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Updated: May 10, 2025
We've left Hongkong, and Father Somazzo couldn't get me away from my uncle," was his first thought. "And last night I dreamed that he did get me away, and that Brother Onufrio and Peppo were with me, but I can't remember where. O dear, we are out at sea and on the way to Australia, or God knows where." Willy was almost in tears.
For a long time they had noticed that the cannibals were preparing to attack them. "How shall we protect ourselves?" asked the Captain; "if they really do fall upon us, we are lost. Willy go have Peppo tell his people who have not been baptized that it is high time that they attend to the matter, and then climb the mast to see if you can make out what the cannibals are doing.
With difficulty the Captain and two sailors managed to get into the boat and across the inlet, to where their companions, pale with fear, stood shuddering to think of the awful fate of their comrades. "Poor, poor Peppo," wailed Willy, "can't we help him? Will he be eaten up by the cannibals?" Immediately there appeared on the shore whole troops of cannibals, and more poured out of the woods.
I'll take you to the kitchen, and there our cook will find so much for you to do, that you won't have time for sad thoughts." With these words he seized Peppo by the arm and led him to the kitchen, where he gave him over to the cook.
"Neither by discord, the sea, nor thirst, concerning which our lying priest warned us, have we lost a single one of our number, but now disease rages until our men die like flies," said Lihoa. From this time on all of the sick were willing to be baptized not by the Captain but by the two boys, Willy and Peppo. The Captain became very ill and Willy nursed him.
Terrible are the tales of jealousy and revenge, of deliberate treachery and of uncontrolled violence, which are related of these quick-tempered grown-up children of the South, who seem to love and hate with the blind intensity of untutored savages. “Lo ’nnamorato’ mmio sse chiammo Peppo, Lo capo jocatore de le carte; Ss’ ha jocato ’sto core a zecchinetto, Dice ca mo’ lo venne, e mo’ lo parte.
The small amount of rations which they had, water-soaked biscuits and salted meats, increased their thirst, and to add to their distress the cannibals on the opposite shore mockingly showed them bunches of luscious bananas and other tropical fruits. "Don't look there any more, Willy," said Peppo.
"I wanted you to look upon this as a sacrifice which you were willing to make, but since you will not, I command you to remain at home, for a reason which I cannot tell you. Come, Peppo, into the class-room. You may take my big picture-book with all the pictures of European cities and churches, ladies and gentlemen in fine clothes and battles and ships. The time will pass quickly.
We've become a nest of intrigues down there; worse than the Scala. Peppo had to scratch along just any way. One evening he came to me and said he could get an engagement to sing for the grand rich Steins, but the condition was that I should sing with him. They would pay, oh, anything! And the fact that I had sung a private engagement with him would give him other engagements of the same sort.
When you have finished get at those dishes, and wash and wipe them quicker than scat, and for every one you break a precious good thump you'll get." With tears in his eyes poor little Peppo choked down his rice, and went to work.
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