第4章

"Yes，liketheNorthAmericanIndian，whowasafarnoblertypethantheMelanesian。Theworldisonlysolarge，youknow，anditisfillingup——"

"Andtheunfitmustperish？"

"Preciselyso。Theunfitmustperish。"

InthemorningJoanwasrousedbyagreatrowandhullabaloo。Herfirstactwastoreachforherrevolver，butwhensheheardNoaNoah，whowasonguard，laughingoutside，sheknewtherewasnodanger，andwentouttoseethefun。CaptainYounghadlandedSatanatthemomentwhenthebridge-buildingganghadstartedalongthebeach。Satanwasbigandblack，short-hairedandmuscular，andweighedfullyseventypounds。Hedidnotlovetheblacks。TommyJoneshadtrainedhimwell，tyinghimupdailyforseveralhoursandtellingoffoneortwoblackboysatatimetoteasehim。SoSatanhaditinforthewholeblackrace，andthesecondafterhelandedonthebeachthebridge-buildinggangwasstampedingoverthecompoundfenceandswarmingupthecocoanutpalms。

"Goodmorning，"Sheldoncalledfromtheveranda。"Andwhatdoyouthinkofthenigger-chaser？"

"I\'mthinkingwehaveataskbeforeustotrainhimintothehouse-boys，"shecalledback。

"AndtoyourTahitians，too。Lookout，Noah!Runforit!"

Satan，havingsatisfiedhimselfthatthetree-percheswereunassailable，waschargingstraightforthebigTahitian。

ButNoahstoodhisground，thoughsomewhatirresolutely，andSatan，toeveryone\'ssurprise，dancedandfriskedabouthimwithlaughingeyesandwaggingtail。

"Now，thatiswhatImightcallaproperdog，"wasJoan\'scomment。

"Heisatleastwiserthanyou，Mr。Sheldon。Hedidn\'trequireanyteachingtorecognizethedifferencebetweenaTahitianandablackboy。Whatdoyouthink，Noah？Whydon\'thebiteyou？HesavveeyouTahitianeh？"

NoaNoahshookhisheadandgrinned。

"HenosavveemeTahitian，"heexplained。"Hesavveemewearpantsallthesamewhiteman。"

"You\'llhavetogivehimacoursein\'SartorResartus，\'"Sheldonlaughed，ashecamedownandbegantomakefriendswithSatan。

ItchancedjustthenthatAdamuAdamandMatauare，twoofJoan\'ssailors，enteredthecompoundfromthefarside-gate。TheyhadbeendowntotheBalesunamakinganalligatortrap，and，insteadoftrousers，werecladinlava-lavasthatflappedgracefullyabouttheirstalwartlimbs。Satansawthem，andadvertisedhisfindbybreakingawayfromSheldon\'shandsandcharging。

"Nogotpants，"NoahannouncedwithagrinthatbroadenedasAdamuAdamtooktoflight。

Heclimbeduptheplatformthatsupportedthegalvanizedirontankswhichheldthewatercollectedfromtheroof。Foiledhere，SatanturnedandchargedbackonMatauare。

"Run，Matauare!Run!"Joancalled。

Butheheldhisgroundandwaitedthedog。

"HeistheFearlessOne——thatiswhathisnamemeans，"JoanexplainedtoSheldon。

TheTahitianwatchedSatancoolly，andwhenthatsanguine-mouthedcreatureliftedintotheairinthefinalleap，theman\'shandshotout。Itwasafairgriponthelowerjaw，andSatandescribedahalfcircleandwasflungtotherear，turningoverintheairandfallingheavilyonhisback。Threetimesheleaped，andthreetimesthatgriponhisjawflunghimtodefeat。ThenhecontentedhimselfwithtrottingatMatauare\'sheels，eyeinghimandsniffinghimsuspiciously。

"It\'sallright，Satan；it\'sallright，"Sheldonassuredhim。

"Thatgoodfellabelongalongme。"

ButSatandoggedtheTahitian\'smovementsforafullhourbeforehemadeuphismindthatthemanwasanappurtenanceoftheplace。

Thenheturnedhisattentiontothethreehouse-boys，corneringOrnfiriinthekitchenandrushinghimagainstthehotstove，strippingthelava-lavafromLalaperuwhenthatexcitedyouthclimbedaveranda-post，andfollowingViaburiontopthebilliard-

table，wherethebattlerageduntilJoanmanagedarescue。

CHAPTERIX——ASBETWEENAMANANDAWOMAN

ItwasSatan\'sinexhaustibleenergyandgoodspiritsthatmostimpressedthem。Histeethseemedperpetuallytoachewithdesire，andinlieuofblacklegshehuskedthecocoanutsthatfellfromthetreesinthecompound，kepttheenclosureclearofintrudinghens，andmadeahostileacquaintancewitheveryboss-boywhocametoreport。Hewasunabletoforgetthetormentofhispuppyhood，whereineverlastinghatredoftheblackhadbeenwovenintothefibresofconsciousness；andsuchaterrordidhemakehimselfthatSheldonwasforcedtoshuthimupinthelivingroomwhen，foranyreason，strangenativeswerepermittedinthecompound。ThisalwayshurtSatan\'sfeelingsandfannedhiswrath，sothateventhehouse-boyshadtowatchoutforhimwhenhewasfirstreleased。

