adventure(冒险)-第36章
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suddenly aware of the rashness of her act。 If only she had had her
revolver or a rifle； all would have been well。 But she had carelessly
ventured out unarmed； and she followed the glance of Gogoomy to her
waist and saw the pleased flash in his eyes as he perceived the absence of
the dreadful man…killing revolver。
The first article in the Solomon Islands code for white men was never
to show fear before a native； and Joan tried to carry off the situation in
cavalier fashion。
〃Too much talk along you fella boy；〃 she said severely。 〃Too much
talk； too little work。 Savvee？〃
Gogoomy made no reply； but； apparently shifting weight； he slid one
foot forward。 The other boys； spread fan…wise about her； were also
sliding forward； the cruel cane…knives in their hands advertising their
intention。
〃You cut 'm grass！〃 she commanded imperatively。
But Gogoomy slid his other foot forward。 She measured the distance
with her eye。 It would be impossible to whirl her horse around and get
away。 She would be chopped down from behind。
And in that tense moment the faces of all of them were imprinted on
her mind in an unforgettable pictureone of them； an old man； with torn
and distended ear…lobes that fell to his chest； another； with the broad
flattened nose of Africa； and with withered eyes so buried under frowning
brows that nothing but the sickly； yellowish… looking whites could be seen；
a third； thick…lipped and bearded with kinky whiskers； and Gogoomyshe
had never realized before how handsome Gogoomy was in his mutinous
and obstinate wild…animal way。 There was a primitive aristocraticness
about him that his fellows lacked。 The lines of his figure were more
rounded than theirs； the skin smooth； well oiled； and free from disease。
On his chest； suspended from a single string of porpoise…teeth around his
throat； hung a big crescent carved out of opalescent pearl…shell。 A row of
pure white cowrie shells banded his brow。 From his hair drooped a long；
lone feather。 Above the swelling calf of one leg he wore； as a garter； a
single string of white beads。 The effect was dandyish in the extreme。 A
narrow gee…string completed his costume。 Another man she saw； old and
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shrivelled； with puckered forehead and a puckered face that trembled and
worked with animal passion as in the past she had noticed the faces of
monkeys tremble and work。
〃Gogoomy；〃 she said sharply； 〃you no cut 'm grass； my word； I bang
'm head belong you。〃
His expression became a trifle more disdainful； but he did not answer。
Instead； he stole a glance to right and left to mark how his fellows were
closing about her。 At the same moment he casually slipped his foot
forward through the grass for a matter of several inches。
Joan was keenly aware of the desperateness of the situation。 The
only way out was through。 She lifted her riding…whip threateningly； and
at the same moment drove in both spurs with her heels； rushing the startled
horse straight at Gogoomy。 It all happened in an instant。 Every cane…
knife was lifted； and every boy save Gogoomy leaped for her。 He
swerved aside to avoid the horse； at the same time swinging his cane…knife
in a slicing blow that would have cut her in twain。 She leaned forward
under the flying steel； which cut through her riding…skirt； through the edge
of the saddle； through the saddle cloth； and even slightly into the horse
itself。 Her right hand； still raised； came down； the thin whip whishing
through the air。 She saw the white； cooked mark of the weal clear across
the sullen； handsome face； and still what was practically in the same
instant she saw the man with the puckered face； overridden； go down
before her； and she heard his snarling and grimacing chatter…for all the
world like an angry monkey。 Then she was free and away； heading the
horse at top speed for the house。
Out of her sea…training she was able to appreciate Sheldon's
executiveness when she burst in on him with her news。 Springing from
the steamer…chair in which he had been lounging while waiting for
breakfast； he clapped his hands for the house…boys； and； while listening to
her； he was buckling on his cartridge…belt and running the mechanism of
his automatic pistol。
〃Ornfiri；〃 he snapped out his orders； 〃you fella ring big fella bell
strong fella plenty。 You finish 'm bell； you put 'm saddle on horse。
Viaburi； you go quick house belong Seelee he stop； tell 'm plenty black
