g the beach to Nukuheva.

I had heard, too, of an English vessel that many years ago, after a weary
cruise, sought to enter the bay of Nukuheva, and arriving within two or
three miles of the land, was met by a large canoe filled with natives, who
offered to lead the way to the place of their destination. The captain,
unacquainted with the localities of the island, joyfully acceded to the
proposition--the canoe paddled on and the ship followed. She was soon
conducted to a beautiful inlet, and dropped her anchor in its waters
beneath the shadows of the lofty shore. That same night the perfidious
Typees, who had thus inveigled her into their fatal bay, flocked aboard
the doomed vessel by hundreds, and at a given signal murdered every soul
on board.

CHAPTER IV

Thoughts previous to attempting an escape--Toby, a fellow-sailor,
agrees to share the adventure--Last night aboard the ship.

Having fully resolved to leave the vessel clandestinely, and having
acquired all the knowledge concerning the bay that I could obtain under
the circumstances in which I was placed, I now deliberately turned over in
my mind every plan of escape that suggested itself, being determined to
act with all possible prudence in an attempt where failure would be
attended with so many disagreeable consequences. The idea of being taken
and brought back ignominiously to the ship was so inexpressibly repulsive
to me, that I was determined by no hasty and imprudent measures to render
such an event probable.

I knew that our worthy captain, who felt such a paternal solicitude for
the welfare of his crew, would not willingly consent that one of his best
hands should encounter the perils of a sojourn among the natives of a
barbarous island; and I was certain that in the event of my disappearance
his fatherly anxiety would prompt him to offer, by way of a reward, yard
upon yard of gaily printed calico for my apprehension. He might even have
appreciated my services at the value of a musket, in which case I felt
perfectly certain that the whole population of the bay would be
immediately upon my track, incited by the prospect of so magnificent a
bounty.

Having ascertained the fact before alluded to, that the islanders, from
motives of precaution, dwelt together in the depths of the valleys, and
avoided wandering about the more elevated portions of the shore, unless
bound on some expedition of war or p