adventure-第15章

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　occasionally　came　into　Sheldon's　eyes。　　After　coffee；　she　left　them；　and　at　midnight；　from　across　the　compound；　she　could　hear　the　low　murmur　of　their　voices　and　see　glowing　the　fiery　ends　of　their　cigars。　　Up　early　herself；　she　found　they　had　already　departed　on　another　tramp　over　the　plantation。

〃What　you　think？〃　she　asked　Viaburi。

〃Sheldon　marster　he　go　along　finish　short　time　little　bit；〃　was　the　answer。

〃What　you　think？〃　she　asked　Ornfiri。

〃Sheldon　marster　big　fella　walk　about　along　Sydney。　　Yes；　me　t'ink　so。　　He　finish　along　Berande。〃

All　day　the　examination　of　the　plantation　and　the　discussion　went　on；　and　all　day　the　skipper　of　the　Malakula　sent　urgent　messages　ashore　for　the　two　men　to　hasten。　　It　was　not　until　sunset　that　they　went　down　to　the　boat；　and　even　then　a　final　talk　of　nearly　an　hour　took　place　on　the　beach。　　Sheldon　was　combating　something　that　she　could　plainly　see；　and　that　his　two　visitors　were　not　giving　in　she　could　also　plainly　see。

〃What　name？〃　she　asked　lightly；　when　Sheldon　sat　down　to　dinner。

He　looked　at　her　and　smiled；　but　it　was　a　very　wan　and　wistful　smile。

〃My　word；〃　she　went　on。　　〃One　big　fella　talk。　　Sun　he　go　down　talk…talk；　sun　he　come　uptalk…talk；　all　the　time　talk…talk。　　What　name　that　fella　talk…talk？

〃Oh；　nothing　much。〃　　He　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃They　were　trying　to　buy　Berande；　that　was　all。〃

She　looked　at　him　challengingly。

〃It　must　have　been　more　than　that。　　It　was　you　who　wanted　to　sell。〃

〃Indeed；　no；　Miss　Lackland；　I　assure　you　that　I　am　far　from　desiring　to　sell。〃

〃Don't　let　us　fence　about　it；〃　she　urged。　　〃Let　it　be　straight　talk　between　us。　　You're　in　trouble。　　I'm　not　a　fool。　　Tell　me。　Besides；　I　may　be　able　to　help；　toto　suggest　something。〃

In　the　pause　that　followed；　he　seemed　to　debate；　not　so　much　whether　he　would　tell　her；　as　how　to　begin　to　tell　her。

〃I'm　American；　you　see；〃　she　persisted；　〃and　our　American　heritage　is　a　large　parcel　of　business　sense。　　I　don't　like　it　myself；　but　I　know　I've　got　itat　least　more　than　you　have。　　Let　us　talk　it　over　and　find　a　way　out。　　How　much　do　you　owe？〃

〃A　thousand　pounds；　and　a　few　trifles　oversmall　bills；　you　know。　Then；　too；　thirty　of　the　boys　finish　their　time　next　week；　and　their　balances　will　average　ten　pounds　each。　　But　what　is　the　need　of　bothering　your　head　with　it？　　Really；　you　know〃

〃What　is　Berande　worth？right　now？〃

〃Whatever　Morgan　and　Raff　are　willing　to　pay　for　it。〃　　A　glance　at　her　hurt　expression　decided　him。　　〃Hughie　and　I　have　sunk　eight　thousand　pounds　in　it；　and　our　time。　　It　is　a　good　property；　and　worth　more　than　that。　　But　it　has　three　years　to　run　before　its　returns　begin　to　come　in。　　That　is　why　Hughie　and　I　engaged　in　trading　and　recruiting。　　The　Jessie　and　our　stations　came　very　near　to　paying　the　running　expenses　of　Berande。〃

〃And　Morgan　and　Raff　offered　you　what？〃

〃A　thousand　pounds　clear；　after　paying　all　bills。〃

〃The　thieves！〃　she　cried。

〃No；　they're　good　business　men；　that　is　all。　　As　they　told　me；　a　thing　is　worth　no　more　than　one　is　willing　to　pay　or　to　receive。〃

〃And　how　much　do　you　need　to　carry　on　Berande　for　three　years？〃　Joan　hurried　on。

〃Two　hundred　boys　at　six　pounds　a　year　means　thirty…six　hundred　poundsthat's　the　main　item。〃

〃My；　how　cheap　labour　does　mount　up！　　Thirty…six　hundred　pounds；　eighteen　thousand　dollars；　just　for　a　lot　of　cannibals！　　Yet　the　place　is　good　security。　　You　could　go　down　to　Sydney　and　raise　the　money。〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃You　can't　get　them　to　look　at　plantations　down　there。　　They've　been　taken　in　too　often。　　But　I　do　hate　to　give　the　place　upmore　for　Hughie's　sake；　I　swear；　than　my　own。　　He　was　bound　up　in　it。　You　see；　he　was　a　persistent　chap；　and　hated　to　acknowledge　defeat。　Itit　makes　me　uncomfortable　to　think　of　it　myself。　　We　were　running　slowly　behind；　but　with　the　Jessie　we　hoped　to　muddle　through　in　some　fashion。〃

