; he was now as meek as a

lamb; never opening his mouth except to eat。 Although some of the

Happars looked queerly at him; others were more civil; and seemed

desirous of taking him abroad and showing him the valley。 But the

Typee was not to be cajoled in that way。 How many yards he would

have to remove from Jimmy before the taboo would be powerless; it

would be hard to tell; but probably he himself knew to a fraction。

    On the promise of a red cotton handkerchief; and something else

which he kept secret; this poor fellow had undertaken a rather

ticklish journey; though; as far as Toby could ascertain; it was

something that had never happened before。

    The island…punch… arva… was brought in at the conclusion of the

repast; and passed round in a shallow calabash。

    Now my comrade; while seated in the Happar house; began to feel

more troubled than ever at leaving me: indeed; so sad did he feel that

he talked about going back to the valley; and wanted Jimmy to escort

him as far as the mountains。 But the sailor would not listen to him;

and; by way of diverting his thoughts; pressed him to drink of the

arva。 Knowi

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