第3章

Then，too，shewassomany-sided。Herknowledgeofliteratureandartsurprisedhim，whiledeepdownwasthefeelingthatagirlwhoknewsuchthingshadnorighttoknowhowtorigtackles，heaveupanchors，andsailschoonersaroundtheSouthSeas。Suchthingsinherbrainwerelikesomanyoathsonherlips。WhileforsuchagirltoinsistthatshewasgoingonarecruitingcruisearoundMalaitawaspositiveself-sacrilege。

Healwaysperturbedlyharkedbacktoherfeminineness。Shecouldplaythepianofarbetterthanhissistersathome，andwithfarfinerappreciation——thepianothatpoorHughiehadsoheroicallylabouredovertokeepincondition。Andwhenshestrummedtheguitarandsangliquid，velvetyHawaiianhulas，hesatentranced。

Thenshewasallwoman，andthemagicofsexkidnappedtheirritationsofthedayandmadehimforgetthebigrevolver，theBaden-Powell，andalltherest。Butwhatright，thenextthoughtinhisbrainwouldwhisper，hadsuchagirltoswaggeraroundlikeamanandexultthatadventurewasnotdead？Womanthatadventuredwereadventuresses，andtheconnotationwasnotnice。Besides，hewasnotenamouredofadventure。Notsincehewasaboyhaditappealedtohim——thoughitwouldhavedrivenhimhardtoexplainwhathadbroughthimfromEnglandtotheSolomonsifithadnotbeenadventure。

Sheldoncertainlywasnothappy。Theunconventionalstateofaffairswastoomuchforhisconservativedispositionandtraining。

Berande，inhabitedbyonelonewhiteman，wasnoplaceforJoanLackland。Yetherackedhisbrainforawayout，andeventalkeditoverwithher。Inthefirstplace，thesteamerfromAustraliawasnotdueforthreeweeks。

"Onethingisevident:youdon\'twantmehere，"shesaid。"I\'llmanthewhale-boatto-morrowandgoovertoTulagi。"

"ButasItoldyoubefore，thatisimpossible，"hecried。"Thereisnoonethere。TheResidentCommissionerisawayinAustralia。

Themisonlyonewhiteman，athirdassistantunderstrapperandex-

sailor——acommonsailor。HeisinchargeofthegovernmentoftheSolomons，tosaynothingofahundredorsoniggers——prisoners。

Besides，heissuchafoolthathewouldfineyoufivepoundsfornothavingenteredatTulagi，whichistheportofentry，youknow。

Heisnotaniceman，and，Irepeat，itisimpossible。"

"ThereisGuvutu，"shesuggested。

Heshookhishead。

"There\'snothingtherebutfeverandfivewhitemenwhoaredrinkingthemselvestodeath。Icouldn\'tpermitit。"

"Ohthankyou，"shesaidquietly。"IguessI\'llstartto-day——

Viaburi!YougoalongNoaNoah，speak\'mcomealongme。"

NoaNoahwasherheadsailor，whohadbeenboatswainoftheMiele。

"Whereareyougoing？"Sheldonaskedinsurprise——"Vlaburi!Youstop。"

"ToGuvutu——immediately，"washerreply。

"ButIwon\'tpermitit。"

"ThatiswhyIamgoing。Yousaiditoncebefore，anditissomethingIcannotbrook。"

"What？"Hewasbewilderedbyhersuddenanger。"IfIhaveoffendedinanyway——"

"Viaburi，youfetch\'monefellaNoaNoahalongme，"shecommanded。

Theblackboystartedtoobey。

"Viaburi!YounostopIbreak\'mheadbelongyou。Andnow，MissLackland，Iinsist——youmustexplain。WhathaveIsaidordonetomeritthis？"

"Youhavepresumed，youhavedared——"

Shechokedandswallowed，andcouldnotgoon。

Sheldonlookedthepictureofdespair。

"Iconfessmyheadisgoingaroundwithitall，"hesaid。"Ifyoucouldonlybeexplicit。"

"AsexplicitasyouwerewhenyoutoldmethatyouwouldnotpermitmetogotoGuvutu？"

"Butwhat\'swrongwiththat？"

"Butyouhavenoright——nomanhastheright——totellmewhathewillpermitornotpermit。I\'mtoooldtohaveaguardian，nordidIsailallthewaytotheSolomonstofindone。"

"Agentlemaniseverywoman\'sguardian。"

"Well，I\'mnoteverywoman——that\'sall。WillyoukindlyallowmetosendyourboyforNoaNoah？Iwishhimtolaunchthewhale-

boat。OrshallIgomyselfforhim？"

Bothwerenowontheirfeet，shewithflushedcheeksandangryeyes，he，puzzled，vexed，andalarmed。Theblackboystoodlikeastatue——aplum-blackstatue——takingnointerestinthetransactionsoftheseincomprehensiblewhites，butdreamingwithcalmeyesofacertainbushvillagehighonthejungleslopesofMalaita，withbluesmokecurlingupfromthegrasshousesagainstthegraybackgroundofanoncomingmountain-squall。

