ate
the vicinity of the islanders.

What furtive and anxious glances we cast into those dim-looking shades!
With what apprehensions we proceeded, ignorant at what moment we might be
greeted by the javelin of some ambushed savage! At last my companion
paused, and directed my attention to a narrow opening in the foliage. We
struck into it, and it soon brought us by an indistinctly traced path to a
comparatively clear space, at the farther end of which we descried a
number of the trees, the native name of which is "annuee," and which bear
a most delicious fruit.

What a race! I hobbling over the ground like some decrepid wretch, and
Toby leaping forward like a greyhound. He quickly cleared one of the trees
on which there were two or three of the fruit, but to our chagrin they
proved to be much decayed; the rinds partly opened by the birds, and their
hearts half devoured. However, we quickly despatched them, and no ambrosia
could have been more delicious.

We looked about us uncertain whither to direct our steps, since the path
we had so far followed appeared to be lost in the open space around us. At
last we resolved to enter a grove near at hand, and had advanced a few
rods, when, just upon its skirts, I picked up a slender bread-fruit shoot
perfectly green, and with the tender bark freshly stript from it. It was
slippery with moisture, and appeared as if it had been but that moment
thrown aside. I said nothing, but merely held it up to Toby, who started
at this undeniable evidence of the vicinity of the savages.

The plot was now thickening.--A short distance farther lay a little faggot
of the same shoots bound together with a strip of bark. Could it have been
thrown down by some solitary native, who, alarmed at seeing us, had
hurried forward to carry the tidings of our approach to his
countrymen?--Typee or Happar?--But it was too late to recede, so we moved on
slowly, my companion in advance casting eager glances under the trees on
either side, until all at once I saw him recoil as if stung by an adder.
Sinking on his knee, he waved me off with one hand, while with the other
he held aside some intervening leaves, and gazed intently at some object.

Disregarding his injunction, I quickly approached him and caught a glimpse
of two figures partly hidden by the dense foliage; they were standing
close together, and were perfectly motionless. They must have previously
perceived us, and withdrawn into the depths of the woo