第6章

TheyareMalaita-men，andtheyareafraidofbeingeaten。Theywoulddesertyouatthefirstopportunity。YoucouldgettheBinumentoaccompanyyouanotherday\'sjourney，throughthegrass-

lands，butatthefirstrollofthefoothillslookforthemtoturnback。Theylikewisearedisinclinedtobeingeaten。"

"Isitasbadasthat？"askedVonBlix。

"TheinteriorofGuadalcanarhasneverbeenexplored，"Sheldonexplained。"Thebushmenareaswildmenasaretobefoundanywhereintheworldto-day。Ihaveneverseenone。Ihaveneverseenamanwhohasseenone。Theynevercomedowntothecoast，thoughtheirscoutingpartiesoccasionallyeatacoastnativewhohaswanderedtoofarinland。Nobodyknowsanythingaboutthem。

Theydon\'tevenusetobacco——haveneverlearneditsuse。TheAustrianexpedition——scientists，youknow——gotpartwayinbeforeitwascuttopieces。Themonumentisupthebeachthereseveralmiles。Onlyonemangotbacktothecoasttotellthetale。AndnowyouhaveallIoranyothermanknowsoftheinsideofGuadalcanar。"

"Butgold——haveyouheardofgold？"Tudoraskedimpatiently。"Doyouknowanythingaboutgold？"

Sheldonsmiled，whilethetwovisitorshungeagerlyuponhiswords。

"YoucangotwomilesuptheBalesunaandwashcoloursfromthegravel。I\'vedoneitoften。Thereisgoldundoubtedlybackinthemountains。"

TudorandVonBlixlookedtriumphantlyateachother。

"OldWheatsheaf\'syarnwastrue，then，"Tudorsaid，andVonBlixnodded。"AndifMalaitaturnsoutaswell——"

TudorbrokeoffandlookedatJoan。

"Itwasthetaleofthisoldbeachcomberthatbroughtushere，"heexplained。"VonBlixbefriendedhimandwastoldthesecret。"HeturnedandaddressedSheldon。"IthinkweshallprovethatwhitemenhavebeenthroughtheheartofGuadalcanarlongbeforethetimeoftheAustrianexpedition。"

Sheldonshruggedhisshoulders。

"Wehaveneverheardofitdownhere，"hesaidsimply。ThenheaddressedVonBlix。"Astotheboys，youcouldn\'tusethemfartherthanBinu，andI\'lllendyouasmanyasyouwantasfarasthat。

Howmanyofyourpartyaregoing，andhowsoonwillyoustart？"

"Ten，"saidTudor；"ninemenandmyself。"

"Andyoushouldbeabletostartdayafterto-morrow，"VonBlixsaidtohim。"Theboatsshouldpracticallybeknockedtogetherthisafternoon。To-morrowshouldseetheoutfitportionedandpacked。AsfortheMartha，Mr。Sheldon，we\'llrushthestuffashorethisafternoonandsailbysundown。"

Asthetwomenreturneddownthepathtotheirboat，SheldonregardedJoanquizzically。

"There\'sromanceforyou，"hesaid，"andadventure——gold-huntingamongthecannibals。"

"Atitleforabook，"shecried。"Or，betteryet，\'Gold-HuntingAmongtheHead-Hunters。\'My!wouldn\'titsell!"

"Andnowaren\'tyousorryyoubecameacocoanutplanter？"heteased。"Thinkofinvestinginsuchanadventure。"

"IfIdid，"sheretorted，"VonBlixwouldn\'tbefinickyaboutmyjoininginthecruisetoMalaita。"

"Idon\'tdoubtbutwhathewouldjumpatit。"

"Whatdoyouthinkofthem？"sheasked。

"Oh，oldVonBlixisallright，asolidsortofchapinhisfashion；butTudorisfly-away——toomuchonthesurface，youknow。

Ifitcametobeingwreckedonadesertisland，I\'dpreferVonBlix。"

"Idon\'tquiteunderstand，"Joanobjected。"WhathaveyouagainstTudor？"

"YourememberBrowning\'s\'LastDuchess\'？"

Shenodded。

"Well，Tudorremindsmeofher——"

"Butshewasdelightful。"

"Soshewas。Butshewasawoman。Oneexpectssomethingdifferentfromaman——morecontrol，youknow，morerestraint，moredeliberation。Amanmustbemoresolid，moresolidandsteady-

goingandlesseffervescent。AmanofTudor\'stypegetsonmynerves。Onedemandsmorereposefromaman。"

Joanfeltthatshedidnotquiteagreewithhisjudgment；and，somehow，Sheldoncaughtherfeelingandwasdisturbed。Herememberednotinghowhereyeshadbrightenedasshetalkedwiththenewcomer——confounditall，washegettingjealous？heaskedhimself。Whyshouldn\'thereyesbrighten？Whatconcernwasitofhis？

Asecondboathadbeenlowered，andtheoutfitoftheshorepartywaslandedrapidly。Adozenofthecrewputtheknocked-downboatstogetheronthebeach。Therewerefiveofthesecraft——leanandnarrow，withflaringsides，andremarkablylong。Eachwasequippedwiththreepaddlesandseveraliron-shodpoles。

"Youchapscertainlyseemtoknowriver-work，"Sheldontoldoneofthecarpenters。

Themanspatamouthfuloftobacco-juiceintothewhitesand，andanswered，-

"Weuse\'eminAlaska。They\'remodelledaftertheYukonpoling-

boats，andyoucanbetyourlifethey\'recrackerjacks。Thiscreek\'llbeasnapalongsidesomeofthemNorthernstreams。Fivehundredpoundsinoneofthemboats，an\'twomencansnakeitalonginawaythat\'dsurpriseyou。"