"Butyouwon\'tdoanythingsofoolish——"hebegan。

"Thereyougoagain，"shecried。

"Ididn\'tmeanitthatway，andyouknowIdidn\'t。"Hewasspeakingslowlyandgravely。"Andthatotherthing，thatnotpermitting——itisonlyamannerofspeaking。OfcourseIamnotyourguardian。YouknowyoucangotoGuvutuifyouwantto"——"ortothedevil，"hewasalmosttemptedtoadd。"Only，Ishoulddeeplyregretit，thatisall。AndIamverysorrythatIshouldhavesaidanythingthathurtyou。Remember，IamanEnglishman。"

Joansmiledandsatdownagain。

"PerhapsIhavebeenhasty，"sheadmitted。"Yousee，Iamintolerantofrestraint。IfyouonlyknewhowIhavebeencompelledtofightformyfreedom。Itisasorepointwithme，thisbeingtoldwhatIamtodoornotdobyyouself-constitutedlordsofcreation-ViaburiIYoustopalongkitchen。Nobring\'mNoaNoah——Andnow，Mr。Sheldon，whatamItodo？Youdon\'twantmehere，andtheredoesn\'tseemtobeanyplaceformetogo。"

"Thatisunfair。Yourbeingwreckedherehasbeenagodsendtome。

Iwasverylonelyandverysick。IreallyamnotcertainwhetherornotIshouldhavepulledthroughhadyounothappenedalong。

Butthatisnotthepoint。Personally，purelyselfishlypersonally，Ishouldbesorrytoseeyougo。ButIamnotconsideringmyself。Iamconsideringyou。It——itishardlytheproperthing，youknow。IfIweremarried——ifthereweresomewomanofyourownracehere——butasitis——"

Shethrewupherhandsinmockdespair。

"Icannotfollowyou，"shesaid。"InonebreathyoutellmeImustgo，andinthenextbreathyoutellmethereisnoplacetogoandthatyouwillnotpermitmetogo。Whatisapoorgirltodo？"

"That\'sthetrouble，"hesaidhelplessly。

"Andthesituationannoysyou。"

"Onlyforyoursake。"

"Thenletmesaveyourfeelingsbytellingyouthatitdoesnotannoymeatall——exceptfortherowyouaremakingaboutit。I

neverallowwhatcan\'tbechangedtoannoyme。Thereisnouseinfightingtheinevitable。Hereisthesituation。Youarehere。I

amhere。Ican\'tgoelsewhere，byyourownaccount。Youcertainlycan\'tgoelsewhereandleavemeherealonewithawholeplantationandtwohundredwoollycannibalsonmyhands。Thereforeyoustay，andIstay。Itisverysimple。Also，itisadventure。Andfurthermore，youneedn\'tworryforyourself。Iamnotmatrimoniallyinclined。IcametotheSolomonsforaplantation，notahusband。"

Sheldonflushed，butremainedsilent。

"Iknowwhatyouarethinking，"shelaughedgaily。"ThatifIwereamanyou\'dwringmyneckforme。AndIdeserveit，too。I\'msosorry。Ioughtnottokeeponhurtingyourfeelings。"

"I\'mafraidIratherinviteit，"hesaid，relievedbythesignsofthetempestsubsiding。

"Ihaveit，"sheannounced。"Lendmeagangofyourboysforto-

day。I\'llbuildagrasshouseformyselfoverinthefarcornerofthecompound——onpiles，ofcourse。Icanmoveinto-night。I\'llbecomfortableandsafe。TheTahitianscankeepananchorwatchjustasaboardship。AndthenI\'llstudycocoanutplanting。Inreturn，I\'llrunthekitchenendofyourhouseholdandgiveyousomedecentfoodtoeat。Andfinally，Iwon\'tlistentoanyofyourprotests。Iknowallthatyouaregoingtosayandoffer——

yourgivingthebungalowuptomeandbuildingagrasshouseforyourself。AndIwon\'thaveit。Youmayaswellconsidereverythingsettled。Ontheotherhand，ifyoudon\'tagree，Iwillgoacrosstheriver，beyondyourjurisdiction，andbuildavillageformyselfandmysailors，whomIshallsendinthewhale-boattoGuvutuforprovisions。AndnowIwantyoutoteachmebilliards。"

CHAPTERVII——AHARD-BITTENGANG

Joantookholdofthehouseholdwithnouncertaingrip，revolutionizingthingstillSheldonhardlyrecognizedtheplace。

Forthefirsttimethebungalowwascleanandorderly。Nolongerthehouse-boysloafedanddidaslittleastheycould；whilethecookcomplainedthat"headbelonghimwalkabouttoomuch，"fromthestrenuouscourseincookerywhichsheputhimthrough。NordidSheldonescapebeingroundlylecturedforhislazinessineatingnothingbuttinnedprovisions。Shecalledhimamuddlerandaslouch，andotherinvidiousnames，forhisslacknessandhisdisregardofhealthfulfood。

