下载辰思小说免费APP
ByelevenamessengerarrivedfromBalesunavillage，dispatchedbySeelee。TheJessiehadgoneashorehalf-waybetweenthevillageandNealIsland。Itwasnottillnightfallthattwoofthecrewarrived，reportingthedrowningofCaptainOlesonandoftheoneremainingboy。AsfortheJessie，fromwhattheytoldhimSheldoncouldnotbutconcludethatshewasatotalloss。Furthertoheartenhim，hewastakenbyashiveringfit。Inhalfanhourhewasburningup。Andheknewthatatleastanotherdaymustpassbeforehecouldundertakeeventhesmallestdoseofquinine。Hecrawledunderaheapofblankets，andalittlelaterfoundhimselflaughingaloud。Hehadsurelyreachedthelimitofdisaster。
Barringearthquakeortidal-wave，theworsthadalreadybefallenhim。TheFlibberty-GibbetwascertainlysafeinMboliPass。Sincenothingworsecouldhappen，thingssimplyhadtomend。Soitwas，shiveringunderhisblankets，thathelaughed，untilthehouse-
boys，withheadstogether，marvelledatthedevilsthatwereinhim。
CHAPTERIV——JOANLACKLAND
Bytheseconddayofthenorthwester，Sheldonwasincollapsefromhisfever。Ithadtakenanunfairadvantageofhisweakstate，andthoughitwasonlyordinarymalarialfever，inforty-eighthoursithadrunhimaslowastendaysoffeverwouldhavedonewhenhewasincondition。ButthedysenteryhadbeensweptawayfromBerande。
Ascoreofconvalescentslingeredinthehospital，buttheywereimprovinghourly。Therehadbeenbutonemoredeath——thatofthemanwhosebrotherhadwailedoverhiminsteadofbrushingthefliesaway。
Onthemorningofthefourthdayofhisfever，Sheldonlayontheveranda，gazingdimlyoutovertheragingocean。Thewindwasfalling，butamightyseawasstillthunderinginonBerandebeach，theflyingsprayreachinginasfarastheflagstaffmounds，thefoamingwashcreamingagainstthegate-posts。Hehadtakenthirtygrainsofquinine，andthedrugwasbuzzinginhisearslikeanestofhornets，makinghishandsandkneestremble，andcausingasickeningpalpitationofthestomach。Once，openinghiseyes，hesawwhathetooktobeanhallucination。Notfarout，andcominginacrosstheJessie\'sanchorage，hesawawhale-boat\'snosethrustskywardonasmokycrestanddisappearnaturally，asanactualwhale-boat\'snoseshoulddisappear，asitsliddownthebackofthesea。Heknewthatnowhale-boatshouldbeoutthere，andhewasquitecertainnomenintheSolomonsweremadenoughtobeabroadinsuchastorm。
Butthehallucinationpersisted。Aminutelater，chancingtoopenhiseyes，hesawthewhale-boat，fulllength，andsawrightintoitasitroseonthefaceofawave。Hesawsixsweepsatwork，andinthestern，clearlyoutlinedagainsttheoverhangingwallofwhite，amanwhostooderect，gigantic，swayingwithhisweightonthesteering-sweep。Thishesaw，andaneighthmanwhocrouchedinthebowandgazedshoreward。ButwhatstartledSheldonwasthesightofawomaninthestern-sheets，betweenthestroke-oarandthesteersman。Awomanshewas，forabraidofherhairwasflying，andshewasjustintheactofrecapturingitandstowingitawaybeneathahatthatforalltheworldwaslikehisown"Baden-Powell。"
Theboatdisappearedbehindthewave，androseintoviewonthefaceofthefollowingone。Againhelookedintoit。Themenweredark-skinned，andlargerthanSolomonIslanders，butthewoman，hecouldplainlysee，waswhite。Whoshewas，andwhatshewasdoingthere，werethoughtsthatdriftedvaguelythroughhisconsciousness。Hewastoosicktobevitallyinterested，and，besides，hehadahalffeelingthatitwasalladream；buthenotedthatthemenwererestingontheirsweeps，whilethewomanandthesteersmanwereintentlywatchingtherunofseasbehindthem。
"Goodboatmen，"wasSheldon\'sverdict，ashesawtheboatleapforwardonthefaceofahugebreaker，thesweepsplyingswiftlytokeepheronthatfrontofthemovingmountainofwaterthatracedmadlyfortheshore。Itwaswelldone。Partfullofwater，theboatwasflunguponthebeach，themenspringingoutanddraggingitsnosetothegate-posts。Sheldonhadcalledvainlytothehouse-boys，who，atthemoment，weredosingtheremainingpatientsinthehospital。Heknewhewasunabletoriseupandgodownthepathtomeetthenewcomers，sohelaybackinthesteamer-chair，andwatchedforageswhiletheycaredfortheboat。Thewomanstoodtooneside，herhandrestingonthegate。Occasionallysurgesofseawaterwashedoverherfeet，whichhecouldseewereencasedinrubbersea-boots。Shescrutinizedthehousesharply，andforsometimeshegazedathimsteadily。Atlast，speakingtotwoofthemen，whoturnedandfollowedher，shestartedupthepath。