AtsunsettheMarthabrokeoutheranchorandgotunderway，dippingherflagandsalutingwithabombgun。TheUnionJackranupanddownthestaff，andSheldonrepliedwithhisbrasssignal-

cannon。Theminerspitchedtheirtentsinthecompound，andcookedonthebeach，whileTudordinedwithJoanandSheldon。

Theirguestseemedtohavebeeneverywhereandseeneverythingandmeteverybody，and，encouragedbyJoan，histalkwaslargelyuponhisownadventures。Hewasanadventurerofadventurers，andbyhisownaccounthadbeenbornintoadventure。DescendedfromoldNewEnglandstock，hisfatheraconsul-general，hehadbeenborninGermany，inwhichcountryhehadreceivedhisearlyeducationandhisaccent。Then，stillaboy，hehadrejoinedhisfatherinTurkey，andaccompaniedhimlatertoPersia，hisfatherhavingbeenappointedMinistertothatcountry。

Tudorhadalwaysbeenawanderer，andwithfacilewitandquickvividdescriptionheleapedfromepisodeandplacetoepisodeandplace，relatinghisexperiencesseeminglynotbecausetheywerehis，butforthesakeoftheirbizarrenessanduniqueness，fortheunusualincidentorthelaughablesituation。HehadgonethroughSouthAmericanrevolutions，beenaRoughRiderinCuba，ascoutinSouthAfrica，awarcorrespondentintheRusso-Japanesewar。HehadmusheddogsintheKlondike，washedgoldfromthesandsofNome，andeditedanewspaperinSanFrancisco。ThePresidentoftheUnitedStateswashisfriend。HewasequallyathomeintheclubsofLondonandtheContinent，theGrandHotelatYokohama，andtheselector\'sshantiesintheNever-Nevercountry。HehadshotbiggameinSiam，pearledinthePaumotus，visitedTolstoy，seenthePassionPlay，andcrossedtheAndesonmule-back；whilehewasalivingdirectoryofthefeverholesofWestAfrica。

Sheldonleanedbackinhischairontheveranda，sippinghiscoffeeandlistening。Inspiteofhimselfhefelttouchedbythecharmofthemanwhohadledsovariedalife。AndyetSheldonwasnotcomfortable。ItseemedtohimthatthemanaddressedhimselfparticularlytoJoan。Hiswordsandsmilesweredirectedimpartiallytowardbothofthem，yetSheldonwascertain，hadthetwomenofthembeenalone，thattheconversationwouldhavebeenalongdifferentlines。TudorhadseentheeffectonJoananddeliberatelycontinuedtheflowofreminiscence，nettingherintheglamourofromance。Sheldonwatchedherraptattention，listenedtoherspontaneouslaughter，quickquestions，andpassingjudgments，andfeltgrowwithinhimthedawningconsciousnessthathelovedher。

Sohewasveryquietandalmostsad，thoughattimeshewasawareofadistinctirritationagainsthisguest，andheevenspeculatedastowhatpercentageofTudor\'stalewastrueandhowanyofitcouldbeprovedordisproved。Inthisconnection，asifthescenehadbeenpreparedbyacleverplaywright，UtamicameupontheverandatoreporttoJoanthecaptureofacrocodileinthetraptheyhadmadeforher。

Tudor\'sface，illuminatedbythematchwithwhichhewaslightinghiscigarette，caughtUtami\'seye，andUtamiforgottoreporttohismistress。

"Hello，Tudor，"hesaid，withafamiliaritythatstartledSheldon。

ThePolynesian\'shandwentout，andTudor，shakingit，wasstaringintohisface。

"Whoisit？"heasked。"Ican\'tseeyou。"

"Utami。"

"AndwhothedickensisUtami？WheredidIevermeetyou，myman？"

"YounoforgettheHuahine？"Utamichided。"LasttimeHuahinesail？"

TudorgrippedtheTahitian\'shandasecondtimeandshookitwithgenuineheartiness。

"TherewasonlyonekanakawhocameoutoftheHuahinethatlastvoyage，andthatkanakawasJoe。Thedeucetakeit，man，I\'mgladtoseeyou，thoughIneverheardyournewnamebefore。"

"Yes，everybodyspeakmeJoealongtheHuahine。Utamimynameallthetime，justthesame。"

"Butwhatareyoudoinghere？"Tudorasked，releasingthesailor\'shandandleaningeagerlyforward。

"MesailalongMissieLackalannaherschoonerMiele。WegoTahiti，Raiatea，Tahaa，Bora-Bora，Manua，Tutuila，Apia，Savaii，andFijiIslands——plentyFijiIslands。MestopalongMissieLackalannainSolomons。Verysoonshecatchotherschooner。"

"HeandIwerethetwosurvivorsofthewreckoftheHuahine，"

Tudorexplainedtotheothers。"Fifty-sevenalltoldonboardwhenwesailedfromHuapa，andJoeandIweretheonlytwothateversetfootonlandagain。Hurricane，youknow，inthePaumotus。ThatwaswhenIwasafterpearls。"

"Andyounevertoldme，Utami，thatyou\'dbeenwreckedinahurricane，"Joansaidreproachfully。

ThebigTahitianshiftedhisweightandflashedhisteethinaconciliatingsmile。

"Menot\'inknothing\'tall，"hesaid。

Hehalf-turned，asiftodepart，byhismannerindicatingthatheconsideredittimetogowhileyethedesiredtoremain。

"Allright，Utami，"Tudorsaid。"I\'llseeyouinthemorningandhaveayarn。"

"Hesavedmylife，thebeggar，"Tudorexplained，astheTahitianstrodeawayandwithheavysoftnessoffootwentdownthesteps。

"Swim!Inevermetabetterswimmer。"

Andthereat，solicitedbyJoan，TudornarratedthewreckoftheHuahine；whileSheldonsmokedandpondered，anddecidedthatwhatevertheman\'sshortcomingswere，hewasatleastnotaliar。