Shesentherwhale-boatdownthecoasttwentymilesforlimesandoranges，andwantedtoknowscathinglywhysaidfruitshadnotlongsincebeenplantedatBerande，whilehewasbeneathcontemptbecausetherewasnokitchengarden。Mummyapples，whichhehadregardedasweeds，underherguidanceappearedasappetizingbreakfastfruit，and，atdinner，weremetamorphosedintopuddingsthatelicitedhisunqualifiedadmiration。Bananas，foragedfromthebush，wereserved，cookedandraw，adozendifferentways，eachoneofwhichhedeclaredwasbetterthananyother。Sheorhersailorsdynamitedfishdaily，whiletheBalesunanativeswerepaidtobaccoforbringinginoystersfromthemangroveswamps。Herachievementswithcocoanutswerearevelation。Shetaughtthecookhowtomakeyeastfromthemilk，that，inturn，raisedlightandairybread。Fromthetip-topheartofthetreesheconcoctedadelicioussalad。Fromthemilkandthemeatofthenutshemadevarioussaucesanddressings，sweetandsour，thatwereserved，accordingtopreparation，withdishesthatrangedfromfishtopudding。ShetaughtSheldonthesuperiorityofcocoanutcreamovercondensedcream，foruseincoffee。Fromtheoldandsproutingnutsshetookthesolid，spongycentresandturnedthemintosalads。Herforteseemedtobesalads，andsheastonishedhimwiththedeliciousnessofasaladmadefromyoungbambooshoots。Wildtomatoes，whichhadgonetoseedorbeenremorselesslyhoedoutfromthebeginningofBerande，wereforagedforsalads，soups，andsauces。Thechickens，whichhadalwaysgoneintothebushandhiddentheireggs，weregivenlaying-bins，andJoanwentoutherselftoshootwildduckandwildpigeonsforthetable。

"NotthatIliketodothissortofwork，"sheexplained，inreferencetothecookery；"butbecauseIcan\'tgetawayfromDad\'straining。"

Amongotherthings，sheburnedthepestilentialhospital，quarrelledwithSheldonoverthedead，and，inanger，setherownmentoworkbuildinganew，andwhatshecalledadecent，hospital。

Sherobbedthewindowsoftheirlawnandmuslincurtains，replacingthemwithgaudycalicofromthetrade-store，andmadeherselfseveralgowns。Whenshewroteoutalistofgoodsandclothingforherself，tobesentdowntoSydneybythefirststeamer，Sheldonwonderedhowlongshehadmadeuphermindtostay。

Shewascertainlyunlikeanywomanhehadeverknownordreamedof。

Sofarashewasconcernedshewasnotawomanatall。Sheneitherlanguishednorblandished。Nofemininelureswerewastedonhim。

Hemighthavebeenherbrother，orshehisbrother，forallsexhadtodowiththestrangesituation。Anymerepolitegallantryonhispartwasignoredorsnubbed，andhehadveryearlygivenupofferinghishandtoheringettingintoaboatorclimbingoveralog，andhehadtoacknowledgetohimselfthatshewaseminentlyfittedtotakecareofherself。Despitehiswarningsaboutcrocodilesandsharks，shepersistedinswimmingindeepwateroffthebeach；norcouldhepersuadeher，whenshewasintheboat，toletoneofthesailorsthrowthedynamitewhenshootingfish。Shearguedthatshewasatleastalittlebitmoreintelligentthanthey，andthat，therefore，therewaslessliabilityofanaccidentifshedidtheshooting。Shewastohimthemostmasculineandatthesametimethemostfemininewomanhehadevermet。

Asourceofcontinualtroublebetweenthemwasthedisagreementovermethodsofhandlingtheblackboys。Sheruledbysternkindness，rarelyrewarding，neverpunishing，andhehadtoconfessthatherownsailorsworshippedher，whilethehouse-boyswereherslaves，anddidthreetimesasmuchworkforherashehadevergotoutofthem。Shequicklysawtheunrestofthecontractlabourers，andwasnotblindtothedanger，alwaysimminent，thatbothsheandSheldonran。Neitherofthemeverventuredoutwithoutarevolver，andthesailorswhostoodthenightwatchesbyJoan\'sgrasshousewerearmedwithrifles。ButJoaninsistedthatthisreignofterrorhadbeencausedbythereignoffearpractisedbythewhitemen。ShehadbeenbroughtupwiththegentleHawaiians，whoneverwereill-treatednorroughlyhandled，andshegeneralizedthattheSolomonIslanders，underkindtreatment，wouldgrowgentle。

Oneeveningaterrificuproararoseinthebarracks，andSheldon，aidedbyJoan\'ssailors，succeededinrescuingtwowomenwhomtheblackswerebeatingtodeath。Tosavethemfromthevengeanceoftheblacks，theywereguardedinthecook-houseforthenight。