〃You　were　muddlers；　the　pair　of　you；　without　doubt。　　But　you　needn't　sell　to　Morgan　and　Raff。　　I　shall　go　down　to　Sydney　on　the　next　steamer；　and　I'll　come　back　in　a　second…hand　schooner。　　I　should　be　able　to　buy　one　for　five　or　six　thousand　dollars〃

He　held　up　his　hand　in　protest；　but　she　waved　it　aside。

〃I　may　manage　to　freight　a　cargo　back　as　well。　　At　any　rate；　the　schooner　will　take　over　the　Jessie's　business。　　You　can　make　your　arrangements　accordingly；　and　have　plenty　of　work　for　her　when　I　get　back。　　I'm　going　to　become　a　partner　in　Berande　to　the　extent　of　my　bag　of　sovereignsI've　got　over　fifteen　hundred　of　them；　you　know。　　We'll　draw　up　an　agreement　right　nowthat　is；　with　your　permission；　and　I　know　you　won't　refuse　it。〃

He　looked　at　her　with　good…natured　amusement。

〃You　know　I　sailed　here　all　the　way　from　Tahiti　in　order　to　become　a　planter；〃　she　insisted。　　〃You　know　what　my　plans　were。　　Now　I've　changed　them；　that's　all。　　I'd　rather　be　a　part　owner　of　Berande　and　get　my　returns　in　three　years；　than　break　ground　on　Pari…Sulay　and　wait　seven　years。〃

〃And　thiserthis　schooner。　。　。　。　〃　　Sheldon　changed　his　mind　and　stopped。

〃Yes；　go　on。〃

〃You　won't　be　angry？〃　he　queried。

〃No；　no；　this　is　business。　　Go　on。〃

〃Youeryou　would　run　her　yourself？be　the　captain；　in　short？　and　go　recruiting　on　Malaita？〃

〃Certainly。　　We　would　save　the　cost　of　a　skipper。　　Under　an　agreement　you　would　be　credited　with　a　manager's　salary；　and　I　with　a　captain's。　　It's　quite　simple。　　Besides；　if　you　won't　let　me　be　your　partner；　I　shall　buy　Pari…Sulay；　get　a　much　smaller　vessel；　and　run　her　myself。　　So　what　is　the　difference？〃

〃The　difference？why；　all　the　difference　in　the　world。　　In　the　case　of　Pari…Sulay　you　would　be　on　an　independent　venture。　　You　could　turn　cannibal　for　all　I　could　interfere　in　the　matter。　　But　on　Berande；　you　would　be　my　partner；　and　then　I　would　be　responsible。　　And　of　course　I　couldn't　permit　you；　as　my　partner；　to　be　skipper　of　a　recruiter。　　I　tell　you；　the　thing　is　what　I　would　not　permit　any　sister　or　wife　of　mine〃

〃But　I'm　not　going　to　be　your　wife；　thank　goodnessonly　your　partner。〃

〃Besides；　it's　all　ridiculous；〃　he　held　on　steadily。　　〃Think　of　the　situation。　　A　man　and　a　woman；　both　young；　partners　on　an　isolated　plantation。　　Why；　the　only　practical　way　out　would　be　that　I'd　have　to　marry　you〃

〃Mine　was　a　business　proposition；　not　a　marriage　proposal；〃　she　interrupted；　coldly　angry。　　〃I　wonder　if　somewhere　in　this　world　there　is　one　man　who　could　accept　me　for　a　comrade。〃

〃But　you　are　a　woman　just　the　same；〃　he　began；　〃and　there　are　certain　conventions；　certain　decencies〃

She　sprang　up　and　stamped　her　foot。

〃Do　you　know　what　I'd　like　to　say？〃　she　demanded。

〃Yes；〃　he　smiled；　〃you'd　like　to　say；　'Damn　petticoats！'〃

She　nodded　her　head　ruefully。

〃That's　what　I　wanted　to　say；　but　it　sounds　different　on　your　lips。　It　sounds　as　though　you　meant　it　yourself；　and　that　you　meant　it　because　of　me。〃

〃Well；　I　am　going　to　bed。　　But　do；　please；　think　over　my　proposition；　and　let　me　know　in　the　morning。　　There's　no　use　in　my　discussing　it　now。　　You　make　me　so　angry。　　You　are　cowardly；　you　know；　and　very　egotistic。　　You　are　afraid　of　what　other　fools　will　say。　　No　matter　how　honest　your　motives；　if　others　criticized　your　actions　your　feelings　would　be　hurt。　　And　you　think　more　about　your　own　wretched　feelings　than　you　do　about　mine。　　And　then；　being　a　cowardall　men　are　at　heart　cowardsyou　disguise　your　cowardice　by　calling　it　chivalry。　　I　thank　heaven　that　I　was　not　born　a　man。　Good…night。　　Do　think　it　over。　　And　don't　be　foolish。　　What　Berande　needs　is　good　American　hustle。　　You　don't　know　what　that　is。　　You　are　a　muddler。　　Besides；　you　are　enervated。　　I'm　fresh　to　the　climate。　　Let　me　be　your　partner；　and　you'll　see　me　rattle　the　dry　bones　of　the　Solomons。　　Confess；　I've　rattled　yours　already。〃

