CHAPTER IX
AN OLD ENEMY
Phil and I were not the only ones who felt disturbed in mind by the knowledge that within a few hours we should be waging war against the natives.
Many an old shellback shook his head ominously on hearing of the message sent by Captain Porter, and more than one predicted that the "luck of the Essex" would desert her immediately we began to "fool 'round on shore, sticking our noses into other people's business."
It was not for a couple of lads like Phil and me to criticise the movements of our commander, and yet we did venture to do so when certain there was no one within earshot to repeat our words where trouble might be brewed for us.
Thus far we had succeeded in carrying on the work of refitting, with no interruption whatsoever, – unless you might reckon it a disturbing influence to have a crowd of Typees on a hill-top two or three miles away shaking their clubs at us, – and, so far as any one could say, we might be able to continue at the task until it was finished.
At all events, so Phil argued, it would be wiser if we kept at work as long as possible, and knocked off to fight only when it was absolutely necessary to do so in order to save our lives or protect our property.
It was not reasonable to suppose that our sailormen would be able to make much of a fist at fighting amid the thickets and on the cliffs against those who had been accustomed all their lives to such work, even though ours might be superior weapons; and should we gain the victory, the cost might be greater than we could afford.
When a commander lacks a sufficient number of men to handle all the vessels of his fleet, it surely seems like taking a great risk to run the chance of having that number made less by the spears of an enemy, to vanquish whom can be no very great honor.
Thus Phil and I argued; but there was another phase of this war which struck us more keenly, although we did not talk about it very much. Suppose any of us should be taken prisoners! There appeared to be no question but that the natives were cannibals, and the idea of being cooked and eaten was something so horrible that we did not venture to so much as speak of it. The possible fact remained in our minds more clearly, perhaps, because we did not put the thoughts into words.
It did not afford any great relief to know that Master Hackett had very much the same mental trouble. After we three had done our share in bringing on shore a 6-pounder to be used in the battle on the mountain, and were lying in the grove taking a short rest, the old man said musingly, as if speaking to himself: —
"I don't reckon him as serves for the roast at one of these 'ere feasts knows very much about what's goin' on, seein's how he's dead an' baked; but it has always struck me that I'd rather have a grave in the ground, than inside one of these 'ere niggers."
"Do you suppose they eat all who are killed in battle?" Phil asked, his voice trembling perceptibly.
"It would come to that in the end, lad; though if the fight was a big one, I reckon some of them as were dead would have to be salted down."
"I wish we were to get under way to-morrow, instead of going out through that tangle of trees and vines to prove that Captain Porter is no coward," Phil said with a sigh.
"So do I, lad. I reckon we could refit our ships without doin' very much fightin', an' what little trouble might be necessary could be carried on here in the open, where we sailormen would have a fair show."
More than this Master Hackett did not say at the time, but from it I understood that he had come to look upon a battle with the Typees as something which might well be postponed until we had a larger crew.
I must say a word in favor of our commander's decision, otherwise it may be thought that he sent his men into danger without due cause.
In order to gain the assistance of those natives living near about the bay, he had been forced to promise the Happars that he would give the Typees a lesson such as they deserved; and now was come the time when that should be done, otherwise we might count on having trouble with those who had stood our friends.
While Master Hackett and we lads were taking our ease in the grove, a party of natives numbering two or three hundred carried the 6-pounder to the summit of the nearest mountain, and from that moment until the expedition was really begun the Happar warriors continued to come in from their homes ready for battle until there were not less, so my cousin, Lieutenant McKnight, declared, than two thousand men stationed on or near the hill where was the gun, all in something approaching military order.
These soldiers were most imposing in appearance, even though they were heathen. The ordinary costume, now they were attired for battle, was much like this, and I have taken the description from a writer who, having lived two years among them, can well be considered as an authority: —
"The splendid, long, drooping tail-feathers of the tropical bird, thickly interspersed with the gaudy plumage of the cock, were disposed in an immense upright semicircle upon his head, their lower extremities being fixed in a crescent of guinea-beads which spanned the forehead. Around his neck were several enormous necklaces of boar's tusks, polished like ivory, and disposed in such a manner that the longest #and largest were upon his capacious chest.