Theywerethetwowomenwhodidthecookingforthelabourers，andtheiroffencehadconsistedofoneofthemtakingabathinthebigcauldroninwhichthepotatoeswereboiled。Theblackswerenotoutragedfromthestandpointofcleanliness；theyoftentookbathsinthecauldronsthemselves。Thetroublelayinthatthebatherhadbeenalow，degraded，wretchedfemale；fortotheSolomonIslanderallfemalesarelow，degraded，andwretched。

Nextmorning，JoanandSheldon，atbreakfast，werearousedbyaswellingmurmurofangryvoices。ThefirstruleofBerandehadbeenbroken。Thecompoundhadbeenenteredwithoutpermissionorcommand，andallthetwohundredlabourers，withtheexceptionoftheboss-boys，wereguiltyoftheoffence。Theycrowdedup，threateningandshouting，closeunderthefrontveranda。Sheldonleanedovertheverandarailing，lookingdownuponthem，whileJoanstoodslightlyback。Whentheuproarwasstilled，twobrothersstoodforth。Theywerelargemen，splendidlymuscled，andwithfacesunusuallyferocious，evenforSolomonIslanders。OnewasCarin-Jama，otherwiseTheSilent；andtheotherwasBellin-Jama，TheBoaster。BothhadservedontheQueenslandplantationsintheolddays，andtheywereknownasevilcharacterswhereverwhitemenmetandgammed。

"Wefellaboywewant\'mthemdamtwoblackfellaMary，"saidBellin-Jama。

"WhatyoudoalongblackfellaMary？"Sheldonasked。

"Kill\'m，"saidBellin-Jama。

"Whatnameyoufellaboytalkalongme？"Sheldondemanded，withashowofrisinganger。"Bigbellhering。Younobelongalonghere。Youbelongalongfield。Bimeby，bigfellabellhering，youstopalongkai-kai，youcometalkalongmeabouttwofellaMary。Nowallyouboygetalongoutofhere。"

ThegangwaitedtoseewhatBellin-Jamawoulddo，andBellin-Jamastoodstill。

"Menogo，"hesaid。

"Youwatchout，Bellin-Jama，"Sheldonsaidsharply，"orIsendyoualongTulagionebigfellalashing。Myword，youcatch\'mstrongfella。"

Bellin-Jamaglaredupbelligerently。

"Youwant\'mfight，"hesaid，puttinguphisfistsinapproved，returned-Queenslanderstyle。

Now，intheSolomons，wherewhitesarefewandblacksaremany，andwherethewhitesdotheruling，suchanoffertofightisthedeadliestinsult。Blacksarenotsupposedtodaresohighlyastooffertofightawhiteman。Atthebest，alltheycanlookforistobebeatenbythewhiteman。

AmurmurofadmirationatBellin-Jama\'sbraverywentupfromthelisteningblacks。ButBellin-Jama\'svoicewasstillringingintheair，andthemurmuringwasjustbeginning，whenSheldonclearedtherail，leapingstraightdownward。Fromthetopoftherailingtothegrounditwasfifteenfeet，andBellin-Jamawasdirectlybeneath。Sheldon\'sflyingbodystruckhimandcrushedhimtoearth。Noblowswereneededtobestruck。Theblackhadbeenknockedhelpless。Joan，startledbytheunexpectedleap，sawCarin-Jama，TheSilent，reachoutandseizeSheldonbythethroatashewashalf-waytohisfeet，whilethefive-scoreblackssurgedforwardforthekilling。Herrevolverwasout，andCarin-Jamaletgohisgrip，reelingbackwardwithabulletinhisshoulder。Inthatfleetinginstantofactionshehadthoughttoshoothiminthearm，which，atthatshortdistance，mightreasonablyhavebeenachieved。Butthewaveofsavagesleapingforwardhadchangedhershottotheshoulder。Itwasamomentwhennottheslightestchancecouldbetaken。

Theinstanthisthroatwasreleased，Sheldonstruckoutwithhisfist，andCarin-Jamajoinedhisbrotherontheground。Themutinywasquelled，andfiveminutesmoresawthebrothersbeingcarriedtothehospital，andthemutineers，marshalledbythegang-bosses，onthewaytothefields。

WhenSheldoncameupontheveranda，hefoundJoancollapsedonthesteamer-chairandintears。Thesightunnervedhimastherowjustovercouldnotpossiblyhavedone。Awomanintearswastohimanembarrassingsituation；andwhenthatwomanwasJoanLackland，fromwhomhehadgrowntoexpectanythingunexpected，hewasreallyfrightened。Heglanceddownatherhelplessly，andmoistenedhislips。

"Iwanttothankyou，"hebegan。"Thereisn\'tadoubtbutwhatyousavedmylife，andImustsay——"

Sheabruptlyremovedherhands，showingawrathfulandtear-stainedface。

"Youbrute!Youcoward!"shecried。"Youhavemademeshootaman，andInevershotamaninmylifebefore。"

"It\'sonlyaflesh-wound，andheisn\'tgoingtodie，"Sheldonmanagedtointerpolate。

"Whatofthat？Ishothimjustthesame。Therewasnoneedforyoutojumpdowntherethatway。Itwasbrutalandcowardly。"

"Oh，nowIsay——"hebegansoothingly。

"Goaway。Don\'tyouseeIhateyou!hateyou!Oh，won\'tyougoaway!"

