adventure-第16章

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　was　arguing　with　him；　the　youth　with　youth's　pure…minded　and　invincible　reasoning。　　Hers　was　only　the　boy's　soul　in　a　woman's　body。　　He　looked　at　her　flushed；　eager　face；　at　the　great　ropes　of　hair　coiled　on　the　small　head；　at　the　rounded　lines　of　the　figure　showing　plainly　through　the　home…made　gown；　and　at　the　eyesboy's　eyes；　under　cool；　level　browsand　he　wondered　why　a　being　that　was　so　much　beautiful　woman　should　be　no　woman　at　all。　　Why　in　the　deuce　was　she　not　carroty…haired；　or　cross…eyed；　or　hare…lipped？

〃Suppose　we　do　become　partners　on　Berande；〃　he　said；　at　the　same　time　experiencing　a　feeling　of　fright　at　the　prospect　that　was　tangled　with　a　contradictory　feeling　of　charm；　〃either　I'll　fall　in　love　with　you；　or　you　with　me。　　Propinquity　is　dangerous；　you　know。　In　fact；　it　is　propinquity　that　usually　gives　the　facer　to　the　logic　of　youth。〃

〃If　you　think　I　came　to　the　Solomons　to　get　married〃　she　began　wrathfully。　　〃Well；　there　are　better　men　in　Hawaii；　that's　all。　Really；　you　know；　the　way　you　harp　on　that　one　string　would　lead　an　unprejudiced　listener　to　conclude　that　you　are　prurient…minded〃

She　stopped；　appalled。　　His　face　had　gone　red　and　white　with　such　abruptness　as　to　startle　her。　　He　was　patently　very　angry。　　She　sipped　the　last　of　her　coffee；　and　arose；　saying；　…

〃I'll　wait　until　you　are　in　a　better　temper　before　taking　up　the　discussion　again。　　That　is　what's　the　matter　with　you。　　You　get　angry　too　easily。　　Will　you　come　swimming？　　The　tide　is　just　right。〃

〃If　she　were　a　man　I'd　bundle　her　off　the　plantation　root　and　crop；　whale…boat；　Tahitian　sailors；　sovereigns；　and　all；〃　he　muttered　to　himself　after　she　had　left　the　room。

But　that　was　the　trouble。　　She　was　not　a　man；　and　where　would　she　go；　and　what　would　happen　to　her？

He　got　to　his　feet；　lighted　a　cigarette；　and　her　Stetson　hat；　hanging　on　the　wall　over　her　revolver…belt；　caught　his　eye。　　That　was　the　devil　of　it；　too。　　He　did　not　want　her　to　go。　　After　all；　she　had　not　grown　up　yet。　　That　was　why　her　logic　hurt。　　It　was　only　the　logic　of　youth；　but　it　could　hurt　damnably　at　times。　　At　any　rate；　he　would　resolve　upon　one　thing：　　never　again　would　he　lose　his　temper　with　her。　　She　was　a　child；　he　must　remember　that。　He　sighed　heavily。　　But　why　in　reasonableness　had　such　a　child　been　incorporated　in　such　a　woman's　form？

And　as　he　continued　to　stare　at　her　hat　and　think；　the　hurt　he　had　received　passed　away；　and　he　found　himself　cudgelling　his　brains　for　some　way　out　of　the　muddlefor　some　method　by　which　she　could　remain　on　Berande。　　A　chaperone！　　Why　not？　　He　could　send　to　Sydney　on　the　first　steamer　for　one。　　He　could　…

Her　trilling　laughter　smote　upon　his　reverie；　and　he　stepped　to　the　screen…door；　through　which　he　could　see　her　running　down　the　path　to　the　beach。　　At　her　heels　ran　two　of　her　sailors；　Papehara　and　Mahameme；　in　scarlet　lava…lavas；　with　naked　sheath…knives　gleaming　in　their　belts。　　It　was　another　sample　of　her　wilfulness。　　Despite　entreaties　and　commands；　and　warnings　of　the　danger　from　sharks；　she　persisted　in　swimming　at　any　and　all　times；　and　by　special　preference；　it　seemed　to　him；　immediately　after　eating。

He　watched　her　take　the　water；　diving　cleanly；　like　a　boy；　from　the　end　of　the　little　pier；　and　he　watched　her　strike　out　with　single　overhand　stroke；　her　henchmen　swimming　a　dozen　feet　on　either　side。　He　did　not　have　much　faith　in　their　ability　to　beat　off　a　hungry　man…eater；　though　he　did　believe；　implicitly；　that　their　lives　would　go　bravely　before　hers　in　case　of　an　attack。