Sheldonattemptedtorise，gothalfupoutofhischair，andfellbackhelplessly。Hewassurprisedatthesizeofthemen，wholoomedlikegiantsbehindher。Bothweresix-footers，andtheywereheavyinproportion。Hehadneverseenislanderslikethem。
TheywerenotblackliketheSolomonIslanders，butlightbrown；
andtheirfeatureswerelarger，moreregular，andevenhandsome。
Thewoman——orgirl，rather，hedecided——walkedalongtheverandatowardhim。Thetwomenwaitedattheheadofthesteps，watchingcuriously。Thegirlwasangry；hecouldseethat。Hergrayeyeswereflashing，andherlipswerequivering。Thatshehadatemper，washisthought。Buttheeyeswerestriking。Hedecidedthattheywerenotgrayafterall，or，atleast，notallgray。Theywerelargeandwideapart，andtheylookedathimfromunderlevelbrows。Herfacewascameo-like，soclearcutwasit。Therewereotherstrikingthingsabouther——thecowboyStetsonhat，theheavybraidsofbrownhair，andthelong-barrelled38Colt\'srevolverthathunginitsholsteronherhip。
"Prettyhospitality，Imustsay，"washergreeting，"lettingstrangerssinkorswiminyourfrontyard。"
"I——Ibegyourpardon，"hestammered，byasupremeeffortdragginghimselftohisfeet。
Hislegswobbledunderhim，andwithasuffocatingsensationhebegansinkingtothefloor。Hewasawareofafeeblegratificationashesawsolicitudeleapintohereyes；thenblacknesssmotehim，andatthemomentofsmitinghimhisthoughtwasthatatlast，andforthefirsttimeinhislife，hehadfainted。
Theringingofthebigbellarousedhim。Heopenedhiseyesandfoundthathewasonthecouchindoors。Aglanceattheclocktoldhimthatitwassix，andfromthedirectionthesun\'sraysstreamedintotheroomheknewthatitwasmorning。Atfirsthepuzzledoversomethinguntowardhewassurehadhappened。ThenonthewallhesawaStetsonhathanging，andbeneathitafullcartridge-beltandalong-barrelled38Colt\'srevolver。Theslendergirthofthebelttolditsfemininestory，andherememberedthewhale-boatofthedaybeforeandthegrayeyesthatflashedbeneaththelevelbrows。Sheitmusthavebeenwhohadjustrungthebell。Thecaresoftheplantationrusheduponhim，andhesatupinbed，clutchingatthewallforsupportasthemosquitoscreenlurcheddizzilyaroundhim。Hewasstillsittingthere，holdingon，witheyesclosed，strivingtomasterhisgiddiness，whenheheardhervoice。
"You\'lllierightdownagain，sir，"shesaid。
Itwassharplyimperative，avoiceusedtocommand。Atthesametimeonehandpressedhimbacktowardthepillowwhiletheothercaughthimfrombehindandeasedhimdown。
"You\'vebeenunconsciousfortwenty-fourhoursnow，"shewenton，"andIhavetakencharge。WhenIsaythewordyou\'llgetup，andnotuntilthen。Now，whatmedicinedoyoutake？——quinine？Herearetengrains。That\'sright。You\'llmakeagoodpatient。"
"Mydearmadame，"hebegan。
"Youmusn\'tspeak，"sheinterrupted，"thatis，inprotest。
Otherwise，youcantalk。"
"Buttheplantation——"
"Adeadmanisofnouseonaplantation。Don\'tyouwanttoknowaboutME？Myvanityishurt。HereamI，justthroughmyfirstshipwreck；andhereareyou，nottheleastbitcurious，talkingaboutyourmiserableplantation。Can\'tyouseethatIamjustburstingtotellsomebody，anybody，aboutmyshipwreck？"
Hesmiled；itwasthefirsttimeinweeks。Andhesmiled，notsomuchatwhatshesaid，asatthewayshesaidit——thewhimsicalexpressionofherface，thelaughterinhereyes，andtheseveraltinylinesofhumourthatdrewinatthecorners。Hewascuriouslywonderingastowhatheragewas，ashesaidaloud:
"Yes，tellme，please。"
"ThatIwillnot——notnow，"sheretorted，withatossofthehead。
"I\'llfindsomebodytotellmystorytowhodoesnothavetobeasked。Also，Iwantinformation。Imanagedtofindoutwhattimetoringthebelltoturnthehandsto，andthatisaboutall。I
don\'tunderstandtheridiculousspeechofyourpeople。Whattimedotheyknockoff？"
"Ateleven——goonagainatone。"
"Thatwilldo，thankyou。Andnow，wheredoyoukeepthekeytotheprovisions？Iwanttofeedmymen。"
"Yourmen!"hegasped。"Ontinnedgoods!No，no。Letthemgooutandeatwithmyboys。"
Hereyesflashedasonthedaybefore，andhesawagaintheimperativeexpressiononherface。
"ThatIwon\'t；mymenareMEN。I\'vebeenouttoyourmiserablebarracksandwatchedthemeat。Faugh!Potatoes!Nothingbutpotatoes!Nosalt!Nothing!Onlypotatoes!Imayhavebeenmistaken，butIthoughtIunderstoodthemtosaythatthatwasalltheyevergottoeat。Twomealsadayandeverydayintheweek？"