Sheldonwaswhitewithanger。

"Thenwhyinthenameofcommonsensedidyoushoot？"hedemanded。

"Be-be-becauseyouwereawhiteman，"shesobbed。"AndDadwouldneverhaveleftanywhitemaninthelurch。Butitwasyourfault。

Youhadnorighttogetyourselfinsuchaposition。Besides，itwasn\'tnecessary。"

"IamafraidIdon\'tunderstand，"hesaidshortly，turningaway。

"Wewilltalkitoverlateron。"

"LookhowIgetonwiththeboys，"shesaid，whilehepausedinthedoorway，stifflypolite，tolisten。"There\'sthosetwosickboysI

amnursing。Theywilldoanythingformewhentheygetwell，andI

won\'thavetokeeptheminfearoftheirlifeallthetime。Itisnotnecessary，Itellyou，allthisharshnessandbrutality。Whatiftheyarecannibals？Theyarehumanbeings，justlikeyouandme，andtheyareamenabletoreason。Thatiswhatdistinguishesallofusfromtheloweranimals。"

Henoddedandwentout。

"IsupposeI\'vebeenunforgivablyfoolish，"washergreeting，whenhereturnedseveralhourslaterfromaroundoftheplantation。

"I\'vebeentothehospital，andthemanisgettingalongallright。

Itisnotaserioushurt。"

Sheldonfeltunaccountablypleasedandhappyatthechangedaspectofhermood。

"Yousee，youdon\'tunderstandthesituation，"hebegan。"Inthefirstplace，theblackshavetoberuledsternly。Kindnessisallverywell，butyoucan\'trulethembykindnessonly。IacceptallthatyousayabouttheHawaiiansandtheTahitians。Yousaythattheycanbehandledthatway，andIbelieveyou。Ihavehadnoexperiencewiththem。Butyouhavehadnoexperiencewiththeblacks，andIaskyoutobelieveme。Theyaredifferentfromyournatives。YouareusedtoPolynesians。TheseboysareMelanesians。

They\'reblacks。They\'reniggers——lookattheirkinkyhair。Andthey\'reawholelotlowerthantheAfricanniggers。Really，youknow，thereisavastdifference。"

"Theypossessnogratitude，nosympathy，nokindliness。Ifyouarekindtothem，theythinkyouareafool。Ifyouaregentlewiththemtheythinkyouareafraid。Andwhentheythinkyouareafraid，watchout，fortheywillgetyou。Justtoshowyou，letmestatetheoneinvariableprocessinablackman\'sbrainwhen，onhisnativeheath，heencountersastranger。Hisfirstthoughtisoneoffear。Willthestrangerkillhim？Hisnextthought，seeingthatheisnotkilled，is:Canhekillthestranger？TherewasPackard，aColonialtrader，sometwelvemilesdownthecoast。Heboastedthatheruledbykindnessandneverstruckablow。Theresultwasthathedidnotruleatall。Heusedtocomedowninhiswhale-boattovisitHughieandme。Whenhisboat\'screwdecidedtogohome，hehadtocuthisvisitshorttoaccompanythem。IrememberoneSundayafternoonwhenPackardhadacceptedourinvitationtostoptodinner。Thesoupwasjustserved，whenHughiesawaniggerpeeringinthroughthedoor。Hewentouttohim，foritwasaviolationofBerandecustom。Anyniggerhastosendinwordbythehouse-boys，andtokeepoutsidethecompound。

Thisman，whowasoneofPackard\'sboat\'s-crew，wasontheveranda。

Andheknewbetter，too。\'Whatname？\'saidHughie。\'Youtell\'mwhitemancloseupwefellaboat\'s-crewgoalong。Henocomenow，wefellaboynowait。Wego。\'AndjustthenHughiefetchedhimacloutthatknockedhimcleandownthestairsandofftheveranda。"

"Butitwasneedlesslycruel，"Joanobjected。"Youwouldn\'ttreatawhitemanthatway。"

"Andthat\'sjustthepoint。Hewasn\'tawhiteman。Hewasalowblacknigger，andhewasdeliberatelyinsulting，notalonehisownwhitemaster，buteverywhitemasterintheSolomons。Heinsultedme。HeinsultedHughie。HeinsultedBerande。"

"Ofcourse，accordingtoyourlights，toyourformulaoftheruleofthestrong——"

"Yes，"Sheldoninterrupted，"butitwasaccordingtotheformulaoftheruleoftheweakthatPackardruled。Andwhatwastheresult？