〃I　should　say　so；〃　he　answered。　　〃Really；　you　know；　you　have。　　I　never　received　such　a　dressing…down　in　my　life。　　If　any　one　had　ever　told　me　that　I'd　be　a　party　even　to　the　present　situation。　。　。　。　Yes；　I　confess；　you　have　rattled　my　dry　bones　pretty　considerably。〃

〃But　that　is　nothing　to　the　rattling　they　are　going　to　get；〃　she　assured　him；　as　he　rose　and　took　her　hand。　　〃Good…night。　　And　do；　do　give　me　a　rational　decision　in　the　morning。〃



CHAPTER　XIIITHE　LOGIC　OF　YOUTH



〃I　wish　I　knew　whether　you　are　merely　headstrong；　or　whether　you　really　intend　to　be　a　Solomon　planter；〃　Sheldon　said　in　the　morning；　at　breakfast。

〃I　wish　you　were　more　adaptable；〃　Joan　retorted。　　〃You　have　more　preconceived　notions　than　any　man　I　ever　met。　　Why　in　the　name　of　common　sense；　in　the　name　of　。　。　。　fair　play；　can't　you　get　it　into　your　head　that　I　am　different　from　the　women　you　have　known；　and　treat　me　accordingly？　　You　surely　ought　to　know　I　am　different。　　I　sailed　my　own　schooner　hereskipper；　if　you　please。　　I　came　here　to　make　my　living。　　You　know　that；　I've　told　you　often　enough。　　It　was　Dad's　plan；　and　I'm　carrying　it　out；　just　as　you　are　trying　to　carry　out　your　Hughie's　plan。　　Dad　started　to　sail　and　sail　until　he　could　find　the　proper　islands　for　planting。　　He　died；　and　I　sailed　and　sailed　until　I　arrived　here。　　Well；〃she　shrugged　her　shoulders〃the　schooner　is　at　the　bottom　of　the　sea。　　I　can't　sail　any　farther；　therefore　I　remain　here。　　And　a　planter　I　shall　certainly　be。〃

〃You　see〃　he　began。

〃I　haven't　got　to　the　point；〃　she　interrupted。　　〃Looking　back　on　my　conduct　from　the　moment　I　first　set　foot　on　your　beach；　I　can　see　no　false　pretence　that　I　have　made　about　myself　or　my　intentions。　I　was　my　natural　self　to　you　from　the　first。　　I　told　you　my　plans；　and　yet　you　sit　there　and　calmly　tell　me　that　you　don't　know　whether　I　really　intend　to　become　a　planter；　or　whether　it　is　all　obstinacy　and　pretence。　　Now　let　me　assure　you；　for　the　last　time；　that　I　really　and　truly　shall　become　a　planter；　thanks　to　you；　or　in　spite　of　you。　　Do　you　want　me　for　a　partner？〃

〃But　do　you　realize　that　I　would　be　looked　upon　as　the　most　foolish　jackanapes　in　the　South　Seas　if　I　took　a　young　girl　like　you　in　with　me　here　on　Berande？〃　he　asked。

〃No；　decidedly　not。　　But　there　you　are　again；　worrying　about　what　idiots　and　the　generally　evil…minded　will　think　of　you。　　I　should　have　thought　you　had　learned　self…reliance　on　Berande；　instead　of　needing　to　lean　upon　the　moral　support　of　every　whisky…guzzling　worthless　South　Sea　vagabond。〃

He　smiled；　and　said；　…

〃Yes；　that　is　the　worst　of　it。　　You　are　unanswerable。　　Yours　is　the　logic　of　youth；　and　no　man　can　answer　that。　　The　facts　of　life　can；　but　they　have　no　place　in　the　logic　of　youth。　　Youth　must　try　to　live　according　to　its　logic。　　That　is　the　only　way　to　learn　better。〃

〃There　is　no　harm　in　trying？〃　she　interjected。

〃But　there　is。　　That　is　the　very　point。　　The　facts　always　smash　youth's　logic；　and　they　usually　smash　youth's　heart；　too。　　It's　like　platonic　friendships　and　。　。　。　and　all　such　things；　they　are　all　right　in　theory；　but　they　won't　work　in　practice。　　I　used　to　believe　in　such　things　once。　　That　is　why　I　am　here　in　the　Solomons　at　present。〃

Joan　was　impatient。　　He　saw　that　she　could　not　understand。　　Life　was　too　clearly　simple　to　her。　　It　was　only　the　youth　who　was　arguing　with　him；　the　youth　with　youth's　pure…minded　and　invincible　reasoning。　　Hers　was　only　t