ChristianYoungsailedawayintheMinerva，carryinganinvitation(thatwouldbedeliverednobodyknewwhen)toTommyJonestodropinatBerandethenexttimehewaspassing。

"WhatareyourplanswhenyougettoSydney？"Sheldonasked，thatnight，atdinner。

"FirstI\'veheardthatI\'mgoingtoSydney，"Joanretorted。"I

supposeyou\'vereceivedinformation，bybush-telegraph，thatthatthirdassistantunderstrapperandex-sailormanatTulagiisgoingtodeportmeasanundesirableimmigrant。"

"Oh，no，nothingofthesort，Iassureyou，"Sheldonbeganwithawkwardhaste，fearfulofhavingoffended，thoughheknewnothow。

"Iwasjustwondering，thatwasall。Yousee，withthelossoftheschoonerand……andalltherest……youunderstand……Iwasthinkingthatif——a——if——hangitall，untilyoucouldcommunicatewithyourfriends，myagentsatSydneycouldadvanceyoualoan，temporaryyousee，whyI\'dbeonlytoogladandalltherest，youknow。Theproper——"

Buthisjawdroppedandheregardedherirritablyandwithapprehension。

"WhatISthematter？"hedemanded，withashowofheat。"WhatHAVE

Idonenow？"

Joan\'seyeswerebrightwithbattle，thecurveofherlipssharpwithmockery。

"Certainlynottheunexpected，"shesaidquietly。"Merelyignoredmeinyourordinary，every-day，man-god，superiorfashion。

Naturallyitcountedfornothing，mytellingyouthatIhadnoideaofgoingtoSydney。GotoSydneyImust，becauseyou，inyoursuperiorwisdom，havesodecreed。"

Shepausedandlookedathimcuriously，asthoughheweresomestrangebreedofanimal。

"OfcourseIamgratefulforyourofferofassistance；buteventhatisnosalvetowoundedpride。Forthatmatter，itisnomorethanonewhitemanshouldexpectfromanother。Shipwreckedmarinersarealwayshelpedalongtheirway。Onlythisparticularmarinerdoesn\'tneedanyhelp。Furthermore，thismarinerisnotgoingtoSydney，thankyou。"

"Butwhatdoyouintendtodo？"

"FindsomespotwhereIshallescapetheindignityofbeingpatronizedandbossedbythesuperiorsex。"

"Comenow，thatisputtingitabittoostrongly。"Sheldonlaughed，butthestraininhisvoicedestroyedtheeffectofspontaneity。"Youknowyourselfhowimpossiblethesituationis。"

"Iknownothingofthesort，sir。Andifitisimpossible，well，haven\'tIachievedit？"

"Butitcannotcontinue。Really——"

"Oh，yes，itcan。Havingachievedit，Icangoonachievingit。I

intendtoremainintheSolomons，butnotonBerande。To-morrowI

amgoingtotakethewhale-boatovertoPari-Sulay。IwastalkingwithCaptainYoungaboutit。Hesaysthereareatleastfourhundredacres，andeveryfootofitgoodforplanting。Beinganisland，hesaysIwon\'thavetobotheraboutwildpigsdestroyingtheyoungtrees。AllI\'llhavetodoistokeeptheweedshoeduntilthetreescomeintobearing。First，I\'llbuytheisland；

next，getfortyorfiftyrecruitsandstartclearingandplanting；

andatthesametimeI\'llrunupabungalow；andthenyou\'llberelievedofmyembarrassingpresence——nowdon\'tsaythatitisn\'t。"

"Itisembarrassing，"hesaidbluntly。"Butyourefusetoseemypointofview，sothereisnouseindiscussingit。Nowpleaseforgetallaboutit，andconsidermeatyourserviceconcerningthis……thisprojectofyours。Iknowmoreaboutcocoanut-

plantingthanyoudo。Youspeaklikeacapitalist。Idon\'tknowhowmuchmoneyyouhave，butIdon\'tfancyyouarerollinginwealth，asyouAmericanssay。ButIdoknowwhatitcoststoclearland。SupposethegovernmentsellsyouPari-Sulayatapoundanacre；clearingwillcostyouatleastfourpoundsmore；thatis，fivepoundsforfourhundredacres，or，say，tenthousanddollars。

Haveyouthatmuch？"

Shewaskeenlyinterested，andhecouldseethatthepreviousclashbetweenthemwasalreadyforgotten。Herdisappointmentwasplainassheconfessed:

"No；Ihaven\'tquiteeightthousanddollars。"