Straight　out　they　swam；　their　heads　growing　smaller　and　smaller。　There　was　a　slight；　restless　heave　to　the　sea；　and　soon　the　three　heads　were　disappearing　behind　it　with　greater　frequency。　　He　strained　his　eyes　to　keep　them　in　sight；　and　finally　fetched　the　telescope　on　to　the　veranda。　　A　squall　was　making　over　from　the　direction　of　Florida；　but　then；　she　and　her　men　laughed　at　squalls　and　the　white　choppy　sea　at　such　times。　　She　certainly　could　swim；　he　had　long　since　concluded。　　That　came　of　her　training　in　Hawaii。　But　sharks　were　sharks；　and　he　had　known　of　more　than　one　good　swimmer　drowned　in　a　tide…rip。

The　squall　blackened　the　sky；　beat　the　ocean　white　where　he　had　last　seen　the　three　heads；　and　then　blotted　out　sea　and　sky　and　everything　with　its　deluge　of　rain。　　It　passed　on；　and　Berande　emerged　in　the　bright　sunshine　as　the　three　swimmers　emerged　from　the　sea。　　Sheldon　slipped　inside　with　the　telescope；　and　through　the　screen…door　watched　her　run　up　the　path；　shaking　down　her　hair　as　she　ran；　to　the　fresh…water　shower　under　the　house。

On　the　veranda　that　afternoon　he　broached　the　proposition　of　a　chaperone　as　delicately　as　he　could；　explaining　the　necessity　at　Berande　for　such　a　body；　a　housekeeper　to　run　the　boys　and　the　storeroom；　and　perform　divers　other　useful　functions。　　When　he　had　finished；　he　waited　anxiously　for　what　Joan　would　say。

〃Then　you　don't　like　the　way　I've　been　managing　the　house？〃　was　her　first　objection。　　And　next；　brushing　his　attempted　explanations　aside；　〃One　of　two　things　would　happen。　　Either　I　should　cancel　our　partnership　agreement　and　go　away；　leaving　you　to　get　another　chaperone　to　chaperone　your　chaperone；　or　else　I'd　take　the　old　hen　out　in　the　whale…boat　and　drown　her。　　Do　you　imagine　for　one　moment　that　I　sailed　my　schooner　down　here　to　this　raw　edge　of　the　earth　in　order　to　put　myself　under　a　chaperone？〃

〃But　really　。　。　。　er　。　。　。　you　know　a　chaperone　is　a　necessary　evil；〃　he　objected。

〃We've　got　along　very　nicely　so　far　without　one。　　Did　I　have　one　on　the　Miele？　　And　yet　I　was　the　only　woman　on　board。　　There　are　only　three　things　I　am　afraid　ofbumble…bees；　scarlet　fever；　and　chaperones。　　Ugh！　the　clucking；　evil…minded　monsters；　finding　wrong　in　everything；　seeing　sin　in　the　most　innocent　actions；　and　suggesting　sinyes；　causing　sinby　their　diseased　imaginings。〃

〃Phew！〃　Sheldon　leaned　back　from　the　table　in　mock　fear。

〃You　needn't　worry　about　your　bread　and　butter；〃　he　ventured。　　〃If　you　fail　at　planting；　you　would　be　sure　to　succeed　as　a　writer　novels　with　a　purpose；　you　know。〃

〃I　didn't　think　there　were　persons　in　the　Solomons　who　needed　such　books；〃　she　retaliated。　　〃But　you　are　certainly　oneyou　and　your　custodians　of　virtue。〃

He　winced；　but　Joan　rattled　on　with　the　platitudinous　originality　of　youth。

〃As　if　anything　good　were　worth　while　when　it　has　to　be　guarded　and　put　in　leg…irons　and　handcuffs　in　order　to　keep　it　good。　　Your　desire　for　a　chaperone　as　much　as　implies　that　I　am　that　sort　of　creature。　　I　prefer　to　be　good　because　it　is　good　to　be　good；　rather　than　because　I　can't　be　bad　because　some　argus…eyed　old　frump　won't　let　me　have　a　chance　to　be　bad。〃

〃But　itit　is　not　that；〃　he　put　in。　　〃It　is　what　others　will　think。〃

〃Let　them　think；　the　nasty…minded　wretches！　　It　is　because　men　like　you　are　afraid　of　the　nasty…minded　that　you　allow　their　opinions　to　rule　you。〃

〃I　am　afraid　you　are　a　female　Shelley；〃　he　replied；　〃and　as　such；　you　really　drive　me　to　become　your　partner　in　order　to　protect　you。〃

〃If　you　take　me　as　a　partner　in　order　to　protect　me　。　。　。　I　。　。　。　I　shan't　be　your　partner；　that's　all。　　You'll　drive　me　into　buying　Pari…Sulay　yet。〃

〃All　the　more　reason〃　he　attempted。

〃Do　you　know　what　I'll　do？〃　she　demanded。　　〃I'll　find　some　man　in　the　Solomons　who　won't　want　to　protect　me。〃