CHAPTERXV——ADISCOURSEONMANNERS

Thedayspassed，andTudorseemedloathtoleavethehospitalityofBerande。Everythingwasreadyforthestart，buthelingeredon，spendingmuchtimeinJoan\'scompanyandtherebyincreasingthedislikeSheldonhadtakentohim。Hewentswimmingwithher，inpointofrashnessexceedingher；anddynamitedfishwithher，divingamongthehungryground-sharksandcontestingwiththemforpossessionofthestunnedprey，untilheearnedtheapprovalofthewholeTahitiancrew。Arahuchallengedhimtotearafishfromashark\'sjaws，leavinghalftothesharkandbringingtheotherhalfhimselftothesurface；andTudorperformedthefeat，aflipfromthesandpaperhideoftheastonishedsharkscrapingseveralinchesofskinfromhisshoulder。AndJoanwasdelighted，whileSheldon，lookingon，realizedthatherewastheheroofheradventure-dreamscomingtrue。Shedidnotcareforlove，buthefeltthatifevershedidloveitwouldbethatsortofaman——"amanwhoexhibited，"

washiswayofputtingit。

HefelthimselfhandicappedinthepresenceofTudor，whohadthegiftofmakingashowofallhisqualities。Sheldonknewhimselfforabraveman，whereforehemadenoadvertisementofthefact。

Heknewthatjustasreadilyastheotherwouldhediveamongground-sharkstosavealife，butinthatfacthecouldfindnosanctionforthefoolhardyactofdivingamongsharksforthehalfofafish。Thedifferencebetweenthemwasthathekeptthecurtainofhisshopwindowdown。Lifepulsedsteadilyanddeepinhim，anditwasnothisnatureneedlesslytoagitatethesurfacesothattheworldcouldseethesplashhewasmaking。Andtheeffectoftheother\'samazingexhibitionswastomakehimretreatmoredeeplywithinhimselfandwraphimselfmorethicklythaneverinthenerveless，stoicalcalmofhisrace。

"Youaresostupidthelastfewdays，"Joancomplainedtohim。

"Onewouldthinkyouweresick，orbilious，orsomething。Youdon\'tseemtohaveanideainyourheadaboveblacklabourandcocoanuts。Whatisthematter？"

Sheldonsmiledandbeatafurtherretreatwithinhimself，listeningthewhiletoJoanandTudorpropoundingthetheoryofthestrongarmbywhichthewhitemanorderedlifeamongthelesserbreeds。

AshelistenedSheldonrealized，asbyrevelation，thatthatwaspreciselywhathewasdoing。Whiletheyphilosophizedaboutithewaslivingit，placingthestronghandofhisracefirmlyontheshouldersofthelesserbreedsthatlabouredonBerandeormenaceditfromafar。Butwhytalkaboutit？heaskedhimself。Itwassufficienttodoitandbedonewithit。

Hesaidasmuch，drylyandquietly，andfoundhimselfinvolvedinadiscussion，withJoanandTudorsidingagainsthim，inwhichamoreastoundingchargethaneverhehaddreamedofwasmadeagainsttheveryEnglishcontrolandreserveofwhichhewassecretlyproud。

"TheYankeestalkalotaboutwhattheydoandhavedone，"Tudorsaid，"andarelookeddownuponbytheEnglishasbraggarts。ButtheYankeeisonlyachild。Hedoesnotknoweffectuallyhowtobrag。Hetalksaboutit，yousee。ButtheEnglishmangoeshimonebetterbynottalkingaboutit。TheEnglishman\'sproverbiallackofbraggingisasubtlerformofbragafterall。Itisreallyclever，asyouwillagree。"

"Ineverthoughtofitbefore，"Joancried。"Ofcourse。AnEnglishmanperformssometerrificallyheroicexploit，andisverymodestandreserved——refusestotalkaboutitatall——andtheeffectisthatbyhissilenceheasmuchassays，\'Idothingslikethiseveryday。Itisaseasyasrollingoffalog。YououghttoseethereallyheroicthingsIcoulddoiftheyevercamemyway。

Butthislittlething，thislittleepisode——really，don\'tyouknow，Ifailtoseeanythinginitremarkableorunusual。\'Asforme，ifIwentupinapowderexplosion，orsavedahundredlives，I\'dwantallmyfriendstohearaboutit，andtheirfriendsaswell。I\'dbeprouderthanLuciferovertheaffair。Confess，Mr。Sheldon，don\'tyoufeelprouddowninsidewhenyou\'vedonesomethingdaringorcourageous？"

Sheldonnodded。

"Then，"shepressedhomethepoint，"isn\'tdisguisingthatprideunderamaskofcarelessindifferenceequivalenttotellingalie？"

"Yes，itis，"headmitted。"Butwetellsimilarlieseveryday。

Itisamatteroftraining，andtheEnglisharebettertrained，thatisall。Yourcountrymenwillbetrainedaswellintime。AsMr。Tudorsaid，theYankeesareyoung。"

"Thankgoodnesswehaven\'tbeguntotellsuchliesyet!"wasJoan\'sejaculation。

"Oh，butyouhave，"Sheldonsaidquickly。"Youweretellingmealieofthatorderonlytheotherday。Yourememberwhenyouweregoingupthelantern-halyardshandoverhand？Yourfacewasthepersonificationofduplicity。"

"Itwasnosuchthing。"

"Pardonmeamoment，"hewenton。"Yourfacewasascalmandpeacefulasthoughyouwerereclininginasteamer-chair。Tolookatyourfaceonewouldhaveinferredthatcarryingtheweightofyourbodyuparopehandoverhandwasaverycommonplaceaccomplishment——aseasyasrollingoffalog。Andyouneedn\'ttellme，MissLackland，thatyoudidn\'tmakefacesthefirsttimeyoutriedtoclimbarope。But，likeanycircusathlete，youtrainedyourselfoutoftheface-makingperiod。Youtrainedyourfacetohideyourfeelings，tohidetheexhaustingeffortyourmusclesweremaking。Itwas，toquoteMr。Tudor，asubtlerexhibitionofphysicalprowess。AndthatisallourEnglishreserveis——amerematteroftraining。Certainlyweareproudinsideofthethingswedoandhavedone，proudasLucifer——yes，andprouder。Butwehavegrownup，andnolongertalkaboutsuchthings。"