Henodded。
"Well，mymenwouldn\'tstandthatforasingleday，muchlessawholeweek。Whereisthekey？"
"Hangingonthatclothes-hookundertheclock。"
Hegaveiteasilyenough，butasshewasreachingdownthekeysheheardhimsay:
"Fancyniggersandtinnedprovisions。"
Thistimeshereallywasangry。Thebloodwasinhercheeksassheturnedonhim。
"Mymenarenotniggers。Thesooneryouunderstandthatthebetterforouracquaintance。Asforthetinnedgoods，I\'llpayforalltheyeat。Pleasedon\'tworryaboutthat。Worryisnotgoodforyouinyourcondition。AndIwon\'tstayanylongerthanIhaveto——
justlongenoughtogetyouonyourfeet，andnotgoawaywiththefeelingofhavingdesertedawhiteman。"
"You\'reAmerican，aren\'tyou？"heaskedquietly。
Thequestiondisconcertedherforthemoment。
"Yes，"shevouchsafed，withadefiantlook。"Why？"
"Nothing。Imerelythoughtso。"
"Anythingfurther？"
Heshookhishead。
"Why？"heasked。
"Oh，nothing。Ithoughtyoumighthavesomethingpleasanttosay。"
"MynameisSheldon，DavidSheldon，"hesaid，withdirectrelevance，holdingoutathinhand。
Herhandstartedoutimpulsively，thenchecked。"MynameisLackland，JoanLackland。"Thehandwentout。"Andletusbefriends。"
"Itcouldnotbeotherwise——"hebeganlamely。
"AndIcanfeedmymenallthetinnedgoodsIwant？"sherushedon。
"Tillthecowscomehome，"heanswered，attemptingherownlightness，thenadding，"thatis，toBerande。Youseewedon\'thaveanycowsatBerande。"
Shefixedhimcoldlywithhereyes。
"Isthatajoke？"shedemanded。
"Ireallydon\'tknow——I——Ithoughtitwas，butthen，yousee，I\'msick。"
"You\'reEnglish，aren\'tyou？"washernextquery。
"Nowthat\'stoomuch，evenforasickman，"hecried。"YouknowwellenoughthatIam。"
"Oh，"shesaidabsently，"thenyouare？"
Hefrowned，tightenedhislips，thenburstintolaughter，inwhichshejoined。
"It\'smyownfault，"heconfessed。"Ishouldn\'thavebaitedyou。
I\'llbecarefulinthefuture。"
"Inthemeantimegoonlaughing，andI\'llseeaboutbreakfast。Isthereanythingyouwouldfancy？"
Heshookhishead。
"Itwilldoyougoodtoeatsomething。Yourfeverhasburnedout，andyouaremerelyweak。Waitamoment。"
Shehurriedoutoftheroominthedirectionofthekitchen，trippedatthedoorinapairofsandalsseveralsizestoolargeforherfeet，anddisappearedinrosyconfusion。
"ByJove，thosearemysandals，"hethoughttohimself。"Thegirlhasn\'tathingtowearexceptwhatshelandedonthebeachin，andshecertainlylandedinsea-boots。"
CHAPTERV——SHEWOULDAPLANTERBE
Sheldonmendedrapidly。Thefeverhadburnedout，andtherewasnothingforhimtodobutgatherstrength。Joanhadtakenthecookinhand，andforthefirsttime，asSheldonremarked，thechopatBerandewaswhiteman\'schop。WithherownhandsJoanpreparedthesickman\'sfood，andbetweenthatandthecheershebroughthim，hewasable，aftertwodays，tototterfeeblyoutupontheveranda。
Thesituationstruckhimasstrange，andstrangerstillwasthefactthatitdidnotseemstrangetothegirlatall。Shehadsettleddownandtakenchargeofthehouseholdasamatterofcourse，asifhewereherfather，orbrother，orasifshewereamanlikehimself。
"Itisjusttoodelightfulforanything，"sheassuredhim。"Itislikeapageoutofsomeromance。HereIcomealongoutoftheseaandfindasickmanallalonewithtwohundredslaves——"
"Recruits，"hecorrected。"Contractlabourers。Theyserveonlythreeyears，andtheyarefreeagentswhentheyenterupontheircontracts。"
"Yes，yes，"shehurriedon。"——Asickmanalonewithtwohundredrecruitsonacannibalisland——theyarecannibals，aren\'tthey？Orisitalltalk？"
"Talk!"hesaid，withasmile。"It\'satriflemorethanthat。
Mostofmyboysarefromthebush，andeverybushmanisacannibal。"
"Butnotaftertheybecomerecruits？Surely，theboysyouhaveherewouldn\'tbeguilty。"
"They\'deatyouifthechanceafforded。"
"Areyoujustsayingso，ontheory，ordoyoureallyknow？"sheasked。
"Iknow。"
"Why？Whatmakesyouthinkso？Yourownmenhere？"
"Yes，myownmenhere，theveryhouse-boys，thecookthatatthepresentmomentismakingsuchdeliciousrolls，thankstoyou。Notmorethanthreemonthsagoelevenofthemsneakedawhale-boatandranforMalaita。NineofthembelongedtoMalaita。TwowerebushmenfromSanCristoval。Theywerefools——thetwofromSanCristoval，Imean；sowouldanytwoMalaitamenbewhotrustedthemselvesinaboatwithninefromSanCristoval。"