Sheldon　could　not　conceal　the　shock　her　words　gave　him。

〃You　don't　mean　that；　you　know；〃　he　pleaded。

〃I　do；　I　really　do。　　I　am　sick　and　tired　of　this　protection　dodge。　Don't　forget　for　a　moment　that　I　am　perfectly　able　to　take　care　of　myself。　　Besides；　I　have　eight　of　the　best　protectors　in　the　world…　…my　sailors。〃

〃You　should　have　lived　a　thousand　years　ago；〃　he　laughed；　〃or　a　thousand　years　hence。　　You　are　very　primitive；　and　equally　super…　modern。　　The　twentieth　century　is　no　place　for　you。〃

〃But　the　Solomon　Islands　are。　　You　were　living　like　a　savage　when　I　came　along　and　found　youeating　nothing　but　tinned　meat　and　scones　that　would　have　ruined　the　digestion　of　a　camel。　　Anyway；　I've　remedied　that；　and　since　we　are　to　be　partners；　it　will　stay　remedied。　　You　won't　die　of　malnutrition；　be　sure　of　that。〃

〃If　we　enter　into　partnership；〃　he　announced；　〃it　must　be　thoroughly　understood　that　you　are　not　allowed　to　run　the　schooner。　You　can　go　down　to　Sydney　and　buy　her；　but　a　skipper　we　must　have　〃

〃At　so　much　additional　expense；　and　most　likely　a　whisky…drinking；　irresponsible；　and　incapable　man　to　boot。　　Besides；　I'd　have　the　business　more　at　heart　than　any　man　we　could　hire。　　As　for　capability；　I　tell　you　I　can　sail　all　around　the　average　broken　captain　or　promoted　able　seaman　you　find　in　the　South　Seas。　　And　you　know　I　am　a　navigator。〃

〃But　being　my　partner；〃　he　said　coolly；　〃makes　you　none　the　less　a　lady。〃

〃Thank　you　for　telling　me　that　my　contemplated　conduct　is　unladylike。〃

She　arose；　tears　of　anger　and　mortification　in　her　eyes；　and　went　over　to　the　phonograph。

〃I　wonder　if　all　men　are　as　ridiculous　as　you？〃　she　said。

He　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　smiled。　　Discussion　was　uselesshe　had　learned　that；　and　he　was　resolved　to　keep　his　temper。　　And　before　the　day　was　out　she　capitulated。　　She　was　to　go　to　Sydney　on　the　first　steamer；　purchase　the　schooner；　and　sail　back　with　an　island　skipper　on　board。　　And　then　she　inveigled　Sheldon　into　agreeing　that　she　could　take　occasional　cruises　in　the　islands；　though　he　was　adamant　when　it　came　to　a　recruiting　trip　on　Malaita。　That　was　the　one　thing　barred。

And　after　it　was　all　over；　and　a　terse　and　business…like　agreement　（by　her　urging）　drawn　up　and　signed；　Sheldon　paced　up　and　down　for　a　full　hour；　meditating　upon　how　many　different　kinds　of　a　fool　he　had　made　of　himself。　　It　was　an　impossible　situation；　and　yet　no　more　impossible　than　the　previous　one；　and　no　more　impossible　than　the　one　that　would　have　obtained　had　she　gone　off　on　her　own　and　bought　Pari…Sulay。　　He　had　never　seen　a　more　independent　woman　who　stood　more　in　need　of　a　protector　than　this　boy…minded　girl　who　had　landed　on　his　beach　with　eight　picturesque　savages；　a　long…　barrelled　revolver；　a　bag　of　gold；　and　a　gaudy　merchandise　of　imagined　romance　and　adventure。

He　had　never　read　of　anything　to　compare　with　it。　　The　fictionists；　as　usual；　were　exceeded　by　fact。　　The　whole　thing　was　too　preposterous　to　be　true。　　He　gnawed　his　moustache　and　smoked　cigarette　after　cigarette。　　Satan；　back　from　a　prowl　around　the　compound；　ran　up　to　him　and　touched　his　hand　with　a　cold；　damp　nose。　　Sheldon　caressed　the　animal's　ears；　then　threw　himself　into　a　chair　and　laughed　heartily。　　What　would　the　Commissioner　of　the　Solomons　think？　　What　would　his　people　at　home　think？　　And　in　the　one　breath　he　was　glad　that　the　partnership　had　been　effected　and　sorry　that　Joan　Lackland　had　ever　come　to　the　Solomons。　　Then　he　went　inside　and　looked　at　himself　in　a　hand…mirror。　　He　studied　the　reflection　long　and　thoughtfully　and　wonderingly。



CHAPTER　XIVTHE　MARTHA



They　were　deep　in　a　game　of　billiards　the　next　morning；　after　the　eleven　o'clock　breakfast；　when　Viaburi　entered　and　announced；　…

〃Big　fella　schooner　close　up。〃

Even　as　he　spoke；　they　heard　the　rumble　of　chain　through　hawse…　pipe；　and　from　the　veranda　saw　a　big　b