"Thrust forward through the large apertures in his ears were two small and finely shaped sperm-whale teeth, presenting their cavities in front, stuffed with freshly plucked leaves, and curiously wrought at the other end into strange little images and devices. The loins of the warrior were girt about with heavy folds of dark-colored tappa, hanging before and behind in clusters of braided tassels, while anklets and bracelets of curling human hair completed his unique costume. In his right hand he grasped a beautifully carved paddle spear, nearly fifteen feet in length, made of the bright koa wood, one end sharply pointed, and the other flattened like an oar blade.
"Hanging obliquely from his girdle by a loop of sinnate, was a richly decorated pipe; the slender stem was colored with a red pigment, and round it, as well as the idol-bowl, fluttered little streamers of thinnest tappa. But that which was most-remarkable in the appearance of the splendid islander was the elaborate tattooing displayed on every noble limb. All imaginable lines and curves and figures were delineated over his whole body, and in their grotesque variety and infinite profusion I could only compare them to the crowded groupings of quaint patterns we sometimes see in costly pieces of lacework."
Now fancy that two thousand of these fierce-looking fellows were hanging around, while you knew that just over the mountain were seven or eight thousand more, and you will have some idea of how Phil and I felt when we knew that our little company of white people were to make, or help make war, understanding full well that the dead and those taken prisoners would serve as food for the living victors.
It was by no means a cheering prospect, view it from whatever standpoint you choose.
However, all troubles are greatest when looked at from a distance, and this was no exception to the rule.
On the morning of the second day, when Phil and I had worked ourselves into a regular perspiration of fear, the Happar army, with the exception of those on the mountain guarding the 6-pounder, were drawn up near the beach awaiting the coming of our men before proceeding to smoke out the Typees.
I listened in fear and trembling to hear the order for all hands to fall into line, and my surprise was as great as my relief, which is putting it very strong, when I learned that Captain Porter did not count on risking many of his men in an encounter.
Forty sailors and marines had already been told off, and Lieutenant Downes was placed in command, after which Mr. Maury was ordered to let the Happar leaders know that our force was ready.
Master Hackett was not among the number chosen, and although he had protested that we had no right to take part in this war, he appeared decidedly disgruntled because of being left behind.
"I see they've taken the younger sailors," he said to Phil and me as we watched the small body of white men, completely encircled by the fierce-looking savages, march off toward the mountain. "If the captain thinks that a crowd of boys will do the work of men, then I allow he's makin' the mistake of his life."
"After all that's been said against the war, you ought to be well satisfied that you're not called upon to take part," I said in surprise, whereat the old man turned upon me as if in anger.
"It makes no difference what I think, when a part of the crew are called out on an expedition like this. It's my right to go with 'em, an' perhaps Captain Porter will come to the conclusion, before this day is ended, that he's made a mistake in puttin' all his dependence on young fellows who haven't had experience enough to steady them!"
Neither Phil nor I were disposed to quarrel with that which enabled us to remain in a position of at least partial security, while the other poor fellows were perspiring and fuming as they made their way through the jungle on a six-mile tramp.
It would be no slight task to scale the mountains when the heat, even while one remained on the seashore, was most intense; and we could well fancy what the temperature must be amid the thicket.
Ten minutes after the rear-guard of the army had passed by our lounging-place, the entire force was hidden from view by the foliage, and we saw nothing more of them until two hours later, when the foremost of the gaudily bedecked warriors appeared on the naked mountain-side above the line of trees.
At such a distance they looked like ants, rather than human beings; and finding it impossible to distinguish our men from the savages, we ceased to strain our eyes, accounting it too much of an exertion while the heat was so great.
Mr. Maury had told us that the Typees had a strong fort on the summit of the second mountain, and it was probable the engagement, if one ensued, would be at such a distance from the shore that we could have no view of it whatsoever; therefore we set about our duties of waiting upon the cooks, well content with such menial offices as we thought of our shipmates in the forest.
Master Hackett found enough on board the Essex to occupy his time profitably, and half an hour after the army set forth, all hands of us on the shore of the bay were working as quietly as if there was no possibility a battle would be fought which might affect us most keenly.
Until dinner had been cooked and eaten we two lads found little opportunity for conversation with one another; but after the meal had come to an end, and those detailed for work upon the ships were at their tasks once more, our hour of idleness was come.
