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Updated: June 22, 2025
I was still dreaming, with my head covered up, thinking that I was seated at dinner at my old school, and that a number of fellows suddenly burst in, shouting out that it was to be a half-holiday. The noises grew louder and louder; and presently a voice shouted close to me. It sounded strangely like that of Macco; but how he came to be at school I could not tell.
"O Massa Walter," exclaimed Macco, "dat bad!" "It is indeed," I said; "for though you and Oliver may in time get through the trunk with your knives, it will certainly take much longer." "Not so certain of dat," said Macco. "An idea strike me. You take my knife don't break it, though and I come back by-and-by and see what I can do."
Saying this, he handed me his knife, and with greater caution I continued my task. "We must be content to chop out a little at a time," observed Oliver. "Perseverance will succeed in the end. It might even be done with a penknife, if we did not attempt to work too quickly." Macco, after being absent an hour, returned with several articles in his hand.
And yet I felt sure I had seen Macco killed on the shore of Papua; but yet he was so unlike a Malay or a Dyak, or any of the inhabitants of New Guinea, that I could scarcely suppose he could be any other than Macco. It seemed to me that he was looking about for some place to conceal himself. I could resist the temptation no longer, but shouted out, "Macco, Macco!"
We slept soundly in our cave, and at the earliest dawn clambered back into our aerie. I had been longing for a companion from the time I landed, and often and often thought how far better would have been my lot if I had had Oliver or Macco with me; and here the latter had been sent to bear me company.
Macco quickly climbed the tree, and reached a branch just above the cuscus. Not till then did the creature catch sight of him, and began moving along the branch, but at a very slow pace. Macco immediately climbed down towards us and followed it. Just, however, as he was approaching, cuscus let go his hold, hanging down by his tail.
As we were bringing the fish up to the platform, the chief awoke, and seemed well pleased with our success, for he nodded his head, and graciously gave each of us a fish. For two or three days we were sent out in the same manner, and each time Macco was successful.
I called my companions, and catching hold of it, we dragged it up, though our united strength could with difficulty accomplish our object. "Take care no put hand inside," said Macco, "or he bite bery hard!" I am certain that I am right when I say that it could not have weighed much less than a hundredweight.
In an instant, it seemed to me, my eyes closed, and I forgot all that had occurred, and the fearful position in which we were still placed. I suspect that Macco must have slept too, though when we lay down he said that he should keep on the watch.
We did so, but Oliver's instrument and mine made no impression; Macco's, however, went right in, and seemed to cut some part of the creature; for directly afterwards, by using the wedges as levers, we lifted up one of the valves, and exposed to view a huge mass of blubber-like flesh. Macco seemed highly delighted.
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