"Isurrender，"Joancried。"Youarenotsostupidafterall。"

"Yes，youhaveusthere，"Tudoradmitted。"Butyouwouldn\'thavehadusifyouhadn\'tbrokenyourtrainingrules。"

"Howdoyoumean？"

"Bytalkingaboutit。"

Joanclappedherhandsinapproval。Tudorlightedafreshcigarette，whileSheldonsaton，imperturbablysilent。

"Hegotyouthere，"Joanchallenged。"Whydon\'tyoucrushhim？"

"Really，Ican\'tthinkofanythingtosay，"Sheldonsaid。"Iknowmypositionissound，andthatissatisfactoryenough。"

"Youmightretort，"shesuggested，"thatwhenanadultiswithkindergartenchildrenhemustdescendtokindergartenidiomsinordertomakehimselfintelligible。Thatwaswhyyoubroketrainingrules。Itwastheonlywaytomakeuschildrenunderstand。"

"You\'vedesertedintheheatofthebattle，MissLackland，andgoneovertotheenemy，"Tudorsaidplaintively。

Butshewasnotlistening。Instead，shewaslookingintentlyacrossthecompoundandouttosea。Theyfollowedhergaze，andsawagreenlightandtheloomofavessel\'ssails。

"Iwonderifit\'stheMarthacomeback，"Tudorhazarded。

"No，thesidelightistoolow，"Joananswered。"Besides，they\'vegotthesweepsout。Don\'tyouhearthem？Theywouldn\'tbesweepingabigvesselliketheMartha。"

"Besides，theMarthahasagasolineengine——twenty-fivehorse-

power，"Tudoradded。

"Justthesortofacraftforus，"JoansaidwistfullytoSheldon。

"IreallymustseeifIcan\'tgetaschoonerwithanengine。I

mightgetasecond-handengineputin。"

"Thatwouldmeantheadditionalexpenseofanengineer\'swages，"heobjected。

"Butitwouldpayforitselfbyquickerpassages，"sheargued；"anditwouldbeasgoodasinsurance。Iknow。I\'veknockedaboutamongstreefsmyself。Besides，ifyouweren\'tsomediaeval，I

couldbeskipperandsavemorethantheengineer\'swages。"

Hedidnotreplytoherthrust，andsheglancedathim。Hewaslookingoutoverthewater，andinthelanternlightshenotedthelinesofhisface——strong，stern，dogged，themouthalmostchastebutfirmerandthinner-lippedthanTudor\'s。Forthefirsttimesherealizedthequalityofhisstrength，thecalmandquietofit，itssimpleintegrityandreposefuldetermination。SheglancedquicklyatTudorontheothersideofher。Itwasahandsomerface，onethatwasmoreimmediatelypleasing。Butshedidnotlikethemouth。Itwasmadeforkissing，andsheabhorredkisses。Thiswasnotadeliberatelyachievedconcept；itcametoherintheformofafaintandvaguelyintangiblerepulsion。Forthemomentsheknewafleetingdoubtoftheman。PerhapsSheldonwasrightinhisjudgmentoftheother。Shedidnotknow，anditconcernedherlittle；forboats，andthesea，andthethingsandhappeningsoftheseawereoffarmorevitalinteresttoherthanmen，andthenextmomentshewasstaringthroughthewarmtropicdarknessattheloomofthesailsandthesteadygreenofthemovingsidelight，andlisteningeagerlytotheclickofthesweepsintherowlocks。Inhermind\'seyeshecouldseethestrainingnakedformsofblackmenbendingrhythmicallytothework，andsomewhereonthatstrangedecksheknewwastheinevitablemaster-man，conningthevesselintoitsanchorage，peeringatthedimtree-lineoftheshore，judgingthedeceitfulnight-distances，feelingonhischeekthefirstfansofthelandbreezethatwaseventhenbeginningtoblow，weighing，thinking，measuring，gaugingthescoreormoreofever-

shiftingforces，throughwhich，bywhich，andinspiteofwhichhedirectedthesteadyequilibriumofhiscourse。Sheknewitbecauseshelovedit，andshewasalivetoitasonlyasailorcouldbe。

Twicesheheardthesplashofthelead，andlistenedintentlyforthecrythatfollowed。Onceaman\'svoicespoke，low，imperative，issuinganorder，andshethrilledwiththedelightofit。Itwasonlyadirectiontothemanatthewheeltoporthishelm。Shewatchedtheslightalteringofthecourse，andknewthatitwasforthepurposeofenablingtheflat-hauledsailstocatchthosefirstfansofthelandbreeze，andshewaitedforthesamelowvoicetouttertheoneword"Steady!"Andagainshethrilledwhenitdidutterit。Oncemoretheleadsplashed，and"Elevenfadom"wastheresultingcry。"Letgo!"thelowvoicecametoherthroughthedarkness，followedbythesurgingrumbleoftheanchor-chain。Theclickingofthesheavesintheblocksasthesailsrandown，head-

sailsfirst，wasmusictoher；andshedetectedontheinstantthejammingofajib-downhaul，andalmostsawtheimpatientjerkwithwhichthesailormusthaveclearedit。Nordidshetakeinterestinthetwomenbesidehertillbothlights，redandgreen，cameintoviewastheanchorcheckedtheonwardway。

Sheldonwaswonderingastotheidentityofthecraft，whileTudorpersistedinbelievingitmightbetheMartha。

