adventure-第12章

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o　trail　my　woman's　skirts　over　the　Solomons。　Please　forget　that　I　am　accidentally　anything　else　than　a　man　with　a　man's　living　to　make。〃

Inwardly　Sheldon　fumed　and　fretted。　　Was　she　making　game　of　him？　Or　did　there　lurk　in　her　the　insidious　unhealthfulness　of　unwomanliness？　　Or　was　it　merely　a　case　of　blank；　staring；　sentimental；　idiotic　innocence？

〃I　have　told　you；〃　he　began　stiffly；　〃that　recruiting　on　Malaita　is　impossible　for　a　woman；　and　that　is　all　I　care　to　sayor　dare。〃

〃And　I　tell　you；　in　turn；　that　it　is　nothing　of　the　sort。　　I've　sailed　the　Miele　here；　master；　if　you　please；　all　the　way　from　Tahitieven　if　I　did　lose　her；　which　was　the　fault　of　your　Admiralty　charts。　　I　am　a　navigator；　and　that　is　more　than　your　Solomons　captains　are。　　Captain　Young　told　me　all　about　it。　　And　I　am　a　seamana　better　seaman　than　you；　when　it　comes　right　down　to　it；　and　you　know　it。　　I　can　shoot。　　I　am　not　a　fool。　　I　can　take　care　of　myself。　　And　I　shall　most　certainly　buy　a　ketch；　run　her　myself；　and　go　recruiting　on　Malaita。〃

Sheldon　made　a　hopeless　gesture。

〃That's　right；〃　she　rattled　on。　　〃Wash　your　hands　of　me。　　But　as　Von　used　to　say；　'You　just　watch　my　smoke！'〃

〃There's　no　use　in　discussing　it。　　Let　us　have　some　music。〃

He　arose　and　went　over　to　the　big　phonograph；　but　before　the　disc　started；　and　while　he　was　winding　the　machine；　he　heard　her　saying：

〃I　suppose　you've　been　accustomed　to　Jane　Eyres　all　your　life。　That's　why　you　don't　understand　me。　　Come　on；　Satan；　let's　leave　him　to　his　old　music。〃

He　watched　her　morosely　and　without　intention　of　speaking；　till　he　saw　her　take　a　rifle　from　the　stand；　examine　the　magazine；　and　start　for　the　door。

〃Where　are　you　going？〃　he　asked　peremptorily。

〃As　between　man　and　woman；〃　she　answered；　〃it　would　be　too　terriblyerindecent　for　you　to　tell　me　why　I　shouldn't　go　alligatoring。　　Good…night。　　Sleep　well。〃

He　shut　off　the　phonograph　with　a　snap；　started　toward　the　door　after　her；　then　abruptly　flung　himself　into　a　chair。

〃You're　hoping　a　'gator　catches　me；　aren't　you？〃　she　called　from　the　veranda；　and　as　she　went　down　the　steps　her　rippling　laughter　drifted　tantalizingly　back　through　the　wide　doorway。



CHAPTER　XA　MESSAGE　FROM　BOUCHER



The　next　day　Sheldon　was　left　all　alone。　　Joan　had　gone　exploring　Pari…Sulay；　and　was　not　to　be　expected　back　until　the　late　afternoon。　　Sheldon　was　vaguely　oppressed　by　his　loneliness；　and　several　heavy　squalls　during　the　afternoon　brought　him　frequently　on　to　the　veranda；　telescope　in　hand；　to　scan　the　sea　anxiously　for　the　whale…boat。　　Betweenwhiles　he　scowled　over　the　plantation　account…books；　made　rough　estimates；　added　and　balanced；　and　scowled　the　harder。　　The　loss　of　the　Jessie　had　hit　Berande　severely。　　Not　alone　was　his　capital　depleted　by　the　amount　of　her　value；　but　her　earnings　were　no　longer　to　be　reckoned　on；　and　it　was　her　earnings　that　largely　paid　the　running　expenses　of　the　plantation。

〃Poor　old　Hughie；〃　he　muttered　aloud；　once。　　〃I'm　glad　you　didn't　live　to　see　it；　old　man。　　What　a　cropper；　what　a　cropper！〃

Between　squalls　the　Flibberty…Gibbet　ran　in　to　anchorage；　and　her　skipper；　Pete　Oleson　（brother　to　the　Oleson　of　the　Jessie）；　ancient；　grizzled；　wild…eyed；　emaciated　by　fever；　dragged　his　weary　frame　up　the　veranda　steps　and　collapsed　in　a　steamer…chair。　Whisky　and　soda　kept　him　going　while　he　made　report　and　turned　in　his　accounts。

〃You're　rotten　with　fever；〃　Sheldon　said。　　〃Why　don't　you　run　down　to　Sydney　for　a　blow　of　decent　climate？〃

The　old　skipper　shook　his　head。

〃I　can't。　　I've　ben　in　the　islands　too　long。　　I'd　die。　　The　fever　comes　out　worse　down　there。〃

