{"id":"01KG8AKSKJ3ZEW6QHQFEMHJY4Q","cid":"bafkreigk3feuch77nctdu5qowwfwjezlk3vji64uwgnd4wmmzu6gnlmypm","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":7225,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.152Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 2","source_file":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","start_line":7153,"text":"petticoats, 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\nSome of the party, however, with a devotion to principle truly heroic,\r\nswore they would never leave him, happen what might. For my own part, I\r\nbegan to long for a change; and as there seemed to be no getting away\r\nin a ship, I resolved to hit upon some other expedient. But first, I\r\ncast about for a comrade; and of course the long doctor was chosen. We\r\nat once laid our heads together; and for the present, resolved to\r\ndisclose nothing to the rest.\r\n\r\nA few days previous, I had fallen in with a couple of Yankee lads,\r\ntwins, who, originally deserting their ship at Tanning’s Island (an\r\nuninhabited spot, but exceedingly prolific in fruit of all kinds), had,\r\nafter a long residence there, roved about among the Society group. They\r\nwere last from Imeeo—the island immediately adjoining—where they had\r\nbeen in the employ of two foreigners who had recently started a\r\nplantation there. These persons, they said, had charged them to send\r\nover from Papeetee, if they could, two white men for field-labourers.\r\n\r\nNow, all but the prospect of digging and delving suited us exactly; but\r\nthe opportunity for leaving the island was not to be slighted; and so\r\nwe held ourselves in readiness to return with the planters; who, in a\r\nday or two, were expected to visit Papeetee in their boat.\r\n\r\nAt the interview which ensued, we were introduced to them as Peter and\r\nPaul; and they agreed to give Peter and Paul fifteen silver dollars a\r\nmonth, promising something more should we remain with them permanently.\r\nWhat they wanted was men who would stay. To elude the natives—many of\r\nwhom, not exactly understanding our relations with the consul, might\r\narrest us, were they to see us departing—the coming midnight was\r\nappointed for that purpose.\r\n\r\nWhen the hour drew nigh, we disclosed our intention to the rest. Some\r\nupbraided us for deserting them; others applauded, and said that, on\r\nthe first opportunity, they would follow our example. At last, we bade\r\nthem farewell. And there would now be a serene sadness in thinking over\r\nthe scene—since we never saw them again—had not all been dashed by\r\nM’Gee’s picking the doctor’s pocket of a jack-knife, in the very act of\r\nembracing him.\r\n\r\nWe stole down to the beach, where, under the shadow of a grove, the\r\nboat was waiting. After some delay, we shipped the oars, and pulling\r\noutside of the reef, set the sail; and with a fair wind, glided away\r\nfor Imeeo.\r\n\r\nIt was a pleasant trip. The moon was up—the air, warm—the waves,\r\nmusical—and all above was the tropical night, one purple vault hung\r\nround with soft, trembling stars.\r\n\r\nThe channel is some five leagues wide. On one hand, you have the three\r\ngreat peaks of Tahiti lording it over ranges of mountains and valleys;\r\nand on the other, the equally romantic elevations of Imeeo, high above\r\nwhich a lone peak, called by our companions, “the Marling-pike,” shot\r\nup its verdant spire.\r\n\r\nThe planters were quite sociable. They had been sea-faring men, and\r\nthis, of course, was a bond between us. To strengthen it, a flask of\r\nwine was produced, one of several which had been procured in person\r\nfrom the French admiral’s steward; for whom the planters, when on a\r\nformer visit to Papeetee, had done a good turn, by introducing the\r\namorous Frenchman to the ladies ashore. Besides this, they had a\r\ncalabash filled with wild boar’s meat, baked yams, bread-fruit, and\r\nTombez potatoes. Pipes and tobacco also were produced; and while\r\nregaling ourselves, plenty of stories were told about the neighbouring\r\nislands.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 2"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJM0KBRJ2HSSX6358Y8C2","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKSKFZB9KVYZS8AVVWJGE","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AKSKJC30GBP2N6JEFC1XX","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.986Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:29.882Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}