"It\'stheMinerva，"Joansaiddecidedly。

"Howdoyouknow？"Sheldonasked，scepticalofhercertitude。

"It\'saketchtobeginwith。Andbesides，Icouldtellanywheretherattleofhermainpeak-blocks——they\'retoolargeforthehalyard。"

Adarkfigurecrossedthecompounddiagonallyfromthebeachgate，wherewhoeveritwashadbeenwatchingthevessel。

"Isthatyou，Utami？"Joancalled。

"No，Missie；meMatapuu，"wastheanswer。

"Whatvesselisit？"

"Met\'inkMinerva。"

JoanlookedtriumphantlyatSheldon，whobowed。

"IfMatapuusayssoitmustbeso，"hemurmured。

"ButwhenJoanLacklandsaysso，youdoubt，"shecried，"justasyoudoubtherabilityasaskipper。Butnevermind，you\'llbesorrysomedayforallyourunkindness。There\'stheboatloweringnow，andinfiveminuteswe\'llbeshakinghandswithChristianYoung。"

Lalaperubroughtouttheglassesandcigarettesandtheeternalwhiskyandsoda，andbeforethefiveminuteswerepastthegateclickedandChristianYoung，tawnyandgolden，gentleofvoiceandlookandhand，cameupthebungalowstepsandjoinedthem。

CHAPTERXVI——THEGIRLWHOHADNOTGROWNUP

News，asusual，ChristianYoungbrought——newsofthedrinkingatGuvutu，wherethemenboastedthattheydrankbetweendrinks；newsofthenewriflesadriftonYsabel，ofthelatestmurdersonMalaita，ofTomButler\'ssicknessonSantaAna；andlastandmostimportant，newsthattheMatambohadgoneonareefintheShortlandsandwouldbelaidoffonerunforrepairs。

"ThatmeansfiveweeksmorebeforeyoucansailforSydney，"

SheldonsaidtoJoan。

"Andthatwearelosingprecioustime，"sheaddedruefully。

"IfyouwanttogotoSydney，theUpolusailsfromTulagito-morrowafternoon，"Youngsaid。

"ButIthoughtshewasrunningrecruitsfortheGermansinSamoa，"

sheobjected。"Atanyrate，IcouldcatchhertoSamoa，andchangeatApiatooneoftheWeirLinefreighters。It\'salongwayaround，butstillitwouldsavetime。"

"ThistimetheUpoluisgoingstraighttoSydney，"Youngexplained。

"She\'sgoingtodry-dock，yousee；andyoucancatchheraslateasfiveto-morrowafternoon——atleast，soherfirstofficertoldme。"

"ButI\'vegottogotoGuvutufirst。"Joanlookedatthemenwithawhimsicalexpression。"I\'vesomeshoppingtodo。Ican\'tweartheseBerandecurtainsintoSydney。ImustbuyclothatGuvutuandmakemyselfadressduringthevoyagedown。I\'llstartimmediately——inanhour。Lalaperu，youbring\'monefellaAdamuAdamalongme。Tell\'mthatfellaOrnfirimake\'mkai-kaitakealongwhale-boat。"Sherosetoherfeet，lookingatSheldon。"Andyou，please，havetheboyscarrydownthewhale-boat——myboat，youknow。I\'llbeoffinanhour。"

BothSheldonandTudorlookedattheirwatches。

"It\'sanall-nightrow，"Sheldonsaid。"Youmightwaittillmorning——"

"Andmissmyshopping？No，thankyou。Besides，theUpoluisnotaregularpassengersteamer，andsheisjustasliabletosailaheadoftimeasontime。AndfromwhatIhearaboutthoseGuvutusybarites，thebesttimetoshopwillbeinthemorning。Andnowyou\'llhavetoexcuseme，forI\'vegottopack。"

"I\'llgooverwithyou，"Sheldonannounced。

"LetmerunyouoverintheMinerva，"saidYoung。

Sheshookherheadlaughingly。

"I\'mgoinginthewhale-boat。Onewouldthink，fromallyoursolicitude，thatI\'dneverbeenawayfromhomebefore。You，Mr。

Sheldon，asmypartner，IcannotpermittodesertBerandeandyourworkoutofamistakennotionofcourtesy。Ifyouwon\'tpermitmetobeskipper，Iwon\'tpermityourgalivantingovertheseaasprotectorofyoungwomenwhodon\'tneedprotection。Andasforyou，CaptainYoung，youknowverywellthatyoujustleftGuvututhismorning，thatyouareboundforMarau，andthatyousaidyourselfthatintwohoursyouaregettingunderwayagain。"

"ButmayInotseeyousafelyacross？"Tudorasked，apleadingnoteinhisvoicethatraspedonSheldon\'snerves。

"No，no，andagainno，"shecried。"You\'veallgotyourworktodo，andsohaveI。IcametotheSolomonstowork，nottobeescortedaboutlikeadoll。Forthatmatter，here\'smyescort，andtherearesevenmorelikehim。"

AdamuAdamstoodbesideher，toweringaboveher，ashetoweredabovethethreewhitemen。Theclingingcottonundershirtheworecouldnothidethebulgeofhistremendousmuscles。

"Lookathisfist，"saidTudor。"I\'dhatetoreceiveapunchfromit。"

"Idon\'tblameyou。"Joanlaughedreminiscently。"IsawhimhitthecaptainofaSwedishbarkonthebeachatLevuka，intheFijis。

Itwasthecaptain\'sfault。Isawitallmyself，anditwassplendid。Adamuonlyhithimonce，andhebroketheman\'sarm。

Youremember，Adamu？"

ThebigTahitiansmiledandnodded，hisblackeyes，softanddeer-

like，seemingtogivethelietosobelligerentanature。

"Westartinanhourinthewhale-boatforGuvutu，bigbrother，"

