adventure-第17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！



〃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　black…painted　schooner；　swinging　to　her　just…caught　anchor。

〃It's　a　Yankee；〃　Joan　cried。　　〃See　that　bow！　　Look　at　that　elliptical　stern！　　Ah；　I　thought　so〃　as　the　Stars　and　Stripes　fluttered　to　the　mast…head。

Noa　Noah；　at　Sheldon's　direction；　ran　the　Union　Jack　up　the　flag…　staff。

〃Now　what　is　an　American　vessel　doing　down　here？〃　Joan　asked。　〃It's　not　a　yacht；　though　I'll　wager　she　can　sail。　　Look！　　Her　name！　　What　is　it？〃

〃Martha；　San　Francisco；〃　Sheldon　read；　looking　through　the　telescope。　　〃It's　the　first　Yankee　I　ever　heard　of　in　the　Solomons。　They　are　coming　ashore；　whoever　they　are。　　And；　by　Jove；　look　at　those　men　at　the　oars。　　It's　an　all…white　crew。　　Now　what　reason　brings　them　here？〃

〃They're　not　proper　sailors；〃　Joan　commented。　　〃I'd　be　ashamed　of　a　crew　of　black…boys　that　pulled　in　such　fashion。　　Look　at　that　fellow　in　the　bowthe　one　just　jumping　out；　he'd　be　more　at　home　on　a　cow…pony。〃

The　boat's…crew　scattered　up　and　down　the　beach；　ranging　about　with　eager　curiosity；　while　the　two　men　who　had　sat　in　the　stern…sheets　opened　the　gate　and　came　up　the　path　to　the　bungalow。　　One　of　them；　a　tall　and　slender　man；　was　clad　in　white　ducks　that　fitted　him　like　a　semi…military　uniform。　　The　other　man；　in　nondescript　garments　that　were　both　of　the　sea　and　shore；　and　that　must　have　been　uncomfortably　hot；　slouched　and　shambled　like　an　overgrown　ape。　　To　complete　the　illusion；　his　face　seemed　to　sprout　in　all　directions　with　a　dense；　bushy　mass　of　red　whiskers；　while　his　eyes　were　small　and　sharp　and　restless。

Sheldon；　who　had　gone　to　the　head　of　the　steps；　introduced　them　to　Joan。　　The　bewhiskered　individual；　who　looked　like　a　Scotsman；　had　the　Teutonic　name　of　Von　Blix；　and　spoke　with　a　strong　American　accent。　　The　tall　man　in　the　well…fitting　ducks；　who　gave　the　English　name　of　TudorJohn　Tudortalked　purely…enunciated　English　such　as　any　cultured　American　would　talk；　save　for　the　fact　that　it　was　most　delicately　and　subtly　touched　by　a　faint　German　accent。　Joan　decided　that　she　had　been　helped　to　identify　the　accent　by　the　short　German…looking　moustache　that　did　not　conceal　the　mouth　and　its　full　red　lips；　which　would　have　formed　a　Cupid's　bow　but　for　some　harshness　or　severity　of　spirit　that　had　moulded　them　masculinely。

Von　Blix　was　rough　and　boorish；　but　Tudor　was　gracefully　easy　in　everything　he　did；　or　looked；　or　said。　　His　blue　eyes　sparkled　and　flashed；　his　clean…cut　mobile　features　were　an　index　to　his　slightest　shades　of　feeling　and　expression。　　He　bubbled　with　enthusiasms；　and　his　faintest　smile　or　lightest　laugh　seemed　spontaneous　and　genuine。　　But　it　was　only　occasionally　at　first　that　he　spoke；　for　Von　Blix　told　their　story　and　stated　their　errand。

They　were　on　a　gold…hunting　expedition。　　He　was　the　leader；　and　Tudor　was　his　lieutenant。　　All　handsand　there　were　twenty…eight　were　shareholders；　in　varying　proportions；　in　the　adventure。　Several　were　sailors；　but　the　large　majority　were　miners；　culled　from　all　the　camps　from　Mexico　to　the　Arctic　Ocean。　　It　was　the　old　and　ever…untiring　pursuit　of　gold；　and　they　had　come　to　the　Solomons　to　get　it。　　Part　of　them；　under　the　leadership　of　Tudor；　were　to　go　up　the　Balesuna　and　penetrate　the　mountainous　heart　of　Guadalcanar；　while　the　Martha；　under　Von　Blix；　sailed　away　for　Malaita　to　put　through　similar　exploration。

〃And　so；〃　said　Von　Blix；　〃for　Mr。　Tudor's　expedition　we　must　have　some　black…boys。　　Can　we　get　them　from　you？〃

〃Of　course　we　will　pay；〃　Tudor　broke　in。　　〃You　have　only　to　charge　what　you　consider　them　worth。　　You　pay　them　six　pounds　a　year；　don't　you？〃

〃In　the　first　place　we　can't　spare　them；〃　Sheldon　answered。　　〃We　are　short　of　them　on　the　plantation　as　it　is。〃