"Yes？"sheaskedeagerly。"Thenwhathappened？"
"ThenineMalaitamenatethetwofromSanCristoval，allexcepttheheads，whicharetoovaluableformereeating。Theystowedthemawayinthestern-lockertilltheylanded。AndthosetwoheadsarenowinsomebushvillagebackofLangaLanga。"
Sheclappedherhandsandhereyessparkled。"Theyarereallyandtrulycannibals!Andjustthink，thisisthetwentiethcentury!
AndIthoughtromanceandadventurewerefossilized!"
Helookedatherwithmildamusement。
"Whatisthematternow？"shequeried。
"Oh，nothing，onlyIdon\'tfancybeingeatenbyalotoffilthyniggersistheleastbitromantic。"
"No，ofcoursenot，"sheadmitted。"Buttobeamongthem，controllingthem，directingthem，twohundredofthem，andtoescapebeingeatenbythem——that，atleast，ifitisn\'tromantic，iscertainlythequintessenceofadventure。Andadventureandromanceareallied，youknow。"
"Bythesametoken，togointoanigger\'sstomachshouldbethequintessenceofadventure，"heretorted。
"Idon\'tthinkyouhaveanyromanceinyou，"sheexclaimed。
"You\'rejustdullandsombreandsordidlikethebusinessmenathome。Idon\'tknowwhyyou\'rehereatall。Youshouldbeathomeplacidlyvegetatingasabanker\'sclerkor——or——"
"Ashopkeeper\'sassistant，thankyou。"
"Yes，that——anything。Whatunderthesunareyoudoinghereontheedgeofthings？"
"Earningmybreadandbutter，tryingtogetonintheworld。"
"\'Bythebitterroadtheyoungersonmusttread，Erehewintohearthandsaddleofhisown，\'"shequoted。"Why，ifthatisn\'tromantic，thennothingisromantic。Thinkofalltheyoungersonsoutovertheworld，onamyriadofadventureswinningtothosesamehearthsandsaddles。Andhereyouareinthethickofit，doingit，andhereamIinthethickofit，doingit。"
"I——Ibegpardon，"hedrawled。
"Well，I\'mayoungerdaughter，then，"sheamended；"andIhavenohearthnorsaddle——Ihaven\'tanybodyoranything——andI\'mjustasfarontheedgeofthingsasyouare。"
"Inyourcase，then，I\'lladmitthereisabitofromance，"heconfessed。
Hecouldnothelpbutthinkoftheprecedingnights，andofhersleepinginthehammockontheveranda，undermosquitocurtains，herbodyguardofTahitiansailorsstretchedoutatthefarcorneroftheverandawithincall。Hehadbeentoohelplesstoresist，butnowheresolvedsheshouldhavehiscouchinsidewhilehewouldtakethehammock。
"Yousee，Ihadreadanddreamedaboutromanceallmylife，"shewassaying，"butInever，inmywildestfancies，thoughtthatI
shouldliveit。Itwasallsounexpected。TwoyearsagoIthoughttherewasnothinglefttomebut……"Shefaltered，andmadeamoueofdistaste。"Well，theonlythingthatremained，itseemedtome，wasmarriage。"
"Andyoupreferredacannibalisleandacartridge-belt？"hesuggested。
"Ididn\'tthinkofthecannibalisle，butthecartridge-beltwasblissful。"
"Youwouldn\'tdareusetherevolverifyouwerecompelledto。Or，"
notingtheglintinhereyes，"ifyoudiduseit，to——well，tohitanything。"
Shestartedupsuddenlytoenterthehouse。Heknewshewasgoingforherrevolver。
"Nevermind，"hesaid，"here\'smine。Whatcanyoudowithit？"
"Shoottheblockoffyourflag-halyards。"
Hesmiledhisunbelief。
"Idon\'tknowthegun，"shesaiddubiously。
"It\'salighttriggerandyoudon\'thavetoholddown。Drawfine。"
"Yes，yes，"shespokeimpatiently。"Iknowautomatics——theyjamwhentheygethot——onlyIdon\'tknowyours。"Shelookedatitamoment。"It\'scocked。Isthereacartridgeinthechamber？"
Shefired，andtheblockremainedintact。
"It\'salongshot，"hesaid，withtheintentionofeasingherchagrin。
Butshebitherlipandfiredagain。Thebulletemittedasharpshriekasitricochettedintospace。Themetalblockrattledbackandforth。Againandagainshefired，tilltheclipwasemptiedofitseightcartridges。Sixofthemwerehits。Theblockstillswayedatthegaff-end，butitwasbatteredoutofallusefulness。
Sheldonwasastonished。ItwasbetterthanheorevenHughieDrummondcouldhavedone。Thewomenhehadknown，whentheysporadicallyfiredarifleorrevolver，usuallyshrieked，shuttheireyes，andblazedawayintospace。
"That\'sreallygoodshooting……forawoman，"hesaid。"Youonlymissedittwice，anditwasastrangeweapon。"
"ButIcan\'tmakeoutthetwomisses，"shecomplained。"Thegunworkedbeautifully，too。GivemeanotherclipandI\'llhititeighttimesforanythingyouwish。"
"Idon\'tdoubtit。NowI\'llhavetogetanewblock。Viaburi!