"Thenhere\'sanotherwayoflookingatit。You\'llneed，asyousaid，atleastfiftyboys。Notcountingpremiums，theirwagesarethirtydollarsayear。"

"IpaymyTahitiansfifteenamonth，"sheinterpolated。

"Theywon\'tdoonstraightplantationwork。Buttoreturn。Thewagesoffiftyboyseachyearwillcometothreehundredpounds——

thatis，fifteenhundreddollars。Verywell。Itwillbesevenyearsbeforeyourtreesbegintobear。Seventimesfifteenhundredistenthousandfivehundreddollars——morethanyoupossess，andalleatenupbytheboys\'wages，withnothingtopayforbungalow，building，tools，quinine，tripstoSydney，andsoforth。"

Sheldonshookhisheadgravely。"You\'llhavetoabandontheidea。"

"ButIwon\'tgotoSydney，"shecried。"Isimplywon\'t。I\'llbuyintotheextentofmymoneyasasmallpartnerinsomeotherplantation。LetmebuyininBerande!"

"Heavenforbid!"hecriedinsuchgenuinedismaythatshebrokeintoheartylaughter。

"There，Iwon\'tteaseyou。Really，youknow，I\'mnotaccustomedtoforcingmypresencewhereitisnotdesired。Yes，yes；Iknowyou\'rejustachingtopointoutthatI\'veforcedmyselfuponyoueversinceIlanded，onlyyouaretoopolitetosayso。Yetasyousaidyourself，itwasimpossibleformetogoaway，soIhadtostay。Youwouldn\'tletmegotoTulagi。Youcompelledmetoforcemyselfuponyou。ButIwon\'tbuyinaspartnerwithanyone。I\'llbuyPari-Sulay，butI\'llputonlytenboysonitandclearslowly。

Also，I\'llinvestinsomeoldketchandtakeoutatradinglicense。

Forthatmatter，I\'llgorecruitingonMalaita。"

Shelookedforprotest，andfounditinSheldon\'sclenchedhandandineverylineofhisclean-cutface。

"Goaheadandsayit，"shechallenged。"Pleasedon\'tmindme。

I\'m——I\'mgettingusedtoit，youknow。ReallyIam。"

"IwishIwereawomansoastotellyouhowpreposterouslyinsaneandimpossibleitis，"heblurtedout。

Shesurveyedhimwithdeliberation，andsaid:

"Betterthanthat，youareaman。Sothereisnothingtopreventyourtellingme，forIdemandtobeconsideredasaman。Ididn\'tcomedownheretotrailmywoman\'sskirtsovertheSolomons。

PleaseforgetthatIamaccidentallyanythingelsethanamanwithaman\'slivingtomake。"

InwardlySheldonfumedandfretted。Wasshemakinggameofhim？

Ordidtherelurkinhertheinsidiousunhealthfulnessofunwomanliness？Orwasitmerelyacaseofblank，staring，sentimental，idioticinnocence？

"Ihavetoldyou，"hebeganstiffly，"thatrecruitingonMalaitaisimpossibleforawoman，andthatisallIcaretosay——ordare。"

"AndItellyou，inturn，thatitisnothingofthesort。I\'vesailedtheMielehere，master，ifyouplease，allthewayfromTahiti——evenifIdidloseher，whichwasthefaultofyourAdmiraltycharts。Iamanavigator，andthatismorethanyourSolomonscaptainsare。CaptainYoungtoldmeallaboutit。AndI

amaseaman——abetterseamanthanyou，whenitcomesrightdowntoit，andyouknowit。Icanshoot。Iamnotafool。Icantakecareofmyself。AndIshallmostcertainlybuyaketch，runhermyself，andgorecruitingonMalaita。"

Sheldonmadeahopelessgesture。

"That\'sright，"sherattledon。"Washyourhandsofme。ButasVonusedtosay，\'Youjustwatchmysmoke!\'"

"There\'snouseindiscussingit。Letushavesomemusic。"

Hearoseandwentovertothebigphonograph；butbeforethediscstarted，andwhilehewaswindingthemachine，heheardhersaying:

"Isupposeyou\'vebeenaccustomedtoJaneEyresallyourlife。

That\'swhyyoudon\'tunderstandme。Comeon，Satan；let\'sleavehimtohisoldmusic。"

Hewatchedhermoroselyandwithoutintentionofspeaking，tillhesawhertakeariflefromthestand，examinethemagazine，andstartforthedoor。

"Whereareyougoing？"heaskedperemptorily。

"Asbetweenmanandwoman，"sheanswered，"itwouldbetooterribly——er——indecentforyoutotellmewhyIshouldn\'tgoalligatoring。Good-night。Sleepwell。"

Heshutoffthephonographwithasnap，startedtowardthedoorafterher，thenabruptlyflunghimselfintoachair。

"You\'rehopinga\'gatorcatchesme，aren\'tyou？"shecalledfromtheveranda，andasshewentdownthestepsherripplinglaughterdriftedtantalizinglybackthroughthewidedoorway。

