下载辰思小说免费APP
Theygotherrighted，andthoughshewasstillfullofwaterputthechildonboard。Themainsailhadbeencarriedaway，butthejibstilldrewhersluggishlyalong，andFrancoisandthewomanswamasternandworkedtherudderwiththeirhands。Thecoldwascruel；thefatigue，astimewenton，becameexcessive；andinthatpreserveofsharks，fearhuntedthem。Againandagain，Francois，thehalf-breed，wouldhavedesistedandgonedown；butthewoman，wholebloodofanamphibiousrace，stillsupportedhimwithcheerfulwords。IamremindedofawomanofHawaiiwhoswamwithherhusband，Idarenotsayhowmanymiles，inahighsea，andcameashoreatlastwithhisdeadbodyinherarms。Itwasaboutfiveintheevening，afterninehours’swimming，thatFrancoisandhiswifereachedlandatRotoava。Thegallantfightwaswon，andinstantlythemorechildishsideofnativecharacterappears。Theyhadsupped，andtoldandretoldtheirstory，drippingastheycame；
thefleshofthewoman，whomMrs。Stevensonhelpedtoshift，wascoldasstone；andFrancois，havingchangedtoadrycottonshirtandtrousers，passedtheremainderoftheeveningonmyfloorandbetweenopendoorways，inathoroughdraught。YetFrancois，thesonofaFrenchfather，speaksexcellentFrenchhimselfandseemsintelligent。
Itwasourfirstideathatthecatechist，truetohisevangelicalvocation，wasclothingthenakedfromhissuperfluity。ThenitcameoutthatFrancoiswasbutdealingwithhisown。Theclotheswerehis，sowasthechest，sowasthehouse。Francoiswasinfactthelandlord。YetyouobservehehadhungbackontheverandahwhileTanieratriedhis’prenticehanduponthelocks：andevennow，whenhistruecharacterappeared，theonlyusehemadeoftheestatewastoleavetheclothesofhisfamilydryingonthefence。
Tanierawasstillthefriendofthehouse，stillfedthepoultry，stillcameaboutusonhisdailyvisits，Francois，duringtheremainderofhisstay，holdingbashfullyaloof。Andtherewasstrangermatter。SinceFrancoishadlostthewholeloadofhiscutter，thehalftonofcopra，anaxe，bowls，knives，andclothes-
sincehehadinamannertobegintheworldagain，andhisnecessaryflourwasnotyetboughtorpaidfor-Iproposedtoadvancehimwhatheneededontherent。Tomyenduringamazementherefused，andthereasonhegave-ifthatcanbecalledareasonwhichbutdarkenscounsel-wasthatTanierawashisfriend。Hisfriend，youobserve；nothiscreditor。Iinquiredintothat，andwasassuredthatTaniera，anexileinastrangeisle，mightpossiblybeindebthimself，butcertainlywasnoman’screditor。
Veryearlyonemorningwewereawakenedbyabustlingpresenceintheyard，andfoundourcamphadbeensurprisedbyatall，leanoldnativelady，dressedinwhatwereobviouslywidow’sweeds。Youcouldseeataglanceshewasanotablewoman，ahousewife，sternlypractical，alivewithenergy，andwithfinepossibilitiesoftemper。Indeed，therewasnothingnativeaboutherbuttheskin；
andthetypeabounds，andiseverywhererespected，nearerhome。Itdidusgoodtoseeherscourthegrounds，examiningtheplantsandchickens；watering，feeding，trimmingthem；takingangry，purpose-
likepossession。Whenshenearedthehouseoursympathyabated；
whenshecametothebrokenchestIwishedIwereelsewhere。Wehadscarceawordincommon；butherwholeleanbodyspokeforherwithindignanteloquence。’Mychest！’itcried，withastressonthepossessive。’Mychest-brokenopen！Thisisafinestateofthings！’Ihastenedtolaytheblamewhereitbelonged-onFrancoisandhiswife-andfoundIhadmadethingsworseinsteadofbetter。Sherepeatedthenamesatfirstwithincredulity，thenwithdespair。Awhilesheseemedstunned，ne