〃WE？〃　Tudor　asked　quickly。　　〃Then　you　are　a　firm　or　a　partnership？　I　understood　at　Guvutu　that　you　were　alone；　that　you　had　lost　your　partner。〃

Sheldon　inclined　his　head　toward　Joan；　and　as　he　spoke　she　felt　that　he　had　become　a　trifle　stiff。

〃Miss　Lackland　has　become　interested　in　the　plantation　since　then。　But　to　return　to　the　boys。　　We　can't　spare　them；　and　besides；　they　would　be　of　little　use。　　You　couldn't　get　them　to　accompany　you　beyond　Binu；　which　is　a　short　day's　work　with　the　boats　from　here。　They　are　Malaita…men；　and　they　are　afraid　of　being　eaten。　　They　would　desert　you　at　the　first　opportunity。　　You　could　get　the　Binu　men　to　accompany　you　another　day's　journey；　through　the　grass…　lands；　but　at　the　first　roll　of　the　foothills　look　for　them　to　turn　back。　　They　likewise　are　disinclined　to　being　eaten。〃

〃Is　it　as　bad　as　that？〃　asked　Von　Blix。

〃The　interior　of　Guadalcanar　has　never　been　explored；〃　Sheldon　explained。　　〃The　bushmen　are　as　wild　men　as　are　to　be　found　anywhere　in　the　world　to…day。　　I　have　never　seen　one。　　I　have　never　seen　a　man　who　has　seen　one。　　They　never　come　down　to　the　coast；　though　their　scouting　parties　occasionally　eat　a　coast　native　who　has　wandered　too　far　inland。　　Nobody　knows　anything　about　them。　They　don't　even　use　tobaccohave　never　learned　its　use。　　The　Austrian　expeditionscientists；　you　knowgot　part　way　in　before　it　was　cut　to　pieces。　　The　monument　is　up　the　beach　there　several　miles。　　Only　one　man　got　back　to　the　coast　to　tell　the　tale。　　And　now　you　have　all　I　or　any　other　man　knows　of　the　inside　of　Guadalcanar。〃

〃But　goldhave　you　heard　of　gold？〃　Tudor　asked　impatiently。　　〃Do　you　know　anything　about　gold？〃

Sheldon　smiled；　while　the　two　visitors　hung　eagerly　upon　his　words。

〃You　can　go　two　miles　up　the　Balesuna　and　wash　colours　from　the　gravel。　　I've　done　it　often。　　There　is　gold　undoubtedly　back　in　the　mountains。〃

Tudor　and　Von　Blix　looked　triumphantly　at　each　other。

〃Old　Wheatsheaf's　yarn　was　true；　then；〃　Tudor　said；　and　Von　Blix　nodded。　　〃And　if　Malaita　turns　out　as　well〃

Tudor　broke　off　and　looked　at　Joan。

〃It　was　the　tale　of　this　old　beachcomber　that　brought　us　here；〃　he　explained。　　〃Von　Blix　befriended　him　and　was　told　the　secret。〃　　He　turned　and　addressed　Sheldon。　　〃I　think　we　shall　prove　that　white　men　have　been　through　the　heart　of　Guadalcanar　long　before　the　time　of　the　Austrian　expedition。〃

Sheldon　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃We　have　never　heard　of　it　down　here；〃　he　said　simply。　　Then　he　addressed　Von　Blix。　　〃As　to　the　boys；　you　couldn't　use　them　farther　than　Binu；　and　I'll　lend　you　as　many　as　you　want　as　far　as　that。　How　many　of　your　party　are　going；　and　how　soon　will　you　start？〃

〃Ten；〃　said　Tudor；　〃nine　men　and　myself。〃

〃And　you　should　be　able　to　start　day　after　to…morrow；〃　Von　Blix　said　to　him。　　〃The　boats　should　practically　be　knocked　together　this　afternoon。　　To…morrow　should　see　the　outfit　portioned　and　packed。　　As　for　the　Martha；　Mr。　Sheldon；　we'll　rush　the　stuff　ashore　this　afternoon　and　sail　by　sundown。〃

As　the　two　men　returned　down　the　path　to　their　boat；　Sheldon　regarded　Joan　quizzically。

〃There's　romance　for　you；〃　he　said；　〃and　adventuregold…hunting　among　the　cannibals。〃

〃A　title　for　a　book；〃　she　cried。　　〃Or；　better　yet；　'Gold…Hunting　Among　the　Head…Hunters。'　　My！　wouldn't　it　sell！〃

〃And　now　aren't　you　sorry　you　became　a　cocoanut　planter？〃　he　teased。　　〃Think　of　investing　in　such　an　adventure。〃

〃If　I　did；〃　she　retorted；　〃Von　Blix　wouldn't　be　finicky　about　my　joining　in　the　cruise　to　Malaita。〃