CHAPTERX——AMESSAGEFROMBOUCHER

ThenextdaySheldonwasleftallalone。JoanhadgoneexploringPari-Sulay，andwasnottobeexpectedbackuntilthelateafternoon。Sheldonwasvaguelyoppressedbyhisloneliness，andseveralheavysquallsduringtheafternoonbroughthimfrequentlyontotheveranda，telescopeinhand，toscantheseaanxiouslyforthewhale-boat。Betweenwhileshescowledovertheplantationaccount-books，maderoughestimates，addedandbalanced，andscowledtheharder。ThelossoftheJessiehadhitBerandeseverely。Notalonewashiscapitaldepletedbytheamountofhervalue，butherearningswerenolongertobereckonedon，anditwasherearningsthatlargelypaidtherunningexpensesoftheplantation。

"PooroldHughie，"hemutteredaloud，once。"I\'mgladyoudidn\'tlivetoseeit，oldman。Whatacropper，whatacropper!"

BetweensquallstheFlibberty-Gibbetranintoanchorage，andherskipper，PeteOleson(brothertotheOlesonoftheJessie)，ancient，grizzled，wild-eyed，emaciatedbyfever，draggedhiswearyframeuptheverandastepsandcollapsedinasteamer-chair。

Whiskyandsodakepthimgoingwhilehemadereportandturnedinhisaccounts。

"You\'rerottenwithfever，"Sheldonsaid。"Whydon\'tyourundowntoSydneyforablowofdecentclimate？"

Theoldskippershookhishead。

"Ican\'t。I\'vebenintheislandstoolong。I\'ddie。Thefevercomesoutworsedownthere。"

"Killorcure，"Sheldoncounselled。

"It\'sstraightkillforme。Itrieditthreeyearsago。ThecoolweatherputmeonmybackbeforeIlanded。Theycarriedmeashoreandintohospital。Iwasunconsciousonestretchfortwoweeks。

Afterthatthedoctorssentmebacktotheislands——saiditwastheonlythingthatwouldsaveme。Well，I\'mstillalive；butI\'mtoosoakedwithfever。AmonthinAustraliawouldfinishme。"

"Butwhatareyougoingtodo？"Sheldonqueried。"Youcan\'tstayhereuntilyoudie。"

"That\'sallthat\'slefttome。I\'dliketogobacktotheoldcountry，butIcouldn\'tstandit。I\'lllastlongerhere，andhereI\'llstayuntilIpegout；butIwishtoGodI\'dneverseentheSolomons，that\'sall。"

Hedeclinedtosleepashore，tookhisorders，andwentbackonboardthecutter。Aluridsunsetwasblottedoutbytheheaviestsqualloftheday，andSheldonwatchedthewhale-boatarriveinthethickofit。Asthespritsailwastakeninandtheboatheadedontothebeach，hewasawareofadistincthurtatsightofJoanatthesteering-oar，standingerectandswayingherstrengthtoitassheresistedthepressuresthattendedtothrowthecraftbroadsideinthesurf。HerTahitiansleapedoutandrushedtheboathighupthebeach，andsheledherbizarrefollowingthroughthegateofthecompound。

Thefirstdropsofrainweredrivinglikehail-stones，thetallcocoanutpalmswerebendingandwrithinginthegripofthewind，whilethethickcloud-massofthesquallturnedthebrieftropictwilightabruptlytonight。

QuiteunconsciouslythebroodinganxietyoftheafternoonslippedfromSheldon，andhefeltstrangelycheeredatthesightofherrunningupthestepslaughing，faceflushed，hairflying，herbreastheavingfromtheviolenceofherlateexertions。

"Lovely，perfectlylovely——Pari-Sulay，"shepanted。"Ishallbuyit。I\'llwritetotheCommissionerto-night。Andthesiteforthebungalow——I\'veselecteditalready——iswonderful。Youmustcomeoversomedayandadviseme。Youwon\'tmindmystayinghereuntilIcangetsettled？Wasn\'tthatsquallbeautiful？AndIsupposeI\'mlatefordinner。I\'llrunandgetclean，andbewithyouinaminute。"

Andinthebriefintervalofherabsencehefoundhimselfwalkingaboutthebigliving-roomandimpatientlyandwithanticipationawaitinghercoming。

"Doyouknow，I\'mnevergoingtosquabblewithyouagain，"heannouncedwhentheywereseated。

"Squabble!"wastheretort。"It\'ssuchasordidword。Itsoundscheapandnasty。Ithinkit\'smuchnicertoquarrel。"

"Callitwhatyouplease，butwewon\'tdoitanymore，willwe？"

Heclearedhisthroatnervously，forhereyesadvertisedtheimmediatebeginningofhostilities。"Ibegyourpardon，"hehurriedon。"Ishouldhavespokenformyself。WhatImeanisthatIrefusetoquarrel。Youhavethemosthorribleway，withoututteringaword，ofmakingmeplaythefool。Why，Ibeganwiththekindestintentions，andhereIamnow——"