Joansaidtohim。"Tellyourbrothers，allofthem，sothattheycangetready。WecatchtheUpoluforSydney。Youwillallcomealong，andsailbacktotheSolomonsinthenewschooner。Takeyourextrashirtsanddungareesalong。Plentycoldweatherdownthere。Nowrunalong，andtellthemtohurry。Leavethegunsbehind。TurnthemovertoMr。Sheldon。Wewon\'tneedthem。"

"Ifyouarereallybentupongoing——"Sheldonbegan。

"That\'ssettledlongago，"sheansweredshortly。"I\'mgoingtopacknow。ButI\'lltellyouwhatyoucandoforme——issuesometobaccoandotherstufftheywanttomymen。"

AnhourlaterthethreemenhadshakenhandswithJoandownonthebeach。Shegavethesignal，andtheboatshovedoff，sixmenattheoars，theseventhmanfor\'ard，andAdamuAdamatthesteering-

sweep。Joanwasstandingupinthestern-sheets，reiteratinghergood-byes——aslimfigureofawomaninthetight-fittingjacketshehadwornashorefromthewreck，thelong-barrelledColt\'srevolverhangingfromtheloosebeltaroundherwaist，herclear-cutfacelikeaboy\'sundertheStetsonhatthatfailedtoconcealtheheavymassesofhairbeneath。

"You\'dbettergetintoshelter，"shecalledtothem。"There\'sabigsquallcoming。AndIhopeyou\'vegotplentyofchainout，CaptainYoung。Good-bye!Good-bye，everybody!"

Herlastwordscameoutofthedarkness，whichwrappeditselfsolidlyabouttheboat。Yettheycontinuedtostareintotheblacknessinthedirectioninwhichtheboathaddisappeared，listeningtothesteadyclickoftheoarsintherowlocksuntilitfadedawayandceased。

"Sheisonlyagirl，"ChristianYoungsaidwithslowsolemnity。

Thediscoveryseemedtohavebeenmadeonthespurofthemoment。

"Sheisonlyagirl，"herepeatedwithgreatersolemnity。

"Adashedprettyone，andagoodtraveller，"Tudorlaughed。"Shecertainlyhasspunk，eh，Sheldon？"

"Yes，sheisbrave，"wasthereluctantanswerforSheldondidnotfeeldisposedtotalkabouther。

"That\'stheAmericanofit，"Tudorwenton。"Push，andgo，andenergy，andindependence。Whatdoyouthink，skipper？"

"Ithinksheisyoung，veryyoung，onlyagirl，"repliedthecaptainoftheMinerva，continuingtostareintotheblacknessthathidthesea。

Theblacknessseemedsuddenlytoincreaseindensity，andtheystumbledupthebeach，feelingtheirwaytothegate。

"Watchoutfornuts，"Sheldonwarned，asthefirstblastofthesquallshriekedthroughthepalms。Theyjoinedhandsandstaggeredupthepath，withtheripecocoanutsthuddinginamonstrousrainallaroundthem。Theygainedtheveranda，wheretheysatinsilenceovertheirwhisky，eachmanstaringstraightouttosea，wherethewildlyswingingriding-lightoftheMinervacouldbeseeninthelullsofthedrivingrain。

Somewhereoutthere，Sheldonreflected，wasJoanLackland，thegirlwhohadnotgrownup，thewomangoodtolookupon，withonlyaboy\'smindandaboy\'sdesires，leavingBerandeamidstormandconflictinmuchthesamemannerthatshehadfirstarrived，inthestern-sheetsofherwhale-boat，AdamuAdamsteering，hersavagecrewbendingtotheoars。AndshewastakingherStetsonhatwithher，alongwiththecartridge-beltandthelong-barrelledrevolver。

Hesuddenlydiscoveredanimmenseaffectionforthosefripperiesofhersatwhichhehadsecretlylaughedwhenfirsthesawthem。Hebecameawareofthesentimentaldirectioninwhichhisfancywasleadinghim，andfeltinclinedtolaugh。Buthedidnotlaugh。

Thenextmomenthewasbusyvisioningthehat，andbelt，andrevolver。Undoubtedlythiswaslove，hethought，andhefeltatinyglowofprideinhiminthattheSolomonshadnotsucceededinkillingallhissentiment。

Anhourlater，ChristianYoungstoodup，knockedouthispipe，andpreparedtogoaboardandgetunderway。

"She\'sallright，"hesaid，aproposofnothingspoken，andyetdistinctlyrelevanttowhatwasineachoftheirminds。"She\'sgotagoodboat\'s-crew，andshe\'sasailorherself。Good-night，Mr。

Sheldon。AnythingIcandoforyoudownMarau-way？"Heturnedandpointedtoawideningspaceofstarrysky。"It\'sgoingtobeafinenightafterall。Withthisfavouringbitofbreezeshehassailonalready，andshe\'llmakeGuvutubydaylight。Good-night。"

"IguessI\'llturnin，oldman，"Tudorsaid，risingandplacinghisglassonthetable。"I\'llstartthefirstthinginthemorning。

It\'sbeendisgracefulthewayI\'vebeenhangingonhere。Good-

night。"

Sheldon，sittingonalone，wonderediftheothermanwouldhavedecidedtopulloutinthemorninghadJoannotsailedaway。Well，therewasonebitofconsolationinit:JoanhadcertainlylingeredatBerandefornoman，notevenTudor。"Istartinanhour"——herwordsranginhisbrain，andunderhiseyelidshecouldseeherasshestoodupandutteredthem。Hesmiled。Theinstantsheheardthenewsshehadmadeuphermindtogo。Itwasnotveryflatteringtoman，butwhatcouldanymancountinhereyeswhenaschoonerwaitingtobeboughtinSydneywasinthewind？Whatacreature!Whatacreature!