Hereyoufella，catchonefellablockalongstore-room。"
"I\'llwageryoucan\'tdoiteightoutofeight……anythingyouwish，"shechallenged。
"Nofearofmytakingiton，"washisanswer。"Whotaughtyoutoshoot？"
"Oh，myfather，atfirst，andthenVon，andhiscowboys。Hewasashot——Dad，Imean，thoughVonwassplendid，too。"
SheldonwonderedsecretlywhoVonwas，andhespeculatedastowhetheritwasVonwhotwoyearspreviouslyhadledhertobelievethatnothingremainedforherbutmatrimony。
"WhatpartoftheUnitedStatesisyourhome？"heasked。"ChicagoorWyoming？orsomewhereoutthere？Youknowyouhaven\'ttoldmeathingaboutyourself。AllthatIknowisthatyouareMissJoanLacklandfromanywhere。"
"You\'dhavetogofartherwesttofindmystampinggrounds。"
"Ah，letmesee——Nevada？"
Sheshookherhead。
"California？"
"Stillfartherwest。"
"Itcan\'tbe，orelseI\'veforgottenmygeography。"
"It\'syourpolitics，"shelaughed。"Don\'tyouremember\'Annexation\'？"
"ThePhilippines!"hecriedtriumphantly。
"No，Hawaii。Iwasbornthere。Itisabeautifulland。My，I\'malmosthomesickforitalready。NotthatIhaven\'tbeenaway。I
wasinNewYorkwhenthecrashcame。ButIdothinkitisthesweetestspotonearth——Hawaii，Imean。"
"ThenwhatunderthesunareyoudoingdownhereinthisGod-
forsakenplace？"heasked。"Onlyfoolscomehere，"headdedbitterly。
"Nielsenwasn\'tafool，washe？"shequeried。"AsIunderstand，hemadethreemillionshere。"
"Onlytootrue，andthatfactisresponsibleformybeinghere。"
"Andforme，too，"shesaid。"DadheardabouthimintheMarquesas，andsowestarted。OnlypoorDaddidn\'tgethere。"
"He——yourfather——died？"hefaltered。
Shenodded，andhereyesgrewsoftandmoist。
"Imightaswellbeginatthebeginning。"Sheliftedherheadwithaproudairofdismissingsadness，after，themannerofawomanqualifiedtowearaBaden-Powellandalong-barrelledColt\'s。"I
wasbornatHilo。That\'sontheislandofHawaii——thebiggestandbestinthewholegroup。IwasbroughtupthewaymostgirlsinHawaiiarebroughtup。Theyliveintheopen，andtheyknowhowtorideandswimbeforetheyknowwhatsix-times-sixis。Asforme，I
can\'trememberwhenIfirstgotonahorsenorwhenIlearnedtoswim。ThatcamebeforemyABC\'s。DadownedcattleranchesonHawaiiandMaui——bigones，fortheislands。Hokunahadtwohundredthousandacresalone。ItextendedinbetweenMaunaKoaandMaunaLoa，anditwasthereIlearnedtoshootgoatsandwildcattle。OnMolokaitheyhavebigspotteddeer。VonwasthemanagerofHokuna。
Hehadtwodaughtersaboutmyownage，andIalwaysspentthehotseasonthere，and，once，awholeyear。ThethreeofuswerelikeIndians。Notthatweranwild，exactly，butthatwewerewildtorunwild。Therewerealwaysthegovernesses，youknow，andlessons，andsewing，andhousekeeping；butI\'mafraidweweretoooftenbribedtoourtaskswithpromisesofhorsesorofcattledrives。
"Vonhadbeeninthearmy，andDadwasanoldsea-dog，andtheywerebothsterndisciplinarians；onlythetwogirlshadnomother，andneitherhadI，andtheyweretwomenafterall。Theyspoiledusterribly。Yousee，theydidn\'thaveanywives，andtheymadechumsoutofus——whenourtasksweredone。Wehadtolearntodoeverythingaboutthehousetwiceaswellasthenativeservantsdidit——thatwassothatweshouldknowhowtomanagesomeday。Andwealwaysmadethecocktails，whichwastooholyariteforanyservant。Then，too，wewereneverallowedanythingwecouldnottakecareofourselves。Ofcoursethecowboysalwaysropedandsaddledourhorses，butwehadtobeableourselvestogooutinthepaddockandropeourhorses——"
"WhatdoyoumeanbyROPE？"Sheldonasked。