We were at liberty to do as we pleased until it was time to prepare supper, and Phil said, when I started for our old lounging-place, the grove: —
"With all the afternoon before us, why shouldn't we have a look at what's going on over yonder?" and he pointed toward the mountain summit.
"Do you mean that we, being clear of such danger because of our duties, shall voluntarily take part in a fight?" I asked in surprise.
"I'm not counting on having anything to do with one, save as spectator," he replied with a laugh. "Mr. Maury has said that the Typee fort is on the second summit, therefore our people have far to go before beginning their work. Now, it wouldn't be such a very hard task for us to climb to the top of this first mountain and there have a full view of all that's being done. A battle between savages must be something fine, and there are few lads who ever had such an opportunity as is ours if we choose to take advantage of it."
There was much of truth in what he said. The idea had not come into my head before, that I might, from some secure spot, see all that was being done, but now that it had been suggested I was decidedly in favor of the plan.
True, it would cost us severe labor to climb the mountain-side; but the descent would be easy, and surely we could well afford to spend some of our strength in order to witness such a sight as might at this moment be presented.
"I'm with you," was my reply as I rose quickly to my feet. "Shall we tell Master Hackett what we propose doing?"
"There's no real need of it, and it would cost us a good half hour's time to go out to the Essex and back. By hurrying up a bit now, we can be down here again before he has knocked off work."
"Come on!" I cried gleefully, and we ran forward, following the footsteps of the war party until we were come to some huge boulders about two miles from the shore, directly over which the trail seemed to lead.
"We can afford to go around such a barrier as that," I said lazily, as we came to a halt. "The savages, accustomed to such climbing, and in haste to get into position, most likely took the shortest cut."
Phil was of my opinion, and thus each of us proved himself to be a simple, for we should have realized that the Happars would take the best course, and if a pile of boulders might be avoided by a slight detour, they would not hesitate about making it.
We went on our own course, however, and after climbing for half an hour over the mossy slope which seemed slippery as glass, found the barrier still on the port side, with no indication of coming to an end.
"It can't make much difference to us," Phil said cheerily. "We're not bound for the Typee fort; but only ask for a place where we can see what is being done on the next mountain."
During fully half an hour more we climbed, and then, without warning, found ourselves in the midst of tall yellow weeds growing together as thickly as they could stand, and as tough and stubborn as so much iron.
I tried to force them apart with my hands; but such an attempt was useless, and, half crouching, I brought my shoulder to bear against the yellow stalks, when I found it possible, by the exercise of all my strength, to move forward slowly.
We toiled on for thirty minutes more, expecting each instant to come to the end of the growth, and then Phil threw himself down exhausted.
The reeds closed in upon us as we advanced, and thus we were completely shut out from any breath of air which might be stirring. The heat was more intense than I had ever experienced, and it seemed almost impossible that I could continue the ascent ten minutes longer.
"We'd best put back, and try our luck over the boulders!" Phil said, panting so heavily that it was only with difficulty he could speak intelligently.
"We've fought our way through this stuff for an hour, and it will take us as long to go back," I said petulantly. "It stands to reason that we must come to an end of such work very soon, and we'd better push on, if only to find an easier way of descent."
Phil made no decided objection to this proposition, and after a short time of rest I led the way once more, straining my eyes in vain for some token that we were near the end of this most fatiguing journey.
On, on we pressed, I wishing most devoutly that I had never fallen in with Phil's scheme, and then, suddenly, the ironlike weeds became less dense. It was possible to make my way with far less exertion, and I shouted the joyful information to Phil, who I knew needed something to cheer him on.
"We're getting out where it will be possible to take our choice of paths!" I cried; "and if you're of the same opinion, we won't travel many miles farther for the sake of seeing a battle between the savages, but make our way back to the shore."
I had no more than thus spoken when there was a rustling of the stiff stalks just in front of me, and looking up quickly I saw the muzzle of a musket within three or four inches of my face.
While standing like a statue gazing at the metal tube, so much surprised that it was impossible to speak, a voice cried harshly: —
"Throw down your weapon, or I'll put a bullet through you."
"We haven't any weapons!" I cried; and a great simple I was for having given such information.
Then there came into my mind the thought that he who had shouted must be one of our men, because it was not probable there were any on the island besides them who spoke English, and I cried gleefully to Phil: —
"Come on, lad, we've run upon our sailors!"