〃Kill　or　cure；〃　Sheldon　counselled。

〃It's　straight　kill　for　me。　　I　tried　it　three　years　ago。　　The　cool　weather　put　me　on　my　back　before　I　landed。　　They　carried　me　ashore　and　into　hospital。　　I　was　unconscious　one　stretch　for　two　weeks。　After　that　the　doctors　sent　me　back　to　the　islandssaid　it　was　the　only　thing　that　would　save　me。　　Well；　I'm　still　alive；　but　I'm　too　soaked　with　fever。　　A　month　in　Australia　would　finish　me。〃

〃But　what　are　you　going　to　do？〃　Sheldon　queried。　　〃You　can't　stay　here　until　you　die。〃

〃That's　all　that's　left　to　me。　　I'd　like　to　go　back　to　the　old　country；　but　I　couldn't　stand　it。　　I'll　last　longer　here；　and　here　I'll　stay　until　I　peg　out；　but　I　wish　to　God　I'd　never　seen　the　Solomons；　that's　all。〃

He　declined　to　sleep　ashore；　took　his　orders；　and　went　back　on　board　the　cutter。　　A　lurid　sunset　was　blotted　out　by　the　heaviest　squall　of　the　day；　and　Sheldon　watched　the　whale…boat　arrive　in　the　thick　of　it。　　As　the　spritsail　was　taken　in　and　the　boat　headed　on　to　the　beach；　he　was　aware　of　a　distinct　hurt　at　sight　of　Joan　at　the　steering…oar；　standing　erect　and　swaying　her　strength　to　it　as　she　resisted　the　pressures　that　tended　to　throw　the　craft　broadside　in　the　surf。　　Her　Tahitians　leaped　out　and　rushed　the　boat　high　up　the　beach；　and　she　led　her　bizarre　following　through　the　gate　of　the　compound。

The　first　drops　of　rain　were　driving　like　hail…stones；　the　tall　cocoanut　palms　were　bending　and　writhing　in　the　grip　of　the　wind；　while　the　thick　cloud…mass　of　the　squall　turned　the　brief　tropic　twilight　abruptly　to　night。

Quite　unconsciously　the　brooding　anxiety　of　the　afternoon　slipped　from　Sheldon；　and　he　felt　strangely　cheered　at　the　sight　of　her　running　up　the　steps　laughing；　face　flushed；　hair　flying；　her　breast　heaving　from　the　violence　of　her　late　exertions。

〃Lovely；　perfectly　lovelyPari…Sulay；〃　she　panted。　　〃I　shall　buy　it。　　I'll　write　to　the　Commissioner　to…night。　　And　the　site　for　the　bungalowI've　selected　it　alreadyis　wonderful。　　You　must　come　over　some　day　and　advise　me。　　You　won't　mind　my　staying　here　until　I　can　get　settled？　　Wasn't　that　squall　beautiful？　　And　I　suppose　I'm　late　for　dinner。　　I'll　run　and　get　clean；　and　be　with　you　in　a　minute。〃

And　in　the　brief　interval　of　her　absence　he　found　himself　walking　about　the　big　living…room　and　impatiently　and　with　anticipation　awaiting　her　coming。

〃Do　you　know；　I'm　never　going　to　squabble　with　you　again；〃　he　announced　when　they　were　seated。

〃Squabble！〃　was　the　retort。　　〃It's　such　a　sordid　word。　　It　sounds　cheap　and　nasty。　　I　think　it's　much　nicer　to　quarrel。〃

〃Call　it　what　you　please；　but　we　won't　do　it　any　more；　will　we？〃　He　cleared　his　throat　nervously；　for　her　eyes　advertised　the　immediate　beginning　of　hostilities。　　〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　hurried　on。　　〃I　should　have　spoken　for　myself。　　What　I　mean　is　that　I　refuse　to　quarrel。　　You　have　the　most　horrible　way；　without　uttering　a　word；　of　making　me　play　the　fool。　　Why；　I　began　with　the　kindest　intentions；　and　here　I　am　now〃

〃Making　nasty　remarks；〃　she　completed　for　him。

〃It's　the　way　you　have　of　catching　me　up；〃　he　complained。

〃Why；　I　never　said　a　word。　　I　was　merely　sitting　here；　being　sweetly　lured　on　by　promises　of　peace　on　earth　and　all　the　rest　of　it；　when　suddenly　you　began　to　call　me　names。〃

〃Hardly　that；　I　am　sure。〃

〃Well；　you　said　I　was　horrible；　or　that　I　had　a　horrible　way　about　me；　which　is　the　same　thing。　　I　wish　my　bungalow　were　up。　　I'd　move　to…morrow。〃

But　her　twitching　lips　belied　her　words；　and　the　next　moment　the　man　was　more　uncomfortable　than　ever；　being　made　so　by　her　laughter。

