adventure-第14章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


stop　and　talk　along　me。〃

〃Him　good　fella　boy；〃　was　the　reply。　　〃Him　stop　along。〃

〃Well；　what　do　you　want？〃　Sheldon　asked；　striving　to　hide　under　assumed　carelessness　the　weakness　of　concession。

〃That　fella　boy　belong　along　me。〃　　The　old　chief　pointed　out　Gogoomy；　whom　Sheldon　recognized。

〃White　Mary　belong　you　too　much　no　good；〃　Telepasse　went　on。　　〃Bang　'm　head　belong　Gogoomy。　　Gogoomy　all　the　same　chief。　　Bimeby　me　finish；　Gogoomy　big　fella　chief。　　White　Mary　bang　'm　head。　　No　good。　　You　pay　me　plenty　tobacco；　plenty　powder；　plenty　calico。〃

〃You　old　scoundrel；〃　was　Sheldon's　comment。　　An　hour　before；　he　had　been　chuckling　over　Joan's　recital　of　the　episode；　and　here；　an　hour　later；　was　Telepasse　himself　come　to　collect　damages。

〃Gogoomy；〃　Sheldon　ordered；　〃what　name　you　walk　about　here？　　You　get　along　quarters　plenty　quick。〃

〃Me　stop；〃　was　the　defiant　answer。

〃White　Mary　b'long　you　bang　'm　head；〃　old　Telepasse　began　again。　〃My　word；　plenty　big　fella　trouble　you　no　pay。〃

〃You　talk　along　boys；〃　Sheldon　said；　with　increasing　irritation。　〃You　tell　'm　get　to　hell　along　beach。　　Then　I　talk　with　you。〃

Sheldon　felt　a　slight　vibration　of　the　veranda；　and　knew　that　Joan　had　come　out　and　was　standing　by　his　side。　　But　he　did　not　dare　glance　at　her。　　There　were　too　many　rifles　down　below　there；　and　rifles　had　a　way　of　going　off　from　the　hip。

Again　the　veranda　vibrated　with　her　moving　weight；　and　he　knew　that　Joan　had　gone　into　the　house。　　A　minute　later　she　was　back　beside　him。　　He　had　never　seen　her　smoke；　and　it　struck　him　as　peculiar　that　she　should　be　smoking　now。　　Then　he　guessed　the　reason。　　With　a　quick　glance；　he　noted　the　hand　at　her　side；　and　in　it　the　familiar；　paper…wrapped　dynamite。　　He　noted；　also；　the　end　of　fuse；　split　properly；　into　which　had　been　inserted　the　head　of　a　wax　match。

〃Telepasse；　you　old　reprobate；　tell　'm　boys　clear　out　along　beach。　My　word；　I　no　gammon　along　you。〃

〃Me　no　gammon；〃　said　the　chief。　　〃Me　want　'm　pay　white　Mary　bang　'm　head　b'long　Gogoomy。〃

〃I'll　come　down　there　and　bang　'm　head　b'long　you；〃　Sheldon　replied；　leaning　toward　the　railing　as　if　about　to　leap　over。

An　angry　murmur　arose；　and　the　blacks　surged　restlessly。　　The　muzzles　of　many　guns　were　rising　from　the　hips。　　Joan　was　pressing　the　lighted　end　of　the　cigarette　to　the　fuse。　　A　Snider　went　off　with　the　roar　of　a　bomb…gun；　and　Sheldon　heard　a　pane　of　window…　glass　crash　behind　him。　　At　the　same　moment　Joan　flung　the　dynamite；　the　fuse　hissing　and　spluttering；　into　the　thick　of　the　blacks。　　They　scattered　back　in　too　great　haste　to　do　any　more　shooting。　　Satan；　aroused　by　the　one　shot；　was　snarling　and　panting　to　be　let　out。　　Joan　heard；　and　ran　to　let　him　out；　and　thereat　the　tragedy　was　averted；　and　the　comedy　began。

Rifles　and　spears　were　dropped　or　flung　aside　in　a　wild　scramble　for　the　protection　of　the　cocoanut　palms。　　Satan　multiplied　himself。　　Never　had　he　been　free　to　tear　and　rend　such　a　quantity　of　black　flesh　before；　and　he　bit　and　snapped　and　rushed　the　flying　legs　till　the　last　pair　were　above　his　head。　　All　were　treed　except　Telepasse；　who　was　too　old　and　fat；　and　he　lay　prone　and　without　movement　where　he　had　fallen；　while　Satan；　with　too　great　a　heart　to　worry　an　enemy　that　did　not　move；　dashed　frantically　from　tree　to　tree；　barking　and　springing　at　those　who　clung　on　lowest　down。

〃I　fancy　you　need　a　lesson　or　two　in　inserting　fuses；〃　Sheldon　remarked　dryly。

Joan's　eyes　were　scornful。

〃There　was　no　detonator　on　it；〃　she　said。　　〃Besides；　the　detonator　is　not　yet　manufactured　that　will　explode　that　charge。　　It's　only　a　bottle　of　chlorodyne。〃