"Tolariatthem，tolassothem。AndDadandVontimedusinthesaddlingandmadeamostrigidexaminationoftheresult。Itwasthesamewaywithourrevolversandrifles。Thehouse-boysalwayscleanedthemandgreasedthem；butwehadtolearnhowinordertoseethattheydiditproperly。Morethanonce，atfirst，oneortheotherofushadourriflestakenawayforaweekjustbecauseofatinyspeckofrust。Wehadtoknowhowtobuildfiresinthedrivingrain，too，outofwetwood，whenwecampedout，whichwasthehardestthingofall——exceptgrammar，Idobelieve。WelearnedmorefromDadandVonthanfromthegovernesses；DadtaughtusFrenchandVonGerman。Welearnedbothlanguagespassablywell，andwelearnedthemwhollyinthesaddleorincamp。
"InthecoolseasonthegirlsusedtocomedownandvisitmeinHilo，whereDadhadtwohouses，oneatthebeach，orthethreeofususedtogodowntoourplaceinPuna，andthatmeantcanoesandboatsandfishingandswimming。Then，too，DadbelongedtotheRoyalHawaiianYachtClub，andtookusracingandcruising。Dadcouldnevergetawayfromthesea，youknow。WhenIwasfourteenI
wasDad\'sactualhousekeeper，withentirepowerovertheservants，andIamveryproudofthatperiodofmylife。AndwhenIwassixteenwethreegirlswereallsentuptoCaliforniatoMillsSeminary，whichwasquitefashionableandstifling。Howweusedtolongforhome!Wedidn\'tchumwiththeothergirls，whocalleduslittlecannibals，justbecausewecamefromtheSandwichIslands，andwhomadeinvidiousremarksaboutourancestorsbanquetingonCaptainCook——whichwashistoricallyuntrue，and，besides，ourancestorshadn\'tlivedinHawaii。
"IwasthreeyearsatMillsSeminary，withtripshome，ofcourse，andtwoyearsinNewYork；andthenDadwentsmashinasugarplantationonMaui。Thereportoftheengineershadnotbeenright。ThenDadhadbuiltarailroadthatwascalled\'Lackland\'sFolly，\'——itwillpayultimately，though。Butitcontributedtothesmash。ThePelaulauDitchwasthefinishingblow。Andnothingwouldhavehappenedanyway，ifithadn\'tbeenforthatbigmoneypanicinWallStreet。DeargoodDad!Heneverletmeknow。ButI
readaboutthecrashinanewspaper，andhurriedhome。Itwasbeforethat，though，thatpeoplehadbeendingingintomyearsthatmarriagewasallanywomancouldgetoutoflife，andgood-byetoromance。Insteadofwhich，withDad\'sfailure，Ifellrightintoromance。"
"Howlongagowasthat？"Sheldonasked。
"Lastyear——theyearofthepanic。"
"Letmesee，"Sheldonponderedwithanairofgravity。"Sixteenplusfive，plusone，equalstwenty-two。Youwerebornin1887？"
"Yes；butitisnotniceofyou。"
"Iamreallysorry，"hesaid，"buttheproblemwassoobvious。"
"Can\'tyoueversaynicethings？OrisitthewayyouEnglishhave？"Therewasasnapinhergrayeyes，andherlipsquiveredsuspiciouslyforamoment。"Ishouldrecommend，Mr。Sheldon，thatyoureadGertrudeAtherton\'s\'AmericanWivesandEnglishHusbands。\'"
"Thankyou，Ihave。It\'soverthere。"Hepointedatthegenerouslyfilledbookshelves。"ButIamafraiditisratherpartisan。"
"Anythingun-Englishisboundtobe，"sheretorted。"IneverhavelikedtheEnglishanyway。ThelastoneIknewwasanoverseer。
Dadwascompelledtodischargehim。"
"Oneswallowdoesn\'tmakeasummer。"
"ButthatEnglishmanmadelotsoftrouble——there!Andnowpleasedon\'tmakemeanymoreabsurdthanIalreadyam。"
"I\'mtryingnotto。"
"Oh，forthatmatter——"Shetossedherhead，openedhermouthtocompletetheretort，thenchangedhermind。"Ishallgoonwithmyhistory。Dadhadpracticallynothingleft，andhedecidedtoreturntothesea。He\'dalwayslovedit，andIhalfbelievethathewasgladthingshadhappenedastheydid。Hewaslikeaboyagain，busywithplansandpreparationsfrommorningtillnight。
Heusedtosituphalfthenighttalkingthingsoverwithme。ThatwasafterIhadshownhimthatIwasreallyresolvedtogoalong。
