Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-14

Asrman Melville 1919 issl' wsS an hi mfef
'omoo." @Typee, etc It Is from the last.
named novel that the present episode is
takenl
In the Bay Of Nukuheva In the Mar
ouesas, Toby and / decided to flee from
the whaling ship then anchored there,
10 which we were bound to auty for the
terms of the voyage, which might eX-
tend TO several years. We were weary
Of the tyrannieal life on board, and
thought to try our luck in the tropical
wilderness and trust to making friends
with the savages, though they were re-
puted TO be cruel cannihals.
It was raining hard and the group
on shore leave took refuge In canoe
house near the sea Many Of them fell
asleep. This was the opportunity we
desired. and Toby and / availed our
selves of it at once by stealing out OF
the canoe house and plunging into the
depths Of an extensive grove that was
in its rear.
After 10 minutes rapid progress we
gained an open space, from which we
could lust GeScry the ridge we intended
to mount looming dimly through the
mists of the tropical shower and dis
tant from us as we estimated, some
thing like a mile Our direct course
toward ii lay through a rather pOpu-
lous part of the hay, but, DESTROYS as
we we're of evading the natives who
might return us to the ship for any
paltry reward. and wishing as we did
10 secure an unmolested retreat TO the
mountains. we determined by taking a
circuit through some extensive thtCketS
to avoid their vicinity altogether.
The heavy rain that still continued to
fall without mtermission favored our
enterprise. es it drove the islanders into
their houses and prevented any casual
meeting with them Our heavy froeks
soon became completely saturated with
ratcr. and by their weight and that OF
tobacco and few biscuits and such
articles as we had concealed III them,
not little impeded our progress. But
1t was no time to pause, when at any
moment we might be surprised by a
body of Savages and forced at the very
outset to relinquish our undertaking.
Since leaving the canoe house we had
scarcely exchanged single syllable
with one another, but when we entered
a second narrow opening in the wood
and again caught sight of the ridge be-
fore us, ! took Toby by the arm and
pointing along its sloping outline to the
lofty heights at its extremity, said IN
low tone:
Now. Toby, not a word nor a glance
backward till We stand on the summit
of yonder mountaln-so no more linger-
ing. but let us shove ahead while We
can. and in few hours time we may
laugh aloud. You are the lightest and
the nimb!est, so lead on, and / VIII
follow
IAN right. brother" said Toby
Ill Iatte afnCe
together, that's all" So saying. with
bound like a young roe. he cleared q
brook which ran acroSs our path, and
rushed forward with a quick step.
When we arrived within a short dis
lance of the ridge. we were stopped by
a mass of tall yellow reeds, growing to-
gether as thickly as they could stand
and as tough and stubborn as so many
rods of steel. and we perceived, TO our
chagrin, that they extended midway up
the elevation We purposed to ascend
For a moment we gazed about us III
quest of more practicable route: II
was. however, at once apparent that
there was no resource but TO pierce this
thieket of canes at all hazards. We now
reversed our order of march: I, being
the heaviest, taking the lead, with a
view of breaking path through the
obstruction. while Toby fell into the
rear.
Two or three times endeavored tt
insinuate myself between the canes ano
by dint OF cnaxing and bending them
to make some progress, but a bullfros
might as well have tried to work a pas
sage through the teeth of comb. ant
I gave UP the attempt in despair.
Halt wild with meeting an obstacl'
We had so littls anticipated threw my
self desperately against 1t. crushing II
the ground the canes with which came
In contact, and rising TO my feet again
repeated the action with like effect
Twenty minutes of this violent exercise
almost exhausted me, but II carried III
some way into the thicket, when Toby
who had been reaping the benefit OF m,
labars by following close at my heels
proposed To become pioneer In turn, ant
accordingly passed ahead with view q
affording me respite from my exef'
tons As. however with his Sigh
frame he made but bad work OF 1t.
was soon obliged 10 resume my old place
again.
On we toiled the perspiration start
ing from our bodies in floods, our limbs
torn and lacerated with the splinteret
fragments OF the broken canes, unit
we had proceeded perhaps as far a!
the middle Of the brake, when suddenl,
II ceased raining and the atmosphere
around us became close and suitry be
yond expression. The elasticity OF thu
reeds. quickly recovering from the tenn
porary pressure of our bodies, caused
| them to spring back to their origina
| position. so that they closed In upon u
| as we advanced and prevented the cir
! culation Of the little air which Nigh
| otherwise have reached us Besides this
their great height completely shut u