With Porter in the Essex

by Amanda M. Douglas

  CHAPTER X.

  AMONG THE TYPEES.

  Then, when I was praying most fervently that sleep would overpower him,his head drooped lower and lower until I understood that the chains ofslumber had bound him for a certain time at least.

  It was most unfortunate that Phil was also asleep. I tugged gently athis arm, not daring to make any movement which would result in theslightest noise; but without arousing him. Had his eyes been open aswide as were mine, I venture to say that without a peradventure we mighthave succeeded in gaining our freedom.

  As it was, however, it became necessary to awaken him, regardless of thepossibility that Benson might take alarm, and I pressed my free handover his mouth while I prodded him vigorously with my shoulder.

  Even such a violent effort as this failed of its purpose until afterthree or four precious moments had elapsed, and then he stared up intomy face inquiringly:--

  Softly as possible I whispered in his ear:--

  "Benson is asleep; by leaping upon him suddenly we should be able to getthe upper hands, bound though we are."

  Now he understood what I would have him do, and motioned that he wasready for any venture.

  Together we worked our way toward the sleeping Britisher. It is not tobe supposed that we two, fettered as we were, could move without makingsome noise; but yet we advanced with reasonable stillness until arrivingwithin two feet of Benson.

  It was my idea that we throw ourselves upon him, pinning the villainwhere he lay, with the chance that during the struggle one or the otherof us lads might gain possession of the musket.

  There was no time to decide upon any combined course of action, for itwould have been in the highest degree dangerous had we attempted tocarry on a whispered conversation just then.

  We rose to our feet softly; but were hardly more than standing erectwhen Benson leaped up as if he had been watching from under his eyelids,and in a twinkling struck me down with the butt of his musket.

  Phil would most likely have been treated to the same kind of a dose;but, as a matter of course, he fell when I did, or, rather, was draggeddown by me, and the Britisher stood over us with a grin of satisfaction.

  "Thought to get the best of me, eh?" he asked in a loud voice. "Do youtwo lads think I'm to be done up like a lamb?"

  Then he began kicking us, helpless though we were, and I believed thatmore than one of our bones would be broken before he came to an end ofsuch amusement.

  We endured the punishment in silence, for it would have afforded him toomuch satisfaction had we cried aloud with pain, and not until he waswearied with the exertion did he cease.

  "You're going into the valley of the Typees, my fine birds, kick againstit as you may; and I shall see you roasted and eaten before eight andforty hours have passed!"

  Phil was about to make an angry reply; but I prodded him with myshoulder as token that he remain silent, for it was giving this brutetoo much pleasure to bandy words with him.

  Now that our attempt at escape had failed, there was no doubt in my mindbut that what he said would come true, and I bent all my energies toappearing unconcerned; but fearing meanwhile that at the supreme momentI should give evidence of the cowardice in my heart.

  Benson knew, of course, that he had fallen asleep, and most likely hadno idea of how long a time he remained unconscious. He must havebelieved that the nap lasted quite a while, for now he began hurriedly,after having berated us to his heart's content, to look about with aview to continuing the journey.

  He forced us to remain perfectly quiet, threatening to fell us with hismusket if we made any noise, while he listened for some token of friendor foe.

  No sound was heard; it seemed as if we, among all the inhabitants of theisland, were the only ones upon the mountain.

  "I reckon we'll move ahead," he said at length. "You two cubs are tomarch in front of me; and if you try to kick up any bobbery, I'll put astop to it by a blow over the head,--such as won't kill outright, butwill give a good idea of what's to follow. Step out now, and don't dareto shout! It won't do you any good, and will cost a lot of trouble."

  We obeyed; what else was there for us to do? My head was humming like atop from the effects of the blow he had already delivered, and I knewfull well he would not hesitate to maltreat us in any way which came tohis evil mind.

  After we had marched straight ahead for half an hour over a trail whichled first up and then down a stiff slope, we heard sounds of triumph andjoyful songs from what appeared to be a large party three or fourhundred yards to the left of us.

  Benson stopped suddenly, listened an instant, and then a look ofperplexity came over his face, the reason for which I could not so muchas guess.

  When the noise had died away in the distance, those who made it beingapparently on their way to the bay, Benson ordered us forward once more;but he had lost his confident bearing, and seemed to be studying deeplyover some vexing problem.

  He continued in such mood until we arrived at what had evidently been atsome time a flourishing village, but was now only a smoking ruin.