"Hehadmadehisstart，youknow，intheSouthSeas——pearlsandpearlshell——andhewassurethatmorefortunes，introveofonesortandanother，weretobepickedup。Cocoanut-plantingwashisparticularidea，withtrading，andmaybepearling，alongwithotherthings，untiltheplantationshouldcomeintobearing。Hetradedoffhisyachtforaschooner，theMiele，andawaywewent。Itookcareofhimandstudiednavigation。Hewashisownskipper。WehadaDanishmate，Mr。Ericson，andamixedcrewofJapaneseandHawaiians。WewentupanddowntheLineIslands，first，untilDadwasheartsick。Everythingwaschanged。Theyhadbeenannexedanddividedbyonepoweroranother，whilebigcompanieshadsteppedinandgobbledland，tradingrights，fishingrights，everything。
"NextwesailedfortheMarquesas。Theywerebeautiful，butthenativeswerenearlyextinct。DadwascutupwhenhelearnedthattheFrenchchargedanexportdutyoncopra——hecalleditmedieval——
buthelikedtheland。TherewasavalleyoffifteenthousandacresonNuka-hiva，halfinclosingaperfectanchorage，whichhefellinlovewithandboughtfortwelvehundredChilidollars。ButtheFrenchtaxationwasoutrageous(thatwaswhythelandwassocheap)，and，worstofall，wecouldobtainnolabour。Whatkanakastherewerewouldn\'twork，andtheofficialsseemedtositupnightsthinkingoutnewobstaclestoputinourway。
"SixmonthswasenoughforDad。Thesituationwashopeless。
\'We\'llgototheSolomons，\'hesaid，\'andgetawhiffofEnglishrule。Andiftherearenoopeningstherewe\'llgoontotheBismarckArchipelago。I\'llwagertheAdmiraltysarenotyetcivilized。\'Allpreparationsweremade，thingspackedonboard，andanewcrewofMarquesansandTahitiansshipped。WewerejustreadytostarttoTahiti，wherealotofrepairsandrefittingfortheMielewerenecessary，whenpoorDadcamedownsickanddied。"
"Andyouwereleftallalone？"
Joannodded。
"Verymuchalone。Ihadnobrothersnorsisters，andallDad\'speopleweredrownedinaKansascloud-burst。Thathappenedwhenhewasalittleboy。Ofcourse，IcouldgobacktoVon。There\'salwaysahometherewaitingforme。ButwhyshouldIgo？Besides，therewereDad\'splans，andIfeltthatitdevolveduponmetocarrythemout。Itseemedafinethingtodo。Also，Iwantedtocarrythemout。And……hereIam。
"TakemyadviceandnevergotoTahiti。Itisalovelyplace，andsoarethenatives。Butthewhitepeople!NowBarabbaslivedinTahiti。Thieves，robbers，andlairs——thatiswhattheyare。Thehonestmenwouldn\'trequirethefingersofonehandtocount。ThefactthatIwasawomanonlysimplifiedmatterswiththem。Theyrobbedmeoneverypretext，andtheyliedwithoutpretextorneed。
PoorMr。Ericsonwascorrupted。Hejoinedtherobbers，andO。K。\'dalltheirdemandsevenuptoathousandpercent。Iftheyrobbedmeoftenfrancs，hissharewasthree。OnebilloffifteenhundredfrancsIpaid，nettedhimfivehundredfrancs。Allthis，ofcourse，Ilearnedafterward。ButtheMielewasold，therepairshadtobemade，andIwascharged，notthreeprices，butsevenprices。
"InevershallknowhowmuchEricsongotoutofit。Helivedashoreinanicelyfurnishedhouse。Theshipwrightsweregivingittohimrent-free。Fruit，vegetables，fish，meat，andicecametothishouseeveryday，andhepaidfornoneofit。Itwaspartofhisgraftfromthevariousmerchants。Andallthewhile，withtearsinhiseyes，hebemoanedtheviletreatmentIwasreceivingfromthegang。No，Ididnotfallamongthieves。IwenttoTahiti。
"Butwhentherobbersfelltocheatingoneanother，Igotmyfirstcluestothestateofaffairs。Oneoftherobbedrobberscametomeafterdark，withfacts，figures，andassertions。IknewIwasruinedifIwenttolaw。Thejudgeswerecorruptlikeeverythingelse。ButIdiddoonething。InthedeadofnightIwenttoEricson\'shouse。IhadthesamerevolverI\'vegotnow，andImadehimstayinbedwhileIoverhauledthings。NineteenhundredandoddfrancswaswhatIcarriedawaywithme。Henevercomplainedtothepolice，andhenevercamebackonboard。Asfortherestofthegang，theylaughedandsnappedtheirfingersatme。ThereweretwoAmericansintheplace，andtheywarnedmetoleavethelawaloneunlessIwantedtoleavetheMielebehindaswell。