Iamstillalive。Packardisdead。Hewasunswervinglykindandgentletohisboys，andhisboyswaitedtillonedayhewasdownwithfever。HisheadisoveronMalaitanow。Theycarriedawaytwowhale-boatsaswell，filledwiththelootofthestore。ThentherewasCaptainMackenzieoftheketchMinota。Hebelievedinkindness。Healsocontendedthatbetterconfidencewasestablishedbycarryingnoweapons。OnhissecondtriptoMalaita，recruiting，heranintoBina，whichisnearLangaLanga。Therifleswithwhichtheboat\'s-crewshouldhavebeenarmed，werelockedupinhiscabin。Whenthewhale-boatwentashoreafterrecruits，heparadedaroundthedeckwithoutevenarevolveronhim。Hewastomahawked。

HisheadremainsinMalaita。Itwassuicide。SowasPackard\'sfinishsuicide。"

"Igrantthatprecautionisnecessaryindealingwiththem，"Joanagreed；"butIbelievethatmoresatisfactoryresultscanbeobtainedbytreatingthemwithdiscreetkindnessandgentleness。"

"AndthereIagreewithYOU，butyoumustunderstandonething。

Berande，barnone，isbyfartheworstplantationintheSolomonssofarasthelabourisconcerned。Andhowitcametobesoprovesyourpoint。ThepreviousownersofBerandewerenotdiscreetlykind。Theywereapairofunadulteratedbrutes。Onewasadown-

eastYankee，asIbelievetheyarecalled，andtheotherwasaguzzlingGerman。Theywereslave-drivers。Tobeginwith，theyboughttheirlabourfromJohnnyBe-blowed，themostnotoriousrecruiterintheSolomons。Heisworkingoutatenyears\'sentenceinFijinow，forthewantonkillingofablackboy。DuringhislastdaysherehehadmadehimselfsoobnoxiousthatthenativesonMalaitawouldhavenothingtodowithhim。Theonlywayhecouldgetrecruitswasbyhurryingtothespotwheneveramurderorseriesofmurdersoccurred。Themurdererswereusuallyonlytoowillingtosignonandgetawaytoescapevengeance。Downheretheycallsuchescapes，\'pier-headjumps。\'Thereissuddenlyaroarfromthebeach，andaniggerrunsdowntothewaterpursuedbycloudsofspearsandarrows。Ofcourse，JohnnyBe-blowed\'swhale-

boatislyingreadytopickhimup。InhislastdaysJohnnygotnothingbutpier-headjumps。

"AndthefirstownersofBerandeboughthisrecruits——ahard-bittengangofmurderers。Theywereallfive-yearboys。Yousee，therecruiterhastheadvantageoveraboywhenhemakesapier-headjump。Hecouldsignhimonfortenyearsdidthelawpermit。

Well，that\'sthegangofmurdererswe\'vegotonourhandsnow。Ofcoursesomearedead，somehavebeenkilled，andthereareothersservingsentencesatTulagi。Verylittleclearingdidthosefirstownersdo，andlessplanting。Itwaswarallthetime。Theyhadonemanagerkilled。Oneofthepartnershadhisshoulderslashednearlyoffbyacane-knife。Theotherwasspearedontwodifferentoccasions。Bothwerebullies，whereforetherewasastreakofcowardiceinthem，andintheendtheyhadtogiveup。Theywerechasedaway——literallychasedaway——bytheirownniggers。AndalongcamepoorHughieandme，twonewchums，totakeholdofthathard-bittengang。Wedidnotknowthesituation，andwehadboughtBerande，andtherewasnothingtodobuthangonandmuddlethroughsomehow。

"Atfirstwemadethemistakeofindiscreetkindness。Wetriedtorulebypersuasionandfairtreatment。Theniggersconcludedthatwewereafraid。Iblushtothinkofwhatfoolswewereinthosefirstdays。Wewereimposedon，andthreatenedandinsulted；andweputupwithit，hopingoursquare-dealingwouldsoonmendthings。Insteadofwhicheverythingwentfrombadtoworse。ThencamethedaywhenHughiereprimandedoneoftheboysandwasnearlykilledbythegang。Theonlythingthatsavedhimwasthenumberontopofhim，whichenabledmetoreachthespotintime。

"Thenbegantheruleofthestronghand。Itwaseitherthatorquit，andwehadsunkaboutallourmoneyintotheventure，andwecouldnotquit。Andbesides，ourpridewasinvolved。Wehadstartedouttodosomething，andweweresomadethatwejusthadtogoonwithit。Ithasbeenahardfight，forwewere，andaretothisday，consideredtheworstplantationintheSolomonsfromthestandpointoflabour。Doyouknow，wehavebeenunabletogetwhitemenin。We\'veofferedthemanagershiptohalfadozen。I

won\'tsaytheywereafraid，fortheywerenot。Buttheydidnotconsiderithealthy——atleastthatisthewayitwasputbythelastonewhodeclinedouroffer。SoHughieandIdidthemanagingourselves。"