  Phil and I glanced at each other in triumph. Now we understood whyBenson was perplexed. He had recognized the shouts of triumph as comingfrom the Happars instead of the Typees, and began to believe his friendshad lost the battle. Until that moment he was confident the Typees couldvanquish any force sent against them, and that the fact had thus beendisproved, probably worried him.

  I was at a loss to understand whether this might work to our benefit orinjury; but for the time being it pleased me that Benson was notgetting along as swimmingly as he fancied when we first ran so unluckilyupon him.

  The Britisher stood facing the ruins for an instant as if at a loss toknow what course to pursue, and then he bade us march ahead of him up anarrow path which led to the right through a dense thicket.

  We travelled at a smart pace for fifteen or twenty minutes, and thenwere come to a dwelling, unoccupied, which Benson entered withouthesitation and with evident relief of mind.

  This same house has been described by another, and I can do no betterthan give his exact words in picturing it:--

  "About midway up the ascent of a rather abrupt rise of ground wavingwith richest verdure, a number of large stones were laid in successivecourses to the height of nearly eight feet, and disposed in such amanner that their level surface corresponded in shape with thehabitation which was perched upon it.

  "A narrow space, however, was reserved in front of the dwelling, uponthe summit of this pile of stones (called by the natives a 'pi-pi'),which, being enclosed by a little picket of canes gave it somewhat theappearance of a veranda.

  "The frame of the house was constructed of large bamboos planteduprightly, and secured together at intervals by transverse stalks of thelight wood of the hibiscus, lashed with thongs of bark. The rear of thetenement--built up with successive ranges of cocoanut boughs bound oneupon another, with their leaflets cunningly woven together--inclined alittle from the vertical, and extended from the extreme edge of the'pi-pi' to about twenty feet from its surface; whence the shelvingroof--thatched with the long, tapering leaves of the palmetto--slopedsteeply off to within about five feet of the floor; leaving the eavesdrooping with tassel-like appendages from the front of the habitation.

  "This dwelling was constructed of light and elegant canes, in a kind ofopen screen-work, tastefully adorned with bindings of variegatedsinnate, which served to hold together its various parts. The sides ofthe house were similarly built; thus presenting three-quarters for thecirculation of the air, while the whole was impervious to the rain.

  "In length this picturesque building was perhaps twelve yards, while inbreadth it could not have exceeded as many feet.

  "Stooping a little, you passed through a narrow aperture in its front;and facing you on entering lay two long, perfectly straight, and wellpolished trunks of the cocoanut tree, extending the full length of thedwelling, one of them placed closely against the rear, and the otherlying parallel with it some two yards dist
ant, the interval between thembeing spread with a multitude of gayly worked mats, nearly all of adifferent pattern. This space formed the common couch and lounging placeof the natives, answering the purpose of a divan in Oriental countries.Here they would slumber through the hours of the night and reclineluxuriously during the greater part of the day. The remainder of thefloor presented only the cool, shining surfaces of the large stones ofwhich the 'pi-pi' was composed.

  "From the ridge-pole of the house hung suspended a number of largepackages enveloped in coarse tappa; some of which contained festivaldresses and various other matters of the wardrobe held in highestimation. These were easily accessible by means of a line which,passing over the ridge-pole, had one end attached to a bundle, whilewith the other, which led to the side of the dwelling and was theresecured, the package could be lowered or elevated at pleasure.

  "Against the farther wall of the house were arranged in tasteful figuresa variety of spears and javelins and other implements of savagewarfare. Outside of the habitation, and built upon the piazza-like areain its front, was a little shed used as a sort of larder or pantry, andin which were stored various articles of domestic use and convenience. Afew yards from the 'pi-pi' was a large shed built of cocoanut boughs,where the process of preparing the peoo-peoo' was carried on and allculinary operations attended to."

  Such is a good picture of the dwelling which Benson entered, we walkingahead according to his orders; and here he appeared to be perfectly athome.

  I fancied that he was somewhat surprised because there was no one togreet him; but he made himself comfortable by lying stretched out on thedivan at full length, while we two lads were ordered to make aresting-place of the stone floor.

  My first glance fell upon the collection of weapons, and I must havebeen eying it eagerly, for the Britisher said threateningly:--

  "Thinking that if you could get hold of them I might have the worst ofit, eh? Well, don't you dare so much as move, else I'll knock in thewhole top of your head!"

  To this threat we made no reply, for it was useless to bandy words withthe fellow, who held us securely in his power. We were so weary thateven the smooth side of a stone seemed rest-inviting, and, despite ourdanger, enjoyed this being able to stretch out at full length on ourbacks.

