The frightened pair now stood still, whilst we endeavoured to
make them comprehend the nature of our wants. In doing this Toby
went through with a complete series of pantomimic
illustrations--opening his mouth from ear to ear, and thrusting
his fingers down his throat, gnashing his teeth and rolling his
eyes about, till I verily believe the poor creatures took us for
a couple of white cannibals who were about to make a meal of
them. When, however, they understood us, they showed no
inclination to relieve our wants. At this juncture it began to
rain violently, and we motioned them to lead us to some place of
shelter. With this request they appeared willing to comply, but
nothing could evince more strongly the apprehension with which
they regarded us, than the way in which, whilst walking before
us, they kept their eyes constantly turned back to watch every
movement we made, and even our very looks.

'Typee or Happar, Toby?' asked I as we walked after them.

'Of course Happar,' he replied, with a show of confidence which
was intended to disguise his doubts.

'We shall soon know,' I exclaimed; and at the same moment I
stepped forward towards our guides, and pronouncing the two names
interrogatively and pointing to the lowest part of the valley,
endeavoured to come to the point at once. They repeated the
words after me again and again, but without giving any peculiar
emphasis to either, so that I was completely at a loss to
understand them; for a couple of wilier young things than we
afterwards found them to have been on this particular occasion
never probably fell in any traveller's way.