"Andwhenhediedyouwerepreparedtogoonallalone!"Joancried，withshiningeyes。

"IthoughtI\'dmuddlethrough。Andnow，MissLackland，pleasebecharitablewhenIseemharsh，andrememberthatthesituationisunparalleleddownhere。We\'vegotabadcrowd，andwe\'remakingthemwork。You\'vebeenovertheplantationandyououghttoknow。

AndIassureyouthattherearenobetterthree-and-four-years-oldtreesonanyotherplantationintheSolomons。Wehaveworkedsteadilytochangemattersforthebetter。We\'vebeenslowlygettinginnewlabour。ThatiswhyweboughttheJessie。Wewantedtoselectourownlabour。Inanotheryearthetimewillbeupformostoftheoriginalgang。Yousee，theywererecruitedduringthefirstyearofBerande，andtheircontractsexpireondifferentmonths。Naturally，theyhavecontaminatedthenewboystoacertainextent；butthatcansoonberemedied，andthenBerandewillbearespectableplantation。"

Joannoddedbutremainedsilent。Shewastoooccupiedinglimpsingthevisionoftheonelonewhitemanasshehadfirstseenhim，helplessfromfever，acollapsedwraithinasteamer-chair，who，uptothelastheart-beat，bysomestrangealchemyofrace，waspledgedtomastery。

"Itisapity，"shesaid。"Butthewhitemanhastorule，I

suppose。"

"Idon\'tlikeit，"Sheldonassuredher。"TosavemylifeIcan\'timaginehowIevercamehere。ButhereIam，andIcan\'trunaway。"

"Blinddestinyofrace，"shesaid，faintlysmiling。"Wewhiteshavebeenlandrobbersandsearobbersfromremotesttime。Itisinourblood，Iguess，andwecan\'tgetawayfromit。"

"Ineverthoughtaboutitsoabstractly，"heconfessed。"I\'vebeentoobusypuzzlingoverwhyIcamehere。"

CHAPTERVIII——LOCALCOLOUR

Atsunsetasmallketchfannedintoanchorage，andalittlelatertheskippercameashore。Hewasasoft-spoken，gentle-voicedyoungfellowoftwenty，buthewonJoan\'sadmirationinadvancewhenSheldontoldherthatherantheketchallalonewithablackcrewfromMalaita。AndRomanceluredandbeckonedbeforeJoan\'seyeswhenshelearnedhewasChristianYoung，aNorfolkIslander，butadirectdescendantofJohnYoung，oneoftheoriginalBountymutineers。TheblendedTahitianandEnglishbloodshowedinhissofteyesandtawnyskin；buttheEnglishhardnessseemedtohavedisappeared。Yetthehardnesswasthere，anditwaswhatenabledhimtorunhisketchsingle-handedandtowringalivelihoodoutofthefightingSolomons。

Joan\'sunexpectedpresenceembarrassedhim，untilsheherselfputhimathiseasebyafrank，comradelymannerthatoffendedSheldon\'ssenseofthefitnessofthingsfeminine。NewsfromtheworldYounghadnot，buthewasfilledwithnewsoftheSolomons。

FifteenboyshadstolenriflesandrunawayintothebushfromLungaplantation，whichwasfarthereastontheGuadalcanarcoast。

Andfromthebushtheyhadsentwordthattheywerecomingbacktowipeoutthethreewhitemenincharge，whiletwoofthethreewhitemen，inturn，werehuntingthemthroughthebush。Therewasastrongpossibility，Youngvolunteered，thatiftheywerenotcaughttheymightcirclearoundandtapthecoastatBerandeinordertostealorcaptureawhale-boat。

"IforgottotellyouthatyourtraderatUgihasbeenmurdered，"

hesaidtoSheldon。"FivebigcanoescamedownfromPortAdams。

Theylandedinthenight-time，andcaughtOscarasleep。Whattheydidn\'tstealtheyburned。TheFlibberty-GibbetgotthenewsatMboliPass，andrandowntoUgi。IwasatMboliwhenthenewscame。"

"IthinkI\'llhavetoabandonUgi，"Sheldonremarked。

"It\'sthesecondtraderyou\'velostthereinayear，"Youngconcurred。"Tomakeitsafethereoughttobetwowhitemenatleast。ThoseMalaitacanoesarealwaysraidingdownthatway，andyouknowwhatthatPortAdamslotis。I\'vegotadogforyou。

TommyJonessentitupfromNealIsland。Hesaidhe\'dpromisedittoyou。It\'safirst-classnigger-chaser。Hadn\'tbeenonboardtwominuteswhenhehadmywholeboat\'s-crewintherigging。TommycallshimSatan。"

"I\'vewonderedseveraltimeswhyyouhadnodogshere，"Joansaid。

"Thetroubleistokeepthem。They\'realwayseatenbythecrocodiles。"

"JackHanleywaskilledatMarovoLagoontwomonthsago，"Youngannouncedinhismildvoice。"ThenewsjustcamedownontheApostle。"