"Makingnastyremarks，"shecompletedforhim。

"It\'sthewayyouhaveofcatchingmeup，"hecomplained。

"Why，Ineversaidaword。Iwasmerelysittinghere，beingsweetlyluredonbypromisesofpeaceonearthandalltherestofit，whensuddenlyyoubegantocallmenames。"

"Hardlythat，Iamsure。"

"Well，yousaidIwashorrible，orthatIhadahorriblewayaboutme，whichisthesamething。Iwishmybungalowwereup。I\'dmoveto-morrow。"

Buthertwitchinglipsbeliedherwords，andthenextmomentthemanwasmoreuncomfortablethanever，beingmadesobyherlaughter。

"Iwasonlyteasingyou。HonestInjun。Andifyoudon\'tlaughI\'llsuspectyouofbeinginatemperwithme。That\'sright，laugh。Butdon\'t——"sheaddedinalarm，"don\'tifithurtsyou。

Youlookasthoughyouhadatoothache。There，there——don\'tsayit。Youknowyoupromisednottoquarrel，whileIhavetheprivilegeofgoingonbeingashatefulasIplease。Andtobeginwith，there\'stheFlibberty-Gibbet。Ididn\'tknowshewassolargeacutter；butshe\'sindisgracefulcondition。Herriggingissomethingqueer，andthenextsharpsquallwillbringherhead-gearallabouttheshop。IwatchedNoaNoah\'sfaceaswesailedpast。

Hedidn\'tsayanything。Hejustsneered。AndIdon\'tblamehim。"

"Herskipper\'srottenbadwithfever，"Sheldonexplained。"AndhehadtodrophismateofftotakeholdofthingsatUgi——that\'swhereIlostOscar，mytrader。Andyouknowwhatsortofsailorstheniggersare。"

Shenoddedherheadjudicially，andwhilesheseemedtodebateaweightyjudgmentheaskedforasecondhelpingoftinnedbeef——notbecausehewashungry，butbecausehewantedtowatchherslim，firmfingers，nakedofjewelsandbandedmetals，whilehiseyespleasuredintheswelloftheforearm，appearingfromunderthesleeveandlosingidentityinthesmooth，roundwristundisfiguredbythenettedveinsthatcometoyouthwhenyouthisgone。Thefingerswerebrownwithtanandlookedexceedinglyboyish。Then，andwithouteffort，theconceptcametohim。Yes，thatwasit。Hehadstumbleduponthecluetohertantalizingpersonality。Herfingers，sunburnedandboyish，toldthestory。Nowondershehadexasperatedhimsofrequently。Hehadtriedtotreatwithherasawoman，whenshewasnotawoman。Shewasameregirl——andaboyishgirlatthat——withsunburnedfingersthatdelightedindoingwhatboys\'fingersdid；withabodyandmusclesthatlikedswimmingandviolentendeavourofallsorts；withamindthatwasdaring，butthatdarednofartherthanboys\'adventures，andthatdelightedinriflesandrevolvers，Stetsonhats，andasexlesscamaraderiewithmen。

Somehow，asheponderedandwatchedher，itseemedasifhesatinchurchathomelisteningtothechoir-boyschanting。Sheremindedhimofthoseboys，ortheirvoices，rather。Thesamesexlessqualitywasthere。Inthebodyofhershewaswoman；inthemindofhershehadnotgrownup。Shehadnotbeenexposedtoripeninginfluencesofthatsort。Shehadhadnomother。Von，herfather，nativeservants，androughislandlifehadconstitutedhertraining。Horsesandrifleshadbeenhertoys，campandtrailhernursery。Fromwhatshehadtoldhim，herseminarydayshadbeenanexile，devotedtostudyandtoceaselesslongingforthewildridingandswimmingofHawaii。Aboy\'straining，andaboy\'spointofview!Thatexplainedherchafeatpetticoats，herrevoltatwhatwasonlydecentlyconventional。Somedayshewouldgrowup，butasyetshewasonlyintheprocess。

Well，therewasonlyonethingforhimtodo。Hemustmeetheronherownbasisofboyhood，andnotmakethemistakeoftreatingherasawoman。Hewonderedifhecouldlovethewomanshewouldbewhenhernatureawoke；andhewonderedifhecouldloveherjustasshewasandhimselfwakeherup。Afterall，whateveritwas，shehadcometofillquitealargeplaceinhislife，ashehaddiscoveredthatafternoonwhilescanningtheseabetweenthesqualls。ThenherememberedtheaccountsofBerande，andthecropperthatwascoming，andscowled。

Hebecameawarethatshewasspeaking。

"Ibegpardon，"hesaid。"What\'sthatyouweresaying？"