Phil increased his pace as much as possible, and was just at my heels when I stepped out to find myself confronted by none other than the lad who, I had good reason for believing, was in prison at Valparaiso – Oliver Benson.
He stood there grinning, with musket at his shoulder, ready to fire at the first show of enmity from either of us.
Phil was quite as much astonished as I had been, when finally he came into view; but it was possible for him to speak, and he cried: —
"Where did you come from?"
"The last port I left was Valparaiso, where you and your friends spent so much time lodging me in jail. I'm stopping on this island just now with the natives who count on wiping your folks out of sight this afternoon, and I had an idea that you two young scoundrels might be picked up in the rear of the sailors, for I knew full well you wouldn't be found in front."
We stood gazing at him in speechless astonishment, and he, grinning as usual, seemed to enjoy our display of cowardice.
"Come up here one at a time and turn your pockets inside out."
"What's this for?" I asked; but at the same moment taking good care to obey promptly.
"I want to make certain you haven't any weapons."
"We're willing to give you our word as to that," Phil said promptly.
"I'd rather have better proof," the Britisher replied sharply; and in a very few seconds we convinced him of our defenceless condition.
While we were thus being overhauled, I asked myself bitterly how it chanced that we had been such idiots as to leave camp without so much as a knife between us; but could find no satisfactory answer to the question.
When he was convinced that we were really without weapons, Benson laid the musket carefully down at his feet and drew a huge clasp-knife, which he opened.
"Stand around here!" he commanded sharply, and, as a matter of course, we did as we were bidden.
Then the fellow drew from his pocket a small coil of ratline-stuff with which he proceeded to tie my left arm to Phil's right one in such a manner that we could not get at the knots with our free hands.
Now we were entirely in his power and he proceeded to get such satisfaction as was possible out of the capture.
"Look at me!" he said sharply. "Did you count that there wouldn't be a day of reckoning when you left me in jail?"
"We never thought anything about it," I replied, my anger causing me to appear bold. "You deserved punishment, and should be behind the bars this very moment."
"You evidently know very little about Chilian jails," he went on complacently. "Money will buy the freedom of any prisoner who is not accused of murder, and even such an one has been known to escape if he could show gold enough to convince the keepers. As soon as your miserable ships were out of the harbor, I quietly walked away one fine night, for I'd made enough selling Yankees to have a very respectable-sized hoard where no one could get at it but myself."
"But how did you chance to be on this island?" Phil asked, curiosity overcoming his fear.
"I took passage on a craft bound to the Galapagos on a trading voyage. We met heavy weather, and were cast away here. Four came ashore; but three have been roasted, and I'm living on the fat of the land, having shown the king of the Typees that I can be of more service to him alive than dead."
"Then you knew we were in Nukuheva Bay?" I stammered, so much surprised that I could not speak in proper fashion.
"Of course I did, and more than once I've crept near enough the shore to see you lads. I made up my mind that you would soon be where I could work off old scores, and began operations by advising the king to send that message to Captain Porter, knowing he'd come out. I believed you two sneaks would be with the war-party; but on finding you had hung back, like cowards, was on my way to learn where you were."
Having made such explanation Benson, who had been seated while we stood like culprits before him, leaned back in a more comfortable fashion, surveying us gloatingly.
"Well, what do you propose doing with us now that the plan has worked to your satisfaction?"
"I count on waiting here till your crew and the Happars have been thoroughly whipped, when I'll take you into the valley and see Typees roast you in proper fashion. I know how it's done, for I saw the three who came on shore with me slaughtered and cooked in fine style. My only trouble is, they'll cut your throats as if you were pigs, and that's too easy a death for those who did what they could to keep me in jail."
I had no doubt whatsoever but that the wretch would do exactly as he had said, and it is not surprising that I literally grew sick with terror.
Involuntarily I glanced at Phil. His face was pallid, and beadlike drops of perspiration stood on his forehead, telling of the fear in his heart.
It was reasonable to suppose that Benson was well acquainted with the paths from one mountain to the other, and could readily keep out of the way of the Happar army, whether it should be successful or beaten. There appeared to be no ray of hope for us; but I did my poor best to prevent the murderous Britisher from understanding what was in my heart.