"WhereisMarovoLagoon？"Joanasked。

"NewGeorgia，acoupleofhundredmilestothewestward，"Sheldonanswered。"Bougainvilleliesjustbeyond。"

"Hisownhouse-boysdidit，"Youngwenton；"buttheywereputuptoitbytheMarovonatives。HisSantaCruzboat\'s-crewescapedinthewhale-boattoChoiseul，andMather，intheLily，sailedovertoMarovo。Heburnedavillage，andgotHanley\'sheadback。Hefounditinoneofthehouses，wheretheniggershaditdrying。Andthat\'sallthenewsI\'vegot，exceptthatthere\'salotofnewLee-

EnfieldslooseontheeasternendofYsabel。Nobodyknowshowthenativesgotthem。Thegovernmentoughttoinvestigate。And——ohyes，awarvessel\'sinthegroup，theCambrian。SheburnedthreevillagesatBina——onaccountoftheMinota，youknow——andshelledthebush。ThenshewenttoSiotostraightenoutthingsthere。"

Theconversationbecamegeneral，andjustbeforeYounglefttogoonboardJoanasked，-

"Howcanyoumanageallalone，Mr。Young？"

Hislarge，almostgirlisheyesrestedonherforamomentbeforehereplied，andthenitwasinthesoftestandgentlestofvoices。

"Oh，Igetalongprettywellwiththem。Ofcourse，thereisabitoftroubleonceinawhile，butthatmustbeexpected。Youmustneverletthemthinkyouareafraid。I\'vebeenafraidplentyoftimes，buttheyneverknewit。"

"Youwouldthinkhewouldn\'tstrikeamosquitothatwasbitinghim，"SheldonsaidwhenYounghadgoneonboard。"AlltheNorfolkIslandersthathavedescendedfromtheBountycrowdarethatway。

ButlookatYoung。Onlythreeyearsago，whenhefirstgottheMinerva，hewaslyinginSuu，onMalaita。TherearealotofreturnedQueenslandersthere——aroughcrowd。Theyplannedtogethishead。Thesonoftheirchief，oldOne-EyedBilly，hadrecruitedonLungaanddiedofdysentery。Thatmeantthatawhiteman\'sheadwasowingtoSuu——anywhiteman，itdidn\'tmatterwhosolongastheygotthehead。AndYoungwasonlyalad，andtheymadesuretogethiseasily。Theydecoyedhiswhale-boatashorewithapromiseofrecruits，andkilledallhands。Atthesameinstant，theSuugangthatwasonboardtheMinervajumpedYoung。Hewasjustpreparingadynamitestickforfish，andhelighteditandtosseditinamongstthem。Onecan\'tgethimtotalkaboutit，butthefusewasshort，thesurvivorsleapedoverboard，whileheslippedhisanchorandgotaway。They\'vegotonehundredfathomsofshellmoneyonhisheadnow，whichisworthonehundredpoundssterling。YethegoesintoSuuregularly。Hewasthereashorttimeago，returningthirtyboysfromCapeMarsh——that\'stheFulcrumBrothers\'plantation。"

"Atanyrate，hisnewsto-nighthasgivenmeabetterinsightintothelifedownhere，"Joansaid。"Anditiscolourfullife，tosaytheleast。TheSolomonsoughttobeprintedredonthecharts——andyellow，too，forthediseases。"

"TheSolomonsarenotalwayslikethis，"Sheldonanswered。"Ofcourse，Berandeistheworstplantation，andeverythingitgetsistheworst。Idoubtifevertherewasaworserunofsicknessthanwewerejustgettingoverwhenyouarrived。Justasluckwouldhaveit，theJessiecaughtthecontagionaswell。Berandehasbeenveryunfortunate。Alltheold-timersshaketheirheadsatit。

TheysayithaswhatyouAmericanscallahoodooonit。"

"Berandewillsucceed，"Joansaidstoutly。"Iliketolaughatsuperstition。You\'llpullthroughandcomeoutthebigendofthehorn。Theillluckcan\'tlastforever。Iamafraid，though，theSolomonsisnotawhiteman\'sclimate。"

"Itwillbe，though。Giveusfiftyyears，andwhenallthebushisclearedoffbacktothemountains，feverwillbestampedout；

everythingwillbefarhealthier。Therewillbecitiesandtownshere，forthere\'sanimmenseamountofgoodlandgoingtowaste。"

"Butitwillneverbecomeawhiteman\'sclimate，inspiteofallthat，"Joanreiterated。"Thewhitemanwillalwaysbeunabletoperformthemanuallabour。"

"Thatistrue。"

"Itwillmeanslavery，"shedashedon。

"Yes，likeallthetropics。Theblack，thebrown，andtheyellowwillhavetodothework，managedbythewhitemen。Theblacklabouristoowasteful，however，andintimeChineseorIndiancoolieswillbeimported。Theplantersarealreadyconsideringthematter。I，forone，amheartilysickofblacklabour。"

"Thentheblackswilldieoff？"

Sheldonshruggedhisshoulders，andretorted，-