"Youweren\'tlisteningtoaword——Iknewit，"shechided。"IwassayingthattheconditionoftheFlibberty-Gibbetwasdisgraceful，andthatto-morrow，whenyou\'vetoldtheskipperandnothurthisfeelings，Iamgoingtotakemymenoutandgiveheranoverhauling。We\'llscrubherbottom，too。Why，there\'swhiskersonhercopperfourincheslong。Isawitwhensherolled。Don\'tforget，I\'mgoingcruisingontheFlibbertysomeday，evenifI

havetorunawaywithher。"

Whileattheircoffeeontheveranda，Satanraisedacommotioninthecompoundnearthebeachgate，andSheldonfinallyrescuedamauledandfrightenedblackanddraggedhimontheporchforinterrogation。

"Whatfellamarsteryoubelong？"hedemanded。"Whatnameyoucomealongthisfellaplacesunhegodown？"

"Meb\'longBoucher。ToomanyboybelongalongPortAdamsstopalongmyfellamarster。Toomuchwalkabout。"

Theblackdrewascrapofnotepaperfromunderhisbeltandpasseditover。Sheldonscannedithurriedly。

"It\'sfromBoucher，"heexplained，"thefellowwhotookPackard\'splace。PackardwastheoneItoldyouaboutwhowaskilledbyhisboat\'s-crew。HesaysthePortAdamscrowdisout——fiftyofthem，inbigcanoes——andcampingonhisbeach。They\'vekilledhalfadozenofhispigsalready，andseemtobelookingfortrouble。Andhe\'safraidtheymayconnectwiththefifteenrunawaysfromLunga。"

"Inwhichcase？"shequeried。

"InwhichcaseBillyPapewillbecompelledtosendBoucher\'ssuccessor。It\'sPape\'sstation，youknow。IwishIknewwhattodo。Idon\'tliketoleaveyouherealone。"

"Takemealongthen。"

Hesmiledandshookhishead。

"Thenyou\'dbettertakemymenalong，"sheadvised。"They\'regoodshots，andthey\'renotafraidofanything——exceptUtami，andhe\'safraidofghosts。"

Thebigbellwasrung，andfiftyblackboyscarriedthewhale-boatdowntothewater。Theregularboat\'s-crewmannedher，andMatauareandthreeotherTahitians，beltedwithcartridgesandarmedwithrifles，satinthestern-sheetswhereSheldonstoodatthesteering-oar。

"My，IwishIcouldgowithyou，"Joansaidwistfully，astheboatshovedoff。

Sheldonshookhishead。

"I\'masgoodasaman，"sheurged。

"Youreallyareneededhere，"hereplied。

"There\'sthatLungacrowd；theymightreachthecoastrighthere，andwithbothofusabsentrushtheplantation。Good-bye。We\'llgetbackinthemorningsometime。It\'sonlytwelvemiles。"

WhenJoanstartedtoreturntothehouse，shewascompelledtopassamongtheboat-carriers，wholingeredonthebeachtochatterinqueer，ape-likefashionabouttheeventsofthenight。Theymadewayforher，buttherecametoher，asshewasinthemidstofthem，afeelingofherownhelplessness。Thereweresomanyofthem。Whatwastopreventthemfromdraggingherdowniftheysowilled？ThensherememberedthatonecryofherswouldfetchNoaNoahandherremainingsailors，eachoneofwhomwasworthadozenblacksinastruggle。Assheopenedthegate，oneoftheboyssteppeduptoher。Inthedarknessshecouldnotmakehimout。

"Whatname？"sheaskedsharply。"Whatnamebelongyou？"

"MeAroa，"hesaid。

Sherememberedhimasoneofthetwosickboysshehadnursedatthehospital。Theotheronehaddied。

"Metake\'mplentyfellamedicinetoomuch，"Aroawassaying。

"Well，andyouallrightnow，"sheanswered。

"Mewant\'mtobacco，plentyfellatobacco；mewant\'mcalico；mewant\'mporpoiseteeth；mewant\'monefellabelt。"

Shelookedathimhumorously，expectingtoseeasmile，oratleastagrin，onhisface。Instead，hisfacewasexpressionless。Saveforanarrowbreech-clout，apairofear-plugs，andabouthiskinkyhairachapletofwhitecowrie-shells，hewasnaked。Hisbodywasfresh-oiledandshiny，andhiseyesglistenedinthestarlightlikesomewildanimal\'s。Therestoftheboyshadcrowdedupathisbackinasolidwall。Someoneofthemgiggled，buttheremainderregardedherinmoroseandintensesilence。

"Well？"shesaid。"Whatforyouwantplentyfellathings？"

"Metake\'mmedicine，"quothAroa。"Youpayme。"

Andthiswasasampleoftheirgratitude，shethought。ItlookedasifSheldonhadbeenrightafterall。Aroawaitedstolidly。A

leapingfishsplashedfaroutonthewater。Atinywaveletmurmuredsleepilyonthebeach。Theshadowofaflying-foxdriftedbyinvelvetsilenceoverhead。Alightairfannedcoollyonhercheek；itwastheland-breezebeginningtoblow。