Phil showed himself braver than was I, for instead of being forced to spend his time trying to keep himself from showing cowardice, he could afford to indulge in anger, and he cried, bold as if we were the masters instead of Benson: —
"It's a bad practice to crow very loudly before you've worked your will. We have more friends on this island than you may claim; and if it so chances that you can turn us over to the cannibals, they will make you suffer."
"If the situation was different, my bantam, I'd admit that what you say might turn out true; but your people haven't any idea that Oliver Benson is anywhere except in the jail at Valparaiso, and will set it all down to the account of the Typees. I shouldn't cry very much if a few hundred of them were killed to pay for having eaten you."
After that we fell silent for a time, Benson eying us greedily, as if he had it in mind to learn what human flesh tasted like, and Phil and I trying in vain to devise some relief from our troubles.
There was no way out, as I speedily came to believe. This vindictive fellow could easily keep us hidden from the returning Happars, and that the Typees would welcome more captives we knew full well.
When perhaps fifteen minutes had passed and Benson gave no sign of leaving this hiding-place in the stiff weeds, Phil asked curtly: —
"How much longer do you count on staying here? There'll be no chance of seeing us roasted, unless you try a hand at the cooking, while we are hidden in this place."
"You shall have a chance to travel in due time, so don't grow impatient. I reckon on staying here until the battle is over, and then there won't be any risk, so far as I am concerned, in going across the valley."
Even as he spoke I fancied it was possible to hear faintly the report of muskets; but it might have been that my imagination played me a trick, because I was eager to hear such sounds close at hand.
We remained standing in front of Benson, while he lolled on the ground at his ease, until it seemed impossible to remain on my feet another second longer. The work of climbing up the mountain had brought us almost to the verge of exhaustion, which was forgotten for the time being in our fears, but now made itself felt more keenly than before.
Save for that of which I have already spoken, not a sound had been heard to give token that there were other human beings on the island, and I began to believe that neither Happars nor Typees were within many miles of us.
"Look here, Benson," I finally said, speaking as though he was in my power rather than I in his, "if you keep us standing here much longer it'll be a case of carrying us bodily to the roasting-place, for we've had more of a tramp this day than is really good for our bones."
"If you so much as move a finger, I'll shoot you like curs."
"Shoot and have done with it!" Phil cried boldly, scuffling his feet and waving his arm to provoke the fellow. "I allow that it's within your power to carry us where we'll be roasted and eaten, therefore the greatest favor you can do is to shoot now without further parley."
Having said this Phil threw himself on the ground, dragging me with him, and I could have kissed the lad for displaying so much spirit while I was acting the more cowardly part.
Benson did not shoot, and for two very good reasons: first, he wanted to carry us in as prisoners that he might gain credit for having captured two white fellows; and secondly, because he dared not discharge his musket, lest by so doing he bring down upon him a party of Happars, or, perhaps, some of our own men.
I believe that I would have welcomed death if it came in the guise of a musket ball, so positive did I feel that we should be delivered to the Typees within a certain length of time, when I had good cause for knowing what our fate would be; and I would have done anything within my power to provoke him into killing us quickly, even though I was usually so cowardly when death seemed near at hand.
Strange, and almost extravagant, as it may seem, Phil's eyes were closed in slumber within a very few minutes after he was stretched at full length upon the ground. The dear lad was so nearly exhausted after his long climb and the subsequent struggle with the stiff yellow weeds, that bodily fatigue caused him to forget the danger.
I, who was probably less weary, could not have lost myself in the unconsciousness of slumber even though my bed had been the most rest-inviting ever made. Death was standing very near to me at that time, and I believed the supreme moment must come before many hours had passed, for it was not probable we would be aided by those of our crew who had gone to fight the battles of the friendly Happars.
Then, after many moments, came a gleam of light into my mind. Benson's eyes were beginning to grow narrow; I saw his head droop on his bosom, and he roused up with a start, thus showing that slumber would be grateful to him. Then it was that a great hope looked in at my heart.
If he should be overcome by slumber, it was not impossible that Phil and I might be able to creep up on him so far as to gain possession of the musket; and once that weapon was in our hands, we would give the villain a most pressing invitation to go with us to where he could have a second interview with Captain Porter.
I watched him as a cat watches a mouse, literally holding my breath in suspense, and ready to take any chance, however desperate, when the opportunity should come.