BerandewasalonelyplacetoSheldoninthedaysthatfollowed。

InthemorningafterJoan\'sdeparture，hehadseenTudor\'sexpeditionoffonitswayuptheBalesuna；inthelateafternoon，throughhistelescope，hehadseenthesmokeoftheUpoluthatwasbearingJoanawaytoSydney；andintheeveninghesatdowntodinnerinsolitarystate，devotingmoreofhistimetolookingatheremptychairthantohisfood。Henevercameoutontheverandawithoutglancingfirstofallathergrasshouseinthecornerofthecompound；andoneevening，idlyknockingtheballsaboutonthebilliardtable，hecametohimselftofindhimselfstandingstaringatthenailuponwhichfromthefirstshehadhungherStetsonhatandherrevolver-belt。

Whyshouldhecareforher？hedemandedofhimselfangrily。Shewascertainlythelastwomanintheworldhewouldhavethoughtofchoosingforhimself。Neverhadheencounteredonewhohadsothoroughlyirritatedhim，raspedhisfeelings，smashedhisconventions，andviolatednearlyeveryattributeofwhathadbeenhisidealofwoman。Hadhebeentoolongawayfromtheworld？Hadheforgottenwhattheraceofwomenwaslike？Wasitmerelyacaseofpropinquity？Andshewasn\'treallyawoman。Shewasamasquerader。Underallherseemingofwoman，shewasaboy，playingaboy\'spranks，divingforfishamongstsharks，sportingarevolver，longingforadventure，and，whatwasmore，goingoutinsearchofitinherwhale-boat，alongwithhersavageislandersandherbagofsovereigns。Buthelovedher——thatwasthepointofitall，andhedidnottrytoevadeit。Hewasnotsorrythatitwasso。Helovedher——thatwastheoverwhelming，astoundingfact。

OnceagainhediscoveredabigenthusiasmforBerande。Allthebubble-illusionsconcerningthelifeofthetropicalplanterhadbeenprickedbythesternfactsoftheSolomons。FollowingthedeathofHughie，hehadresolvedtomuddlealongsomehowwiththeplantation；butthisresolvehadnotbeenbasedupondesire。

Instead，itwasbasedupontheinherentstubbornnessofhisnatureandhisdisliketogiveoveranattemptedtask。

Butnowitwasdifferent。Berandemeanteverything。Itmustsucceed——notmerelybecauseJoanwasapartnerinit，butbecausehewantedtomakethatpartnershippermanentlybinding。Threemoreyearsandtheplantationwouldbeasplendid-payinginvestment。

TheycouldthentakeyearlytripstoAustralia，andoftener；andanoccasionalrunhometoEngland——orHawaii，wouldcomeasamatterofcourse。

Hespenthiseveningsporingoveraccounts，ormakingendlesscalculationsbasedoncheaperfreightsforcopraandonthepossiblemaximumandminimummarketpricesforthatstapleofcommerce。Hisdayswerespentoutontheplantation。Heundertookmoreclearingofbush；andclearingandplantingwenton，underhispersonalsupervision，atafasterpacethaneverbefore。Heexperimentedwithpremiumsforextraworkperformedbytheblackboys，andyearnedcontinuallyformoreofthemtoputtowork。NotuntilJoancouldreturnontheschoonerwouldthisbepossible，fortheprofessionalrecruiterswereallunderlongcontractstotheFulcrumBrothers，MorganandRaff，andtheFires，PhilpCompany；

whiletheFlibberty-Gibbetwaswhollyoccupiedinrunningaboutamonghiswidelyscatteredtradingstations，whichextendedfromthecoastofNewGeorgiainonedirectiontoUlavaandSikianaintheother。Blackshemusthave，and，ifJoanwerefortunateingettingaschooner，threemonthsatleastmustelapsebeforethefirstrecruitscouldbelandedonBerande。

AweekaftertheUpolu\'sdeparture，theMalakuladroppedanchorandherskippercameashoreforagameofbilliardsandtogossipuntilthelandbreezesprangup。Besides，ashetoldhissuper-cargo，hesimplyhadtocomeashore，notmerelytodeliverthelargepackageofseedswithfullinstructionsforplantingfromJoan，buttoshockSheldonwiththelittlesurprisebornofinformationhewasbringingwithhim。

CaptainAucklandplayedthebilliardsfirst，anditwasnotuntilhewascomfortablyseatedinasteamer-chair，hissecondwhiskysecurelyinhishand，thatheletoffhisbomb。

"Agreatpiece，thatMissLacklandofyours，"hechuckled。"Claimstobeapart-ownerofBerande。Saysshe\'syourpartner。Isthatstraight？"

Sheldonnoddedcoldly。

"Youdon\'tsay？Thatisasurprise!Well，shehasn\'tconvincedGuvutuorTulagiofit。They\'reprettyusedtoirregularthingsoverthere，but——ha!ha!-"hestoppedtohavehislaughoutandtomophisbaldheadwithatradehandkerchief。"Butthatpartnershipyarnofherswastoobigtoswallow，thoughitgavethemtheexcuseforafewmoredrinks。"

"Thereisnothingirregularaboutit。Itisanordinarybusinesstransaction。"SheldonstrovetoactasthoughsuchtransactionswerequitethecommonplacethingonplantationsintheSolomons。

"SheinvestedsomethinglikefifteenhundredpoundsinBerande——"

"Soshesaid。"

"AndshehasgonetoSydneyonbusinessfortheplantation。"

"Oh，no，shehasn\'t。"

"Ibegpardon？"Sheldonqueried。

"Isaidshehasn\'t，that\'sall。"

"Butdidn\'ttheUpolusail？IcouldhaveswornIsawhersmokelastTuesdayafternoon，late，asshepassedSavo。"

"TheUpolusailedallright。"CaptainAucklandsippedhiswhiskywithprovokingslowness。"OnlyMissLacklandwasn\'tapassenger。"

"Thenwhereisshe？"

"AtGuvutu，lastIsawofher。ShewasgoingtoSydneytobuyaschooner，wasn\'tshe？"

"Yes，yes。"

