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