"Thought to get the best of me, eh?" he asked in a loud voice. "Do you two lads think I'm to be done up like a lamb?"
Then he began kicking us, helpless though we were, and I believed that more than one of our bones would be broken before he came to an end of such amusement.
We endured the punishment in silence, for it would have afforded him too much satisfaction had we cried aloud with pain, and not until he was wearied with the exertion did he cease.
"You're going into the valley of the Typees, my fine birds, kick against it as you may; and I shall see you roasted and eaten before eight and forty hours have passed!"
Phil was about to make an angry reply; but I prodded him with my shoulder as token that he remain silent, for it was giving this brute too much pleasure to bandy words with him.
Now that our attempt at escape had failed, there was no doubt in my mind but that what he said would come true, and I bent all my energies to appearing unconcerned; but fearing meanwhile that at the supreme moment I should give evidence of the cowardice in my heart.
Benson knew, of course, that he had fallen asleep, and most likely had no idea of how long a time he remained unconscious. He must have believed that the nap lasted quite a while, for now he began hurriedly, after having berated us to his heart's content, to look about with a view to continuing the journey.
He forced us to remain perfectly quiet, threatening to fell us with his musket if we made any noise, while he listened for some token of friend or foe.
No sound was heard; it seemed as if we, among all the inhabitants of the island, were the only ones upon the mountain.