  At that moment, sore in both body and mind, I would have welcomed theassurance that we were to remain here undisturbed until another morninghad come. But it seemed as if we had no more than settled ourselves downas well as the rope on our arms would permit, than the head of a nativeappeared from around the corner of the building; and after satisfyinghimself that there were no enemies to be feared, the owner of the headentered, followed by no less than ten men, all of whom appeared to havebeen having a rough-and-tumble fight.

  Benson, without troubling himself to rise, said something to the leaderin the party; and because he pointed at us from time to time, both Philand I believed he was giving an account of our capture.

  I was literally shaking with fear, fancying we would immediately betaken out and eaten; but, greatly to my surprise, all the men seemed tobe angry with Benson.

  He talked to them sharply for an instant, and was replied to in suchfashion that I understood the villain was alarmed, for he arose with acertain degree of humility, and began making a long speech.

  Before this was ended a large crowd came in, filling the building toits utmost capacity, and Phil whispered to me:--

  "It seems as if every man, woman, and boy had some cause for complaintagainst the Britisher, and there's no question but that he's feelinguncomfortable in mind. I wonder why they don't set about roasting us?"

  "I reckon Benson has done something they don't like, and he'll be hauledover the coals before anything is done with us," and as I spoke a fainthope sprang up in my heart, although I could not understand that therewas any reason for it.

  The Britisher talked for more than ten minutes, the Typees listening tohim most intently; but no sooner had he come to an end than the man whoentered first--he to whom I believed the dwelling belonged--began toquestion Benson angrily, and before he was come to an end every manpresent was speaking.

  Then, when the uproar was greatest, one of the party cut the bonds whichbound Phil and me, indicating by gestures that we were to recline on thecouch just vacated by the Britisher.

  This was indeed a startling reception, as compared with what we hadanticipated, and our surprise amounted almost to bewilderment whenanother of the party brought us a young cocoanut with the top removedthat we might drink the milk, while a third and fourth offered fruitwhich they laid before us on the divan.

  While we were thus being treated as honored guests, the majority of theparty were evidently scolding Benson with many a menacing gesture.

  "He's got himself into trouble somehow," Phil said with a chuckle ofcontent, "and we seem to be getting the best of this party. Talk aboutyour cannibals! Why, these people couldn't treat us any better if theywere missionaries!"

  Presently Benson seemed to have lost his temper, and, after loud words,attempted to stalk out of the building with his musket under his arm.

  Before one would have had time to wink, the Britisher was lying on thestones of the pi-pi, and the chief man of the party was in possession ofthe gun.

  It was a most startling transformation, and Benson appeared quite assurprised as Phil and I; but instead of showing fight he rose to asitting posture, where he remained as meek as any lamb, evidentlysatisfied that it would not be well for him to make further move towardleaving the building.

  With the Britisher thus disposed of, there was a tremendous lot ofjawing done by the men, and at short intervals other parties came up,the greater number looking as if they had been running, until it seemedas if we had near us the entire population of the town which had beendestroyed.

  Puzzle our brains as we might, Phil and I were wholly at a loss tounderstand the meaning of what was going on around us; but wereperfectly satisfied with the position of affairs so far as we wereconcerned.

  But for the knowledge that Benson was treated so roughly, I should havethought that we were being fed up in order to get us in a bettercondition for roasting; but it had been shown that he was in disgrace,and no one could have mistaken the fact that they wished us to look uponthem as our very friendly hosts.

  Finally there was a great commotion outside and an old man appeared,showing by his manner as well as his costume that he was higher inauthority than any of those around him.

  The owner of the dwelling now began to tell him about our having beentaken prisoners, as we could understand from the gestures; and when thestory was come to an end, some order was given the Britisher, who cameto his feet all standing.

  The chief man--he may have been the king, for all I know--seemed to begiving Benson a severe rating; and when he had come to an end, our enemyapproached us so sweetly that butter wouldn't have melted in his mouth.It was difficult then to realize that he was the same villain who hadpromised we should be roasted and eaten.

  "You lads are to be taken to Nukuheva Bay, if you feel able to walk sofar before resting," he said without raising his eyes.

  "Nukuheva Bay!" I repeated in astonishment. "Do you mean that the Typeesno longer intend to serve us up as a roast?" and a glimmer of the truthnow flashed across my mind.

  "The Typees are your friends."

