Week of March 12, 2007

Chapter Six: In Which I Join the Fishes and Rejoin the Prebles:

A lot happened to Hitty in this chapter. Due to good luck (!) she floated on ocean currents to the exact same island where the shipwreck survivors had landed. Then due to more luck, she was found by Andy and returned to Phoebe. Being a very religious woman, Kate Preble declared that a miracle, and not luck.

Kate spirits were certainly uplifted by the appearance of Hitty. Perhaps she felt some sense of normalcy and that there really was a chance that they would be rescued. Bill Buckle always believed that Hitty would bring them luck. He really took a liking to the doll – strange for a crewman on a whaling ship. Maybe it’s the superstition thing again.

We learn that Hitty can smell! We already know she can see and hear.

Did we not pick up on her sense of smell in earlier chapters??

I did not pick up on the fact that she could smell. Must have read right over that part. Good point.

The little group managed quite well on the island, finding shelter in two deserted huts. The men went to work fixing the hut to cover the open spots so that they would be protected from the rain. They had plenty of water to drink, thankfully, because of the daily tropical showers. There were many fruits around, including coconuts.

Kate has moments of remembering home and Hitty could not blame her for feeling regret and being heartsick. However, she is devoted to the Captain, and “his” (I should think this should say “their”) predicament gave her new spirit and resourcefulness. She is a woman certainly devoted to her man.

The Captain questions why he would lose his vessel and the biggest catch he ever made and while he had his wife and Phoebe aboard. I guess we all question that when we go through life’s adversities. Somehow we get through, but it can be very difficult when you are going through it.

The Captain was faithful in keeping his log book up to date. It must have been difficult using a pointed stick dipped in juice of dark-blue berries to write with. His “huckleberry ink” he called it. This probably helped in keeping a routine of sorts.

The natives arrive soon, and the little group is very nervous about what might happen. The natives must have looked a scary bunch with their crude spears, rough shields, and spiked clubs. One wonders what the Captain and Bill Buckle were talking about with the natives. They probably took the upper hand and showed the natives they meant no harm. In fact, they took the natives to the hut to see the others. Bill Buckle drew their attention by showing his tattoo marks. They soon tired of that and Hitty became their next object of fascination. Poor Hitty, always in a predicament and given no choices whatsoever.

By luck, Hitty fascinates the natives, who are very gentle and kind to her.

Hitty is terrified when the native chief took her in his hand, but could not help but take some pride in their open admiration. When they finally leave the family and crew, Hitty almost seems as if she is interested in what the natives have planned for her. She feels they are impressed by her so could be thinking no harm will come to her.

Hitty taken by the natives to become a heathen idol. I wonder what Kate must have thought of that.

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