"ThenIsenttoNewZealandandgotaGermanmate。Hehadamaster\'scertificate，andwasontheship\'spapersascaptain，butIwasabetternavigatorthanhe，andIwasreallycaptainmyself。
Ilosther，too，butit\'snoreflectiononmyseamanship。Weweredriftingfourdaysoutsidethereindeadcalms。Thenthenor\'westercaughtusanddroveusontheleeshore。Wemadesailandtriedtoclewoff，whentherottenworkoftheTahitishipwrightsbecamemanifest。Ourjib-boomandallourhead-stayscarriedaway。OuronlychancewastoturnandrunthroughthepassagebetweenFloridaandYsabel。Andwhenweweresafelythrough，inthetwilight，wherethechartshowsfourteenfathomsastheshoalestwater，wesmashedonacoralpatch。ThepooroldMielestruckonlyonce，andthenwentclear；butitwastoomuchforher，andwejusthadtimetoclearawayintheboatwhenshewentdown。TheGermanmatewasdrowned。Welayallnighttoasea-drag，andnextmorningsightedyourplacehere。"
"IsupposeyouwillgobacktoVon，now？"Sheldonqueried。
"Nothingofthesort。DadplannedtogototheSolomons。Ishalllookaboutforsomelandandstartasmallplantation。Doyouknowanygoodlandaroundhere？Cheap？"
"ByGeorge，youYankeesareremarkable，reallyremarkable，"saidSheldon。"Ishouldneverhavedreamedofsuchaventure。"
"Adventure，"Joancorrectedhim。
"That\'sright——adventureitis。Andifyou\'dgoneashoreonMalaitainsteadofGuadalcanaryou\'dhavebeenkai-kai\'dlongago，alongwithyournobleTahitiansailors。"
Joanshuddered。
"Totellthetruth，"sheconfessed，"wewereverymuchafraidtolandonGuadalcanar。Ireadinthe\'SailingDirections\'thatthenativesweretreacherousandhostile。SomedayIshouldliketogotoMalaita。Arethereanyplantationsthere？"
"Notone。Notawhitetradereven。"
"ThenIshallgooveronarecruitingvesselsometime。"
"Impossible!"Sheldoncried。"Itisnoplaceforawoman。"
"Ishallgojustthesame，"sherepeated。
"Butnoself-respectingwoman——"
"Becareful，"shewarnedhim。"Ishallgosomeday，andthenyoumaybesorryforthenamesyouhavecalledme。"
CHAPTERVI——TEMPEST
ItwasthefirsttimeSheldonhadbeenatclosequarterswithanAmericangirl，andhewouldhavewonderedifallAmericangirlswerelikeJoanLacklandhadhenothadwitenoughtorealizethatshewasnotatalltypical。Herquickmindandchangingmoodsbewilderedhim，whileheroutlookonlifewassodifferentfromwhatheconceivedawoman\'soutlookshouldbe，thathewasmoreoftenthannotatsixesandsevenswithher。Hecouldneveranticipatewhatshewouldsayordonext。Ofonlyonethingwashesure，andthatwasthatwhatevershesaidordidwasboundtobeunexpectedandunsuspected。Thereseemed，too，somethingalmosthystericalinhermake-up。Hertemperwasquickandstormy，andshereliedtoomuchonherselfandtoolittleonhim，whichdidnotapproximateatalltohisidealofwoman\'sconductwhenamanwasaround。Herassumptionofequalitywithhimwasdisconcerting，andattimeshehalf-consciouslyresentedtheimpudenceandbizarrenessofherintrusionuponhim——risingoutoftheseainahowlingnor\'wester，freshfrompokingherrevolverunderEricson\'snose，protectedbyhergangofhugePolynesiansailors，andsettlingdowninBerandelikeanyshipwreckedsailor。ItwasallonaparwithherBaden-Powellandthelong38Colt\'s。
Atanyrate，shedidnotlookthepart。Andthatwaswhathecouldnotforgive。Hadshebeenshort-haired，heavy-jawed，large-
muscled，hard-bitten，andutterlyunlovelyineveryway，allwouldhavebeenwell。Insteadofwhichshewashopelesslyanddeliciouslyfeminine。Herhairworriedhim，itwassogenerouslybeautiful。Andshewassoslenderlyandprettilythewoman——thegirl，rather——thatitcuthimlikeaknifetoseeher，withquick，comprehensiveeyesandsharplyimperativevoice，superintendthelaunchingofthewhale-boatthroughthesurf。Inimaginationhecouldseeherropingahorse，anditalwaysmadehimshudder。