  "Then how does it happen you reckoned so confidently on our beingkilled?" I asked, grown bolder now the danger appeared to be over.

  "The Yankees have beaten them in the battle which was fought thisforenoon, and you are to be sent back as a peace offering," Benson saidmeekly; but it must have cost him an effort to admit the truth of thematter.

  "And what about you?" Phil asked curiously.

  "I am in more danger than since the first hour after being cast ashore,when my companions were being killed. If the battle had gone in theTypees' favor, then I should have been praised for bringing you in; butnow they make a scapegoat of me, and I stand a good chance of beingro
asted myself before this scrape is over."

  The fellow really believed what he said, and I could not keep down afeeling of pity for him; but Phil was less soft-hearted, and saidquickly:--

  "I think it will be a very nice ending, Master Benson. When you havesatisfied the hunger of these natives, you will probably have done thefirst really good deed of your life. Besides, it will save you frombeing hanged."

  That Benson was thoroughly cowed and terrified could be told from thefact that he made no reply to this cruel speech, and my pity for himincreased, although it is doubtful if I would have saved him had it beenin my power, unless I knew for a certainty that he would be sentimmediately to a prison from which he could not escape.

  The Britisher stood before us silently until one of the men prodded himwith a sharp point of a knife, and he asked humbly:--

  "Are you ready to go back to Nukuheva Bay now, or would you like torest a while longer?"

  "We'll go now," I replied quickly, thinking it wisest to take the Typeeswhile they were in the humor, lest they should suddenly come to believethat more might be gained by holding us prisoners; and Phil nodded hishead to show that he was quite in my way of thinking.

  No sooner had Benson repeated the words than two men stepped forward,and the Britisher explained that they would act as our guides during thejourney.

  "Won't you do good for evil by telling Captain Porter that a white manis here in great danger of being killed?" he asked piteously. "Whateveryour commander asks now will be granted; and if he sends back suchrequest by those who conduct you, I shall be saved."

  "You would be brought to Nukuheva Bay, and once there our captain wouldmake you close prisoner."

  "I care not what he does, so that I am saved from these cannibals."

  "An hour ago they were your very good friends; but now you are howlingto be taken from them," Phil suggested.

  "They were my friends, and would be now but for the fact that I advisedthem to make war against the Yankees and the Happars, assuring themthey would whip the whole boiling in a twinkling."

  "And now, after trying not only to have us killed, but to bring aboutthe death of all hands, you coax us to save your miserable life!" Philcried angrily, whereat half a dozen pairs of hands were stretched out,pulling the Britisher violently backward until he fell with a thud onthe stones of the pi-pi.

  Phil and I rose to our feet, although feeling mighty sore in the joints,and the throng separated in a friendly fashion to give us passage.

  As we walked out of the building Benson cried piteously on us to do whatwe could to persuade the captain into demanding his release; and thelast sound we heard on leaving the dwelling where we had fully expectedto meet death in a most horrible form, was his prayers that we would bemerciful.

  The whole change in affairs was rather perplexing, despite the briefexplanation made by Benson; but at the time we gave very little heed toour ignorance, because of the fact that we were comparatively free oncemore.

  If I have set down but few words concerning our feelings while we wereprisoners, and afterward when walking rapidly toward Nukuheva Bay, it isbecause I cannot even make a beginning at describing our condition ofmind. To be at one moment the most miserable of human beings, and inanother freed from all troubles, is such a wonderful change that wordsfail of picturing it.

  The Typees who conducted us were not disposed to delay on the journey,although again and again they asked by gestures if we would like to resta while, and to each of these questions in turn we shook our heads mostdecidedly. I had no desire for rest, wearied though I was, when a coupleof cannibals were to stand watch over us. The sooner I was out of suchcompany the better pleased should I be.

  There is no reason for making an overly long story of our tramp acrossthe mountains, for it would be repeating over and over an account of ourgreat fatigue--fatigue which could not have been borne, I believe, underless dangerous circumstances.

  Not until late in the evening did we come within hailing distance of theHappar village near the shore of the bay, and then our guides told us bygestures that we must lead the way. They evidently did not care to takethe chances of advancing boldly into the settlement while all hands werecelebrating the victory which had been won that day.

  Neither Phil nor I felt any too secure about suddenly appearing beforethe Happars, and instead of entering the village, we stood on theoutskirts shouting "_Essex_ ahoy!" at the full strength of our lungs.

  More than fifteen minutes was spent in this effort to summon ourshipmates before the cries were answered, and then who should suddenlyappear before us but Master Hackett!