〃I　don't　doubt　but　what　he　would　jump　at　it。〃

〃What　do　you　think　of　them？〃　she　asked。

〃Oh；　old　Von　Blix　is　all　right；　a　solid　sort　of　chap　in　his　fashion；　but　Tudor　is　fly…awaytoo　much　on　the　surface；　you　know。　If　it　came　to　being　wrecked　on　a　desert　island；　I'd　prefer　Von　Blix。〃

〃I　don't　quite　understand；〃　Joan　objected。　　〃What　have　you　against　Tudor？〃

〃You　remember　Browning's　'Last　Duchess'？〃

She　nodded。

〃Well；　Tudor　reminds　me　of　her〃

〃But　she　was　delightful。〃

〃So　she　was。　　But　she　was　a　woman。　　One　expects　something　different　from　a　manmore　control；　you　know；　more　restraint；　more　deliberation。　　A　man　must　be　more　solid；　more　solid　and　steady…　going　and　less　effervescent。　　A　man　of　Tudor's　type　gets　on　my　nerves。　　One　demands　more　repose　from　a　man。〃

Joan　felt　that　she　did　not　quite　agree　with　his　judgment；　and；　somehow；　Sheldon　caught　her　feeling　and　was　disturbed。　　He　remembered　noting　how　her　eyes　had　brightened　as　she　talked　with　the　newcomerconfound　it　all；　was　he　getting　jealous？　he　asked　himself。　　Why　shouldn't　her　eyes　brighten？　　What　concern　was　it　of　his？

A　second　boat　had　been　lowered；　and　the　outfit　of　the　shore　party　was　landed　rapidly。　　A　dozen　of　the　crew　put　the　knocked…down　boats　together　on　the　beach。　　There　were　five　of　these　craftlean　and　narrow；　with　flaring　sides；　and　remarkably　long。　　Each　was　equipped　with　three　paddles　and　several　iron…shod　poles。

〃You　chaps　certainly　seem　to　know　river…work；〃　Sheldon　told　one　of　the　carpenters。

The　man　spat　a　mouthful　of　tobacco…juice　into　the　white　sand；　and　answered；　…

〃We　use　'em　in　Alaska。　　They're　modelled　after　the　Yukon　poling…　boats；　and　you　can　bet　your　life　they're　crackerjacks。　　This　creek'll　be　a　snap　alongside　some　of　them　Northern　streams。　　Five　hundred　pounds　in　one　of　them　boats；　an'　two　men　can　snake　it　along　in　a　way　that'd　surprise　you。〃

At　sunset　the　Martha　broke　out　her　anchor　and　got　under　way；　dipping　her　flag　and　saluting　with　a　bomb　gun。　　The　Union　Jack　ran　up　and　down　the　staff；　and　Sheldon　replied　with　his　brass　signal…　cannon。　　The　miners　pitched　their　tents　in　the　compound；　and　cooked　on　the　beach；　while　Tudor　dined　with　Joan　and　Sheldon。

Their　guest　seemed　to　have　been　everywhere　and　seen　everything　and　met　everybody；　and；　encouraged　by　Joan；　his　talk　was　largely　upon　his　own　adventures。　　He　was　an　adventurer　of　adventurers；　and　by　his　own　account　had　been　born　into　adventure。　　Descended　from　old　New　England　stock；　his　father　a　consul…general；　he　had　been　born　in　Germany；　in　which　country　he　had　received　his　early　education　and　his　accent。　　Then；　still　a　boy；　he　had　rejoined　his　father　in　Turkey；　and　accompanied　him　later　to　Persia；　his　father　having　been　appointed　Minister　to　that　country。

Tudor　had　always　been　a　wanderer；　and　with　facile　wit　and　quick　vivid　description　he　leaped　from　episode　and　place　to　episode　and　place；　relating　his　experiences　seemingly　not　because　they　were　his；　but　for　the　sake　of　their　bizarreness　and　uniqueness；　for　the　unusual　incident　or　the　laughable　situation。　　He　had　gone　through　South　American　revolutions；　been　a　Rough　Rider　in　Cuba；　a　scout　in　South　Africa；　a　war　correspondent　in　the　Russo…Japanese　war。　　He　had　mushed　dogs　in　the　Klondike；　washed　gold　from　the　sands　of　Nome；　and　edited　a　newspaper　in　San　Francisco。　　The　President　of　the　United　States　was　his　friend。　　He　was　equally　at　home　in　the　clubs　of　London　and　the　Continent；　the　Grand　Hotel　at　Yokohama；　and　the　selector's　shanties　in　the　Never…Never　country。　　He　had　shot　big　game　in　Siam；　pearled　in　the　Paumotus；　visited　Tolstoy；　seen　the　Passion　Play；　and　crossed　the　Andes　on　mule…back；　while　he　was　a　living　directory　of　the　fever　holes　of　West　Africa。

Sheldon　leaned　back　in　his　chair　on　the　veranda；　sipping　his　coffee　and　listening。　　In　spite　of　himself　he　felt　touched　by　the　charm　of　the　man　who　had　led　so　v