"Yougoalongquarters，"shesaid，startingtoturnonherheeltoenterthegate。

"Youpayme，"saidtheboy。

"Aroa，youallthesameonebigfool。Inopayyou。Nowyougo。"

Buttheblackwasunmoved。Shefeltthathewasregardingheralmostinsolentlyasherepeated:

"Itake\'mmedicine。Youpayme。Youpaymenow。"

Thenitwasthatshelosthertemperandcuffedhisearssosoundlyastodrivehimbackamonghisfellows。Buttheydidnotbreakup。

Anotherboysteppedforward。

"Youpayme，"hesaid。

Hiseyeshadthequerulous，troubledlooksuchasshehadnoticedinmonkeys；butwhilehewaspatentlyuncomfortableunderherscrutiny，histhicklipsweredrawnfirmlyinaneffortatsullendetermination。

"Whatfor？"sheasked。

"MeGogoomy，"hesaid。"Bawobrotherbelongme。"

Bawo，sheremembered，wasthesickboywhohaddied。

"Goon，"shecommanded。

"Bawotake\'mmedicine。Bawofinish。Bawomybrother。Youpayme。FatherbelongmeonebigfellachiefalongPortAdams。Youpayme。"

Joanlaughed。

"Gogoomy，youjustthesameasAroa，onebigfool。Myword，whopaymeformedicine？"

Shedismissedthematterbypassingthroughthegateandclosingit。ButGogoomypressedupagainstitandsaidimpudently:

"Fatherbelongmeonebigfellachief。Younobang\'mheadbelongme。Myword，youfrighttoomuch。"

"Mefright？"shedemanded，whileangertingledallthroughher。

"Toomuchfrightbang\'mheadbelongme，"Gogoomysaidproudly。

Andthenshereachedforhimacrossthegateandgothim。Itwasasweeping，broad-handedslap，soheavythathestaggeredsidewaysandnearlyfell。Hesprangforthegateasiftoforceitopen，whilethecrowdsurgedforwardagainstthefence。Joanthoughtrapidly。Herrevolverwashangingonthewallofhergrasshouse。

Yetonecrywouldbringhersailors，andsheknewshewassafe。Soshedidnotcryforhelp。Instead，shewhistledforSatan，atthesametimecallinghimbyname。Sheknewhewasshutupinthelivingroom，buttheblacksdidnotwaittosee。Theyfledwithwildyellsthroughthedarkness，followedreluctantlybyGogoomy；

whilesheenteredthebungalow，laughingatfirst，butfinallyvexedtothevergeoftearsbywhathadtakenplace。Shehadsatupawholenightwiththeboywhohaddied，andyethisbrotherdemandedtobepaidforhislife。

"Ugh!theungratefulbeast!"shemuttered，whileshedebatedwhetherornotshewouldconfesstheincidenttoSheldon。

CHAPTERXI——THEPORTADAMSCROWD

"Andsoitwasallsettledeasilyenough，"Sheldonwassaying。Hewasontheveranda，drinkingcoffee。Thewhale-boatwasbeingcarriedintoitsshed。"Boucherwasabittimidatfirsttocarryoffthesituationwithastronghand，buthedidverywelloncewegotstarted。Wemadeaplayatholdingacourt，andTelepasse，theoldscoundrel，acceptedthefindings。He\'saPortAdamschief，afilthybeggar。Wefinedhimtentimesthevalueofthepigs，andmadehimmoveonwithhismob。Oh，they\'reasweetlot，Imustsay，atleastsixtyofthem，infivebigcanoes，andoutfortrouble。They\'vegotadozenSnidersthatoughttobeconfiscated。"

"Whydidn\'tyou？"Joanasked。

"AndhavearowonmyhandswiththeCommissioner？He\'sterriblytouchyabouthisblackwards，ashecallsthem。Well，westartedthemalongtheirway，thoughtheywentinonthebeachtokai-kaiseveralmilesback。Theyoughttopassheresometimeto-day。"

Twohourslaterthecanoesarrived。Noonesawthemcome。Thehouse-boyswerebusyinthekitchenattheirownbreakfast。Theplantationhandsweresimilarlyoccupiedintheirquarters。Satanlaysoundasleeponhisbackunderthebilliardtable，inhissleepbrushingatthefliesthatpesteredhim。Joanwasrummaginginthestore-room，andSheldonwastakinghissiestainahammockontheveranda。Heawokegently。Insomeoccult，subtlewayawarningthatallwasnotwellhadpenetratedhissleepandarousedhim。

Withoutmoving，heglanceddownandsawthegroundbeneathcoveredwitharmedsavages。Theywerethesameoneshehadpartedwiththatmorning，thoughhenotedanaccessioninnumbers。Thereweremenhehadnotseenbefore。

Heslippedfromthehammockandwithdeliberateslownesssaunteredtotherailing，whereheyawnedsleepilyandlookeddownonthem。