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fella run awayten fella two fella black fella boy。〃 He scribbled a note and
handed it to Lalaperu。 〃Lalaperu； you go quick house belong white fella
Marster Boucher。〃
〃That will head them back from the coast on both sides；〃 he explained
to Joan。 〃And old Seelee will turn his whole village loose on their track
as well。〃
In response to the summons of the big bell； Joan's Tahitians were the
first to arrive； by their glistening bodies and panting chests showing that
they had run all the way。 Some of the farthest…placed gangs would be
nearly an hour in arriving。
Sheldon proceeded to arm Joan's sailors and deal out ammunition and
handcuffs。 Adamu Adam； with loaded rifle； he placed on guard over the
whale…boats。 Noa Noah； aided by Matapuu； were instructed to take
charge of the working…gangs as fast as they came in； to keep them amused；
and to guard against their being stampeded into making a break
themselves。 The five other Tahitians were to follow Joan and Sheldon on
foot。
〃I'm glad we unearthed that arsenal the other day；〃 Sheldon remarked
as they rode out of the compound gate。
A hundred yards away they encountered one of the clearing gangs
coming in。 It was Kwaque's gang； but Sheldon looked in vain for him。
〃What name that fella Kwaque he no stop along you？〃 he demanded。
A babel of excited voices attempted an answer。
〃Shut 'm mouth belong you altogether；〃 Sheldon commanded。
He spoke roughly； living up to the role of the white man who must
always be strong and dominant。
〃Here； you fella Babatani； you talk 'm mouth belong you。〃
Babatani stepped forward in all the pride of one singled out from
among his fellows。
〃Gogoomy he finish along Kwaque altogether；〃 was Babatani's
explanation。 〃He take 'm head b'long him run like hell。〃
In brief words； and with paucity of imagination； he described the
murder； and Sheldon and Joan rode on。 In the grass； where Joan had
been attacked； they found the little shrivelled man； still chattering and
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grimacing； whom Joan had ridden down。 The mare had plunged on his
ankle； completely crushing it； and a hundred yards' crawl had convinced
him of the futility of escape。 To the last clearing…gang； from the farthest
edge of the plantation； was given the task of carrying him in to the house。
A mile farther on； where the runaways' trail led straight toward the
bush； they encountered the body of Kwaque。 The head had been hacked
off and was missing； and Sheldon took it on faith that the body was
Kwaque's。 He had evidently put up a fight； for a bloody trail led away
from the body。
Once they were well into the thick bush the horses had to be
abandoned。 Papehara was left in charge of them； while Joan and Sheldon
and the remaining Tahitians pushed ahead on foot。 The way led down
through a swampy hollow； which was overflowed by the Berande River on
occasion； and where the red trail of the murderers was crossed by a
crocodile's trail。 They had apparently caught the creature asleep in the
sun and desisted long enough from their flight to hack him to pieces。
Here the wounded man had sat down and waited until they were ready to
go on。
An hour later； following along a wild…pig trail； Sheldon suddenly
halted。 The bloody tracks had ceased。 The Tahitians cast out in the
bush on either side； and a cry from Utami apprised them of a find。 Joan
waited till Sheldon came back。
〃It's Mauko；〃 he said。 〃Kwaque did for him； and he crawled in there
and died。 That's two accounted for。 There are ten more。 Don't you
think you've got enough of it？〃
She nodded。
〃It isn't nice；〃 she said。 〃I'll go back and wait for you with the
horses。〃
〃But you can't go alone。 Take two of the men。〃
〃Then I'll go on；〃 she said。 〃It would be foolish to weaken the pursuit；
and I am certainly not tired。〃
The trail bent to the right as though the runaways had changed their
mind and headed for the Balesuna。 But the trail still continued to bend to
the right till it promised to make a loop； and the point of intersection
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seemed to be the edge of the plantation where the horses had been left。
Crossing one of the quiet jungle spaces； where naught moved but a velvety；
twelve…inch butterfly； they heard the sound of shots。
〃Eight；〃 Joan counted。 〃It was only one gun。 It must be Papehara。〃
They hurried on； but when they reached the spot the
