lew across
the path. Not an enemy was to be seen, and what was still more surprising,
not a single man dropped, though the pebbles fell among the leaves like
hail.

There was a moment's pause, when the Typees, with wild shrieks, flung
themselves into the covert, spear in hand; nor was Toby behind-hand.
Coming so near getting his skull broken by the stones, and animated by an
old grudge he bore the Happars, he was among the first to dash at them. As
he broke his way through the underbush, trying, as he did so, to wrest a
spear from a young chief, the shouts of battle all of a sudden ceased, and
the wood was as still as death. The next moment, the party who had left
them so mysteriously rushed out from behind every bush and tree, and
united with the rest in long and merry peals of laughter.

It was all a sham, and Toby, who was quite out of breath with excitement,
was much incensed at being made a fool of.

It afterwards turned out that the whole affair had been concerted for his
particular benefit, though with what precise view it would be hard to
tell. My comrade was the more enraged at this boy's play, since it had
consumed so much time, every moment of which might be precious. Perhaps,
however, it was partly intended for this very purpose; and he was led to
think so, because, when the natives started again, he observed that they
did not seem to be in so great a hurry as before. At last, after they had
gone some distance, Toby, thinking all the while that they never would get
to the sea, two men came running towards them, and a regular halt ensued,
followed by a noisy discussion, during which Toby's name was often
repeated. All this made him more and more anxious to learn what was going
on at the beach; but it was in vain that he now tried to push forward; the
natives held him back.

In a few moments the conference ended, and many of them ran down the path
in the direction of the water, the rest surrounding Toby, and entreating
him to "Moee," or sit down and rest himself. As an additional inducement,
several calabashes of food, which had been brought along, were now placed
on the ground, and opened, and pipes also were lighted. Toby bridled his
impatience awhile, but at last sprang to his feet and dashed forward
again. He was soon overtaken nevertheless, and again surrounded, but
without further detention was then permitted to go down to the sea.

They came out on a bright green space between the groves and the wat