She　put　her　fingers　into　her　mouth；　and　Sheldon　winced　as　he　saw　her　blow；　like　a　boy；　a　sharp；　imperious　whistlethe　call　she　always　used　for　her　sailors；　and　that　always　made　him　wince。

〃They're　gone　up　the　Balesuna；　shooting　fish；〃　he　explained。　　〃But　there　comes　Oleson　with　his　boat's…crew。　　He's　an　old　war…horse　when　he　gets　started。　　See　him　banging　the　boys。　　They　don't　pull　fast　enough　for　him。〃

〃And　now　what's　to　be　done？〃　she　asked。　　〃You've　treed　your　game；　but　you　can't　keep　it　treed。〃

〃No；　but　I　can　teach　them　a　lesson。〃

Sheldon　walked　over　to　the　big　bell。

〃It　is　all　right；〃　he　replied　to　her　gesture　of　protest。　　〃My　boys　are　practically　all　bushmen；　while　these　chaps　are　salt…water　men；　and　there's　no　love　lost　between　them。　　You　watch　the　fun。〃

He　rang　a　general　call；　and　by　the　time　the　two　hundred　labourers　trooped　into　the　compound　Satan　was　once　more　penned　in　the　living…　room；　complaining　to　high　heaven　at　his　abominable　treatment。　　The　plantation　hands　were　dancing　war…dances　around　the　base　of　every　tree　and　filling　the　air　with　abuse　and　vituperation　of　their　hereditary　enemies。　　The　skipper　of　the　Flibberty…Gibbet　arrived　in　the　thick　of　it；　in　the　first　throes　of　oncoming　fever；　staggering　as　he　walked；　and　shivering　so　severely　that　he　could　scarcely　hold　the　rifle　he　carried。　　His　face　was　ghastly　blue；　his　teeth　clicked　and　chattered；　and　the　violent　sunshine　through　which　he　walked　could　not　warm　him。

〃I'll　s…s…sit　down；　and　k…k…keep　a　guard　on　'em；〃　he　chattered。　〃D…d…dash　it　all；　I　always　g…get　f…fever　when　there's　any　excitement。　　W…w…wh…what　are　you　going　to　do？〃

〃Gather　up　the　guns　first　of　all。〃

Under　Sheldon's　direction　the　house…boys　and　gang…bosses　collected　the　scattered　arms　and　piled　them　in　a　heap　on　the　veranda。　　The　modern　rifles；　stolen　from　Lunga；　Sheldon　set　aside；　the　Sniders　he　smashed　into　fragments；　the　pile　of　spears；　clubs；　and　tomahawks　he　presented　to　Joan。

〃A　really　unique　addition　to　your　collection；〃　he　smiled；　〃picked　up　right　on　the　battlefield。〃

Down　on　the　beach　he　built　a　bonfire　out　of　the　contents　of　the　canoes；　his　blacks　smashing；　breaking；　and　looting　everything　they　laid　hands　on。　　The　canoes　themselves；　splintered　and　broken；　filled　with　sand　and　coral…boulders；　were　towed　out　to　ten　fathoms　of　water　and　sunk。

〃Ten　fathoms　will　be　deep　enough　for　them　to　work　in；〃　Sheldon　said；　as　they　walked　back　to　the　compound。

Here　a　Saturnalia　had　broken　loose。　　The　war…songs　and　dances　were　more　unrestrained；　and；　from　abuse；　the　plantation　blacks　had　turned　to　pelting　their　helpless　foes　with　pieces　of　wood；　handfuls　of　pebbles；　and　chunks　of　coral…rock。　　And　the　seventy…five　lusty　cannibals　clung　stoically　to　their　tree…perches；　enduring　the　rain　of　missiles　and　snarling　down　promises　of　vengeance。

〃There'll　be　wars　for　forty　years　on　Malaita　on　account　of　this；〃　Sheldon　laughed。　　〃But　I　always　fancy　old　Telepasse　will　never　again　attempt　to　rush　a　plantation。〃

〃Eh；　you　old　scoundrel；〃　he　added；　turning　to　the　old　chief；　who　sat　gibbering　in　impotent　rage　at　the　foot　of　the　steps。　　〃Now　head　belong　you　bang　'm　too。　　Come　on；　Miss　Lackland；　bang　'm　just　once。　It　will　be　the　crowning　indignity。〃

〃Ugh；　he's　too　dirty。　　I'd　rather　give　him　a　bath。　　Here；　you；　Adamu　Adam；　give　this　devil…devil　a　wash。　　Soap　and　water！　　Fill　that　wash…tub。　　Ornfiri；　run　and　fetch　'm　scrub…brush。〃

The　Tahitians；　back　from　their　fishing　and　grinning　at　the　bedlam　of　the　compound；　entered　into　the　joke。

〃Tambo！　　Tambo！〃　shrieked　the　cannibals　from　the　trees；　appalled　at　so　awful　a　desecration；　as　they　saw　their　chief　tumbled　into　the　tub　and　the　sacred　dirt　rubbed　and　soused　from　his　body。

