{"id":"01KG8AKSKFZB9KVYZS8AVVWJGE","cid":"bafkreiaf75tjio57rfqjsbjwnzjxfvxitw725uxrqodxevvhdy6isr7tpm","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":7161,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.152Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 1","source_file":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","start_line":7094,"text":"CHAPTER LI.\r\nWILSON GIVES US THE CUT—DEPARTURE FOR IMEEO\r\n\r\n\r\nAbout three weeks after the Julia’s sailing, our conditions began to be\r\na little precarious. We were without any regular supply of food; the\r\narrival of ships was growing less frequent; and, what was worse yet,\r\nall the natives but good old Captain Bob began to tire of us. Nor was\r\nthis to be wondered at; we were obliged to live upon their benevolence,\r\nwhen they had little enough for themselves. Besides, we were sometimes\r\ndriven to acts of marauding; such as kidnapping pigs, and cooking them\r\nin the groves; at which their proprietors were by no means pleased.\r\n\r\nIn this state of affairs, we determined to march off to the consul in a\r\nbody; and, as he had brought us to these straits, demand an adequate\r\nmaintenance.\r\n\r\nOn the point of starting, Captain Bob’s men raised the most outrageous\r\ncries, and tried to prevent us. Though hitherto we had strolled about\r\nwherever we pleased, this grand conjunction of our whole force, upon\r\none particular expedition, seemed to alarm them. But we assured them\r\nthat we were not going to assault the village; and so, after a good\r\ndeal of gibberish, they permitted us to leave.\r\n\r\nWe went straight to the Pritchard residence, where the consul dwelt.\r\nThis house—to which I have before referred—is quite commodious. It has\r\na wide verandah, glazed windows, and other appurtenances of a civilized\r\nmansion. Upon the lawn in front are palm-trees standing erect here and\r\nthere, like sentinels. The Consular Office, a small building by itself,\r\nis inclosed by the same picket which fences in the lawn.\r\n\r\nWe found the office closed; but, in the verandah of the dwelling-house,\r\nwas a lady performing a tonsorial operation on the head of a\r\nprim-looking, elderly European, in a low, white cravat;—the most\r\ndomestic little scene I had witnessed since leaving home. Bent upon an\r\ninterview with Wilson, the sailors now deputed the doctor to step\r\nforward as a polite inquirer after his health.\r\n\r\nThe pair stared very hard as he advanced; but no ways disconcerted, he\r\nsaluted them gravely, and inquired for the consul.\r\n\r\nUpon being informed that he had gone down to the beach, we proceeded in\r\nthat direction; and soon met a native, who told us that, apprised of\r\nour vicinity, Wilson was keeping out of the way. We resolved to meet\r\nhim; and passing through the village, he suddenly came walking toward\r\nus; having apparently made up his mind that any attempt to elude us\r\nwould be useless.\r\n\r\n“What do you want of me, you rascals?” he cried—a greeting which\r\nprovoked a retort in no measured terms. At this juncture, the natives\r\nbegan to crowd round, and several foreigners strolled along. Caught in\r\nthe very act of speaking to such disreputable acquaintances, Wilson now\r\nfidgeted, and moved rapidly toward his office; the men following.\r\nTurning upon them incensed, he bade them be off—he would have nothing\r\nmore to say to us; and then, hurriedly addressing Captain Bob in\r\nTahitian, he hastened on, and never stopped till the postern of\r\nPritchard’s wicket was closed behind him.\r\n\r\nOur good old keeper was now highly excited, bustling about in his huge\r\npetticoats, and conjuring us to return to the Calabooza. After a little\r\ndebate, we acquiesced.\r\n\r\nThis interview was decisive. Sensible that none of the charges brought\r\nagainst us would stand, yet unwilling formally to withdraw them, the\r\nconsul now wished to get rid of us altogether; but without being\r\nsuspected of encouraging our escape. Thus only could we account for his\r\nconduct.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 1"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJM0KBRJ2HSSX6358Y8C2","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKSKJ3ZEW6QHQFEMHJY4Q","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.983Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:29.713Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}