on which my eye was accustomed to dwell, day after day, in the
midst of my solitary musings. It is strange how inanimate objects will
twine themselves into our affections, especially in the hour of
affliction. Even now, amidst all the bustle and stir of the proud and busy
city in which I am dwelling, the image of those three trees seems to come
as vividly before my eyes as if they were actually present, and I still
feel the soothing quiet pleasure which I then had in watching, hour after
hour, their topmost boughs waving gracefully in the breeze.

CHAPTER XXXIII

The escape.

Nearly three weeks had elapsed since the second visit of Marnoo, and it
must have been more than four months since I entered the valley, when one
day, about noon, and whilst everything was in profound silence, Mow-Mow,
the one-eyed chief, suddenly appeared at the door, and leaning forward
towards me as I lay directly facing him, said, in a low tone, "Toby pemi
ena," (Toby has arrived here.) Gracious heaven! What a tumult of emotions
rushed upon me at this startling intelligence! Insensible to the pain that
had before distracted me, I leaped to my feet, and called wildly to
Kory-Kory, who was reposing by my side. The startled islanders sprang from
their mats; the news was quickly communicated to them; and the next moment
I was making my way to the Ti on the back of Kory-Kory, and surrounded by
the excited savages.

All that I could comprehend of the particulars which Mow-Mow rehearsed to
his auditors as we proceeded, was that my long-lost companion had arrived
in a boat which had just entered the bay. These tidings made me most
anxious to be carried at once to the sea, lest some untoward circumstance
should prevent our meeting; but to this they would not consent, and
continued their course towards the royal abode. As we approached it,
Mehevi and several chiefs showed themselves from the piazza, and called
upon us loudly to come to them.

As soon as we had approached, I endeavoured to make them understand that I
was going down to the sea to meet Toby. To this the king objected, and
motioned Kory-Kory to bring me into the house. It was in vain to resist;
and in a few moments I found myself within the Ti, surrounded by a noisy
group engaged in discussing the recent intelligence. Toby's name was
frequently repeated, coupled with violent exclamations of astonishment. It
seemed a