Joan；　who　had　gone　into　the　bungalow；　tossed　down　a　strip　of　white　calico；　in　which　old　Telepasse　was　promptly　wrapped；　and　he　stood　forth；　resplendent　and　purified；　withal　he　still　spat　and　strangled　from　the　soap…suds　with　which　Noa　Noah　had　gargled　his　throat。

The　house…boys　were　directed　to　fetch　handcuffs；　and；　one　by　one；　the　Lunga　runaways　were　haled　down　out　of　their　trees　and　made　fast。　　Sheldon　ironed　them　in　pairs；　and　ran　a　steel　chain　through　the　links　of　the　irons。　　Gogoomy　was　given　a　lecture　for　his　mutinous　conduct　and　locked　up　for　the　afternoon。　　Then　Sheldon　rewarded　the　plantation　hands　with　an　afternoon's　holiday；　and；　when　they　had　withdrawn　from　the　compound；　permitted　the　Port　Adams　men　to　descend　from　the　trees。　　And　all　afternoon　he　and　Joan　loafed　in　the　cool　of　the　veranda　and　watched　them　diving　down　and　emptying　their　sunken　canoes　of　the　sand　and　rocks。　　It　was　twilight　when　they　embarked　and　paddled　away　with　a　few　broken　paddles。　　A　breeze　had　sprung　up；　and　the　Flibberty…Gibbet　had　already　sailed　for　Lunga　to　return　the　runaways。



CHAPTER　XIIMR。　MORGAN　AND　MR。　RAFF



Sheldon　was　back　in　the　plantation　superintending　the　building　of　a　bridge；　when　the　schooner　Malakula　ran　in　close　and　dropped　anchor。　Joan　watched　the　taking　in　of　sail　and　the　swinging　out　of　the　boat　with　a　sailor's　interest；　and　herself　met　the　two　men　who　came　ashore。　　While　one　of　the　house…boys　ran　to　fetch　Sheldon；　she　had　the　visitors　served　with　whisky　and　soda；　and　sat　and　talked　with　them。

They　seemed　awkward　and　constrained　in　her　presence；　and　she　caught　first　one　and　then　the　other　looking　at　her　with　secret　curiosity。　She　felt　that　they　were　weighing　her；　appraising　her；　and　for　the　first　time　the　anomalous　position　she　occupied　on　Berande　sank　sharply　home　to　her。　　On　the　other　hand；　they　puzzled　her。　　They　were　neither　traders　nor　sailors　of　any　type　she　had　known。　　Nor　did　they　talk　like　gentlemen；　despite　the　fact　that　there　was　nothing　offensive　in　their　bearing　and　that　the　veneer　of　ordinary　social　nicety　was　theirs。　　Undoubtedly；　they　were　men　of　affairs　business　men　of　a　sort；　but　what　affairs　should　they　have　in　the　Solomons；　and　what　business　on　Berande？　　The　elder　one；　Morgan；　was　a　huge　man；　bronzed　and　moustached；　with　a　deep　bass　voice　and　an　almost　guttural　speech；　and　the　other；　Raff；　was　slight　and　effeminate；　with　nervous　hands　and　watery；　washed…out　gray　eyes；　who　spoke　with　a　faint　indefinable　accent　that　was　hauntingly　reminiscent　of　the　Cockney；　and　that　was　yet　not　Cockney　of　any　brand　she　had　ever　encountered。　　Whatever　they　were；　they　were　self…made　men；　she　concluded；　and　she　felt　the　impulse　to　shudder　at　thought　of　falling　into　their　hands　in　a　business　way。　　There；　they　would　be　merciless。

She　watched　Sheldon　closely　when　he　arrived；　and　divined　that　he　was　not　particularly　delighted　to　see　them。　　But　see　them　he　must；　and　so　pressing　was　the　need　that；　after　a　little　perfunctory　general　conversation；　he　led　the　two　men　into　the　stuffy　office。　Later　in　the　afternoon；　she　asked　Lalaperu　where　they　had　gone。

〃My　word；〃　quoth　Lalaperu；　〃plenty　walk　about；　plenty　look　'm。　Look　'm　tree；　look　'm　ground　belong　tree；　look　'm　all　fella　bridge；　look　'm　copra…house；　look　'm　grass…land；　look　'm　river；　look　'm　whale…boatmy　word；　plenty　big　fella　look　'm　too　much。〃

〃What　fella　man　them　two　fella？〃　she　queried。

〃Big　fella　marster　along　white　man；〃　was　the　extent　of　his　description。

But　Joan　decided　that　they　were　men　of　importance　in　the　Solomons；　and　that　their　examination　of　the　plantation　and　of　its　accounts　was　of　sinister　significance。

At　dinner　no　word　was　dropped　that　gave　a　hint　of　their　errand。　The　conversation　was　on　general　topics；　but　Joan　could　not　help　noticing　the　troubled；　absent　expression　that　occasionally　came　into　Sheldon's　eyes。　　After　coffee；　she　left　them；　and　at　midnight；　from　across　t