〃I　was　only　teasing　you。　　Honest　Injun。　　And　if　you　don't　laugh　I'll　suspect　you　of　being　in　a　temper　with　me。　　That's　right；　laugh。　　But　don't〃　she　added　in　alarm；　〃don't　if　it　hurts　you。　You　look　as　though　you　had　a　toothache。　　There；　theredon't　say　it。　　You　know　you　promised　not　to　quarrel；　while　I　have　the　privilege　of　going　on　being　as　hateful　as　I　please。　　And　to　begin　with；　there's　the　Flibberty…Gibbet。　　I　didn't　know　she　was　so　large　a　cutter；　but　she's　in　disgraceful　condition。　　Her　rigging　is　something　queer；　and　the　next　sharp　squall　will　bring　her　head…gear　all　about　the　shop。　　I　watched　Noa　Noah's　face　as　we　sailed　past。　He　didn't　say　anything。　　He　just　sneered。　　And　I　don't　blame　him。〃

〃Her　skipper's　rotten　bad　with　fever；〃　Sheldon　explained。　　〃And　he　had　to　drop　his　mate　off　to　take　hold　of　things　at　Ugithat's　where　I　lost　Oscar；　my　trader。　　And　you　know　what　sort　of　sailors　the　niggers　are。〃

She　nodded　her　head　judicially；　and　while　she　seemed　to　debate　a　weighty　judgment　he　asked　for　a　second　helping　of　tinned　beefnot　because　he　was　hungry；　but　because　he　wanted　to　watch　her　slim；　firm　fingers；　naked　of　jewels　and　banded　metals；　while　his　eyes　pleasured　in　the　swell　of　the　forearm；　appearing　from　under　the　sleeve　and　losing　identity　in　the　smooth；　round　wrist　undisfigured　by　the　netted　veins　that　come　to　youth　when　youth　is　gone。　　The　fingers　were　brown　with　tan　and　looked　exceedingly　boyish。　　Then；　and　without　effort；　the　concept　came　to　him。　　Yes；　that　was　it。　　He　had　stumbled　upon　the　clue　to　her　tantalizing　personality。　　Her　fingers；　sunburned　and　boyish；　told　the　story。　　No　wonder　she　had　exasperated　him　so　frequently。　　He　had　tried　to　treat　with　her　as　a　woman；　when　she　was　not　a　woman。　　She　was　a　mere　girland　a　boyish　girl　at　thatwith　sunburned　fingers　that　delighted　in　doing　what　boys'　fingers　did；　with　a　body　and　muscles　that　liked　swimming　and　violent　endeavour　of　all　sorts；　with　a　mind　that　was　daring；　but　that　dared　no　farther　than　boys'　adventures；　and　that　delighted　in　rifles　and　revolvers；　Stetson　hats；　and　a　sexless　camaraderie　with　men。

Somehow；　as　he　pondered　and　watched　her；　it　seemed　as　if　he　sat　in　church　at　home　listening　to　the　choir…boys　chanting。　　She　reminded　him　of　those　boys；　or　their　voices；　rather。　　The　same　sexless　quality　was　there。　　In　the　body　of　her　she　was　woman；　in　the　mind　of　her　she　had　not　grown　up。　　She　had　not　been　exposed　to　ripening　influences　of　that　sort。　　She　had　had　no　mother。　　Von；　her　father；　native　servants；　and　rough　island　life　had　constituted　her　training。　　Horses　and　rifles　had　been　her　toys；　camp　and　trail　her　nursery。　　From　what　she　had　told　him；　her　seminary　days　had　been　an　exile；　devoted　to　study　and　to　ceaseless　longing　for　the　wild　riding　and　swimming　of　Hawaii。　　A　boy's　training；　and　a　boy's　point　of　view！　　That　explained　her　chafe　at　petticoats；　her　revolt　at　what　was　only　decently　conventional。　　Some　day　she　would　grow　up；　but　as　yet　she　was　only　in　the　process。

Well；　there　was　only　one　thing　for　him　to　do。　　He　must　meet　her　on　her　own　basis　of　boyhood；　and　not　make　the　mistake　of　treating　her　as　a　woman。　　He　wondered　if　he　could　love　the　woman　she　would　be　when　her　nature　awoke；　and　he　wondered　if　he　could　love　her　just　as　she　was　and　himself　wake　her　up。　　After　all；　whatever　it　was；　she　had　come　to　fill　quite　a　large　place　in　his　life；　as　he　had　discovered　that　afternoon　while　scanning　the　sea　between　the　squalls。　　Then　he　remembered　the　accounts　of　Berande；　and　the　cropper　that　was　coming；　and　scowled。

He　became　aware　that　she　was　speaking。

〃I　beg　pardon；〃　he　said。　　〃What's　that　you　were　saying？〃

〃You　weren't　listening　to　a　wordI　knew　it；〃　she　chided。　　〃I　was　saying　that　the　condition　of　the　Flibberty…Gibbet　was　disgraceful；　and　that　to…morrow；　when　you've　told　the　skipper　and　not　hurt　his　feelings；　I　am　going　to　take　my　men　out　and　give　her　an　overhauling。　　We'll　scrub　her　bottom；　too。　　Why；　there's　whiskers　on　her　copper　four　inches　long。　　I　saw　it　whe