Itcametohimcuriouslythatitwashisdestinyevertostandonthishighplace，lookingdownonunendinghordesofblacktroublethatrequiredcontrol，bullying，andcajolery。Butwhileheglancedcarelesslyoverthem，hewaskeenlytakingstock。Thenewmenwereallarmedwithmodernrifles。Ah，hehadthoughtso。

Therewerefifteenofthem，undoubtedlytheLungarunaways。Inaddition，adozenoldSniderswereinthehandsoftheoriginalcrowd。Therestwerearmedwithspears，clubs，bowsandarrows，andlong-handledtomahawks。Beyond，drawnuponthebeach，hecouldseethebigwar-canoes，withhighandfantasticallycarvedbowsandsterns，ornamentedwithscrollsandbandsofwhitecowrieshells。Thesewerethemenwhohadkilledhistrader，Oscar，atUgi。

"Whatnameyouwalkaboutthisplace？"hedemanded。

AtthesametimehestoleaglanceseawardtowheretheFlibberty-

Gibbetreflectedherselfintheglassycalmofthesea。Notasoulwasvisibleunderherawnings，andhesawthewhale-boatwasmissingfromalongside。TheTahitianshadevidentlygoneshootingfishuptheBalesuna。Hewasallaloneinhishighplaceabovethistrouble，whilehisworldslumberedpeacefullyunderthebreathlesstropicnoon。

Nobodyreplied，andherepeatedhisdemand，moreofmasteryinhisvoicethistime，andahintofgrowinganger。Theblacksmoveduneasily，likeaherdofcattle，atthesoundofhisvoice。Butnotonespoke。Alleyes，however，werestaringathimincertitudeofexpectancy。Somethingwasabouttohappen，andtheywerewaitingforit，waitingwiththeunanimous，unstablemob-mindfortheoneofthemwhowouldmakethefirstactionthatwouldprecipitateallofthemintoacommonaction。Sheldonlookedforthisone，forsuchwastheonetofear。Directlybeneathhimhecaughtsightofthemuzzleofarifle，barelyprojectingbetweentwoblackbodies，thatwasslowlyelevatingtowardhim。Itwasheldatthehipbyamaninthesecondrow。

"Whatnameyou？"Sheldonsuddenlyshouted，pointingdirectlyatthemanwhoheldthegun，whostartledandloweredthemuzzle。

Sheldonstillheldthewhiphand，andheintendedtokeepit。

"Clearout，allyoufellaboys，"heordered。"Clearoutandwalkalongsaltwater。Savvee!"

"Metalk，"spokeupafatandfilthysavagewhosehairychestwascakedwiththeunwasheddirtofyears。

"Oh，isthatyou，Telepasse？"thewhitemanqueriedgenially。"Youtell\'mboysclearout，andyoustopandtalkalongme。"

"Himgoodfellaboy，"wasthereply。"Himstopalong。"

"Well，whatdoyouwant？"Sheldonasked，strivingtohideunderassumedcarelessnesstheweaknessofconcession。

"Thatfellaboybelongalongme。"TheoldchiefpointedoutGogoomy，whomSheldonrecognized。

"WhiteMarybelongyoutoomuchnogood，"Telepassewenton。"Bang\'mheadbelongGogoomy。Gogoomyallthesamechief。Bimebymefinish，Gogoomybigfellachief。WhiteMarybang\'mhead。Nogood。Youpaymeplentytobacco，plentypowder，plentycalico。"

"Youoldscoundrel，"wasSheldon\'scomment。Anhourbefore，hehadbeenchucklingoverJoan\'srecitaloftheepisode，andhere，anhourlater，wasTelepassehimselfcometocollectdamages。

"Gogoomy，"Sheldonordered，"whatnameyouwalkabouthere？Yougetalongquartersplentyquick。"

"Mestop，"wasthedefiantanswer。

"WhiteMaryb\'longyoubang\'mhead，"oldTelepassebeganagain。

"Myword，plentybigfellatroubleyounopay。"

"Youtalkalongboys，"Sheldonsaid，withincreasingirritation。

"Youtell\'mgettohellalongbeach。ThenItalkwithyou。"

Sheldonfeltaslightvibrationoftheveranda，andknewthatJoanhadcomeoutandwasstandingbyhisside。Buthedidnotdareglanceather。Thereweretoomanyriflesdownbelowthere，andrifleshadawayofgoingofffromthehip。

Againtheverandavibratedwithhermovingweight，andheknewthatJoanhadgoneintothehouse。Aminutelatershewasbackbesidehim。Hehadneverseenhersmoke，anditstruckhimaspeculiarthatsheshouldbesmokingnow。Thenheguessedthereason。Withaquickglance，henotedthehandatherside，andinitthefamiliar，paper-wrappeddynamite。Henoted，also，theendoffuse，splitproperly，intowhichhadbeeninsertedtheheadofawaxmatch。