  I fancied he would greet us affectionately after all the dangers we hadencountered; but in this I was mistaken.

  "Well, have you two infants got enough of skylarkin'?" he asked in asevere tone, and Phil cried:--

  "Skylarking! If you have any idea we've been enjoying ourselves, itwould please me well for you to have a turn at such fun."

  "Don't wag your tongues about nothin'; but tell me where you've been,an' what you count on doin' with them niggers."

  We made a short story of our adventures, for we were so nearly exhaustedthat it seemed impossible we could remain on our feet another moment;but the time had not yet come when we might indulge in rest.

  "You're to go aboard that the captain may speak with you, an' I reckonthem two fellers had better keep close behind."

  "Can't we speak with the captain in the morning?" I asked, hoping to beallowed a long trick below in my hammock.

  "Not a bit of it. After givin' us all to understand that you'd come togrief, an' bein' the means of havin' half a dozen men trampin' overthese bloomin' mountains in search of you, the least to be done is tomake a report in proper shape."

  Without further protest we followed the old sailor, our Typee guardskeeping close behind us, and as we walked toward the shore I askedMaster Hackett for an account of the day's doings.

  "There ain't much of a yarn to it," he replied laughingly. "Our men didthe most of the business, an' might have worked the traverse alone,accordin' to all accounts. They marched over the mountains, drivin' theTypees before 'em, until comin' to a kind of fort, where it's said noless than four thousand of the niggers made a stand. Then the Yankeesan' the 6-pounder got in their work. It wasn't any great shakes of abattle, 'cause it was so soon over. We drove 'em right an' left, an'wound up the business by pullin' the fort apart. I reckon all thenatives on this 'ere island think we're the toughest fighters they everstruck. Our people came in about three o'clock, an' since then we've hadvisits from this gang an' that, all claimin' to be our best friends.When them as have been sent out to search for you get back, they'll befeelin' sore 'cause a couple of worthless infants have caused 'em somuch hard labor."

  Then it was that I thought of Benson's prayers and entreaties until myheart grew soft, and I asked Master Hackett if he believed the captainwould do anything toward saving his worthless life.

  "I allow he will, lad, though it seems like a waste of good breath tospend it talkin' about him. Even though we are at war with theBritishers, we can't let one of 'em be roasted an' ate up like a pig;but I'll guarantee the captain will keep the brute carefully caged tillwe can put him into a stronger prison than is to be found in Chili."

  "And you believe we should say anything about it to Captain Porter,after Benson did his best to have us roasted and eaten?" Phil askedsharply.

  "I do for a fact, lad. Just at present you're hot against him; but in amonth from now you'd be eatin' your heart out if you'd held your tonguewhen he might 'er been saved."

  We ceased talking of Benson after this, and Master Hackett regaled uswith stories of the battle which he had got from those of our people whotook part in it, until we were on board the ship in Captain Porter'scabin.

  "Tell me all you have done and seen this day," the captain said whenMaster Hackett, with many a flourish and tug at his hair, reportedhaving found us and our guides.

  We obeyed the command, he interrupting
us with questions from time totime, and then Mr. Maury was summoned that he might act as interpreterfor the Typees.

  This ended the interview so far as we were concerned, for Master Hackettdragged us backward out of the cabin, leaving the two savages lookingaround very suspiciously.

  We had repeated Benson's request, and stated as our belief that he wouldspeedily be killed and eaten unless a demand was made that he be broughton board the ship; but to all this the captain gave no reply, and weleft the cabin uncertain as to whether the Britisher would be rescued,or left to take the punishment he had brought upon himself throughtrying to do the Yankees a mischief.

  "Why didn't you let us stay and hear what was said?" Phil asked angrilyof Master Hackett when we were outside.

  "Because he'd got through with you. Are you thinkin' a couple oftroublesome infants like you can loiter around in the after cabin atyour own sweet will?"

  "We might at least have stayed until Captain Porter told us to go," Philretorted in an injured tone.

  "That's exactly what he did do when he nodded to me. It was jest thesame as if he'd said, 'Take 'em away,' an' I did it to save you from awiggin' such as our captain can give a man with more vim than I everheard put into it by any one else."

  I was not quite certain that Master Hackett had received such a signal;but it was too late now to repair the mischief, and we went below readyfor our hammocks, as you can well believe.

  Never before had I even fancied that a sailor's bed was soft; but onthis night I had been inside of it no more than two minutes before I wassnoring like a top.