"That\'swhatshesaid。Well，she\'sboughtone，thoughIwouldn\'tgivehertenshillingsforitifanor\'westerblowsup，andit\'sabouttimewehadone。Thishasbeentoolongaspellofgoodweathertolast。"

"Ifyoucameheretoexcitemycuriosity，oldman，"Sheldonsaid，"you\'vecertainlysucceeded。Nowgoaheadandtellmeinastraightforwardwaywhathashappened。Whatschooner？Whereisit？Howdidshehappentobuyit？"

"First，theschoonerMartha，"theskipperanswered，checkinghisrepliesoffonhisfingers。"Second，theMarthaisontheoutsidereefatPoonga-Poonga，lootedcleanofeverythingportable，andreadytogotopieceswiththefirstbitoflivelysea。Andthird，MissLacklandboughtheratauction。Shewasknockeddowntoherforfifty-fivequidbythethird-assistant-resident-commissioner。

Ioughttoknow。Ibidfiftymyself，forMorganandRaff。Myword，weren\'ttheyhot!Itoldthemtogotothedevil，andthatitwastheirfaultforlimitingmetofiftyquidwhentheythoughtthechancetosalvetheMarthawasworthmore。Yousee，theyweren\'texpectingcompetition。FulcrumBrothershadnorepresentativepresent，neitherhadFires，PhilpCompany，andtheonlymantobeafraidofwasNielsen\'sagent，Squires，andhimtheygotdrunkandsoundasleepoverinGuvutu。

"\'Twenty，\'saysI，formybid。\'Twenty-five，\'saysthelittlegirl。\'Thirty，\'saysI。\'Forty，\'saysshe。\'Fifty，\'saysI。

\'Fifty-five，\'saysshe。AndthereIwasstuck。\'Holdon，\'saysI；

\'waittillIseemyowners。\'\'No，youdon\'t，\'saysshe。\'It\'scustomary，\'saysI。\'Notanywhereintheworld，\'saysshe。\'Thenit\'scourtesyintheSolomons，\'saysI。

"Andd\'yeknow，onmyfaithIthinkBurnett\'dhavedoneit，onlyshepipesup，sweetandpertasyouplease:\'Mr。Auctioneer，willyoukindlyproceedwiththesaleinthecustomarymanner？I\'veotherbusinesstoattendto，andIcan\'taffordtowaitallnightonmenwhodon\'tknowtheirownminds。\'AndthenshesmilesatBurnett，aswell——youknow，oneofthosefetchingsmiles，anddammeifBurnettdoesn\'tbeginsingingout:\'Goin\'，goin\'，goin\'——lastbid——goin\'，goin\'forfifty-fivesovereigns——goin\'，goin\'，gone——toyou，Miss——er——whatname，please？\'

"\'JoanLackland，\'saysshe，withasmiletome；andthat\'showsheboughttheMartha。"

Sheldonexperiencedasuddenthrill。TheMartha!——afinerschoonerthantheMalakula，and，forthatmatter，thefinestintheSolomons。Shewasjustthethingforrecruits，andshewasrightonthespot。Thenherealizedthatforsuchacrafttosellatauctionforfifty-fivepoundsmeantthattherewassmallchanceforsavingher。

"Buthowdidithappen？"heasked。"Weren\'ttheyratherquickinsellingtheMartha？"

"Hadto。YouknowthereefatPoonga-Poonga。She\'snotworthtuppenceonitifanykindofaseakicksup，andit\'sripeforanor\'westeranymomentnow。Thecrowdabandonedhercompletely。

Didn\'tevendreamofauctioningher。MorganandRaffpersuadedthemtoputherup。They\'reaco-operativecrowd，youknow，anorganizedbusinesscorporation，foreandaft，allhandsandthecook。Theyheldameetingandvotedtosell。"

"Butwhydidn\'ttheystandbyandtrytosaveher？"

"Standby!YouknowMalaita。AndyouknowPoonga-Poonga。That\'swheretheycutofftheScottishChiefsandkilledallhands。Therewasnothingtodobuttaketotheboats。TheMarthamissedstaysgoingin，andinsidefiveminutesshewasonthereefandinpossession。Theniggersswarmedoverher，andtheyjustthrewthecrewintotheboats。Italkedwithsomeofthemen。Theyswearthereweretwohundredwarcanoesaroundherinsidehalfanhour，andfivethousandbushmenonthebeach。Saidyoucouldn\'tseeMalaitaforthesmokeofthesignalfires。Anyway，theyclearedoutforTulagi。"

"Butwhydidn\'ttheyfight？"Sheldonasked。

"Itwasfunnytheydidn\'t，buttheygotseparated。Yousee，two-

thirdsofthemwereintheboats，withoutweapons，runninganchorsandneverdreamingthenativeswouldattack。Theyfoundouttheirmistaketoolate。Thenativeshadcharge。That\'sthetroubleofnewchumsonthecoast。Itwouldneverhavehappenedwithyouormeoranyold-timer。"

"ButwhatisMissLacklandintendingtodo？"CaptainAucklandgrinned。

"She\'sgoingtotrytogettheMarthaoff，Ishouldsay。Orelsewhydidshepayfifty-fivequidforher？Andifshefails，she\'lltrytogethermoneybackbysavingthegear——spars，youknow，andpatentsteering-gear，andwinches，andsuchthings。Atleastthat\'swhatI\'ddoifIwasinherplace。WhenIsailed，thelittlegirlhadcharteredtheEmily——\'I\'mgoingrecruiting，\'saysMunster——he\'stheskipperandownernow。\'Andhowmuchwillyounetonthecruise？\'asksshe。\'Oh，fiftyquid，\'sayshe。\'Good，\'

saysshe；\'youbringyourEmilyalongwithmeandyou\'llgetseventy-five。\'Youknowthatbigship\'sanchorandchainpiledupbehindthecoal-sheds？ShewasjustbuyingthatwhenIleft。