adventure-第18章

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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　varied　a　life。　　And　yet　Sheldon　was　not　comfortable。　　It　seemed　to　him　that　the　man　addressed　himself　particularly　to　Joan。　　His　words　and　smiles　were　directed　impartially　toward　both　of　them；　yet　Sheldon　was　certain；　had　the　two　men　of　them　been　alone；　that　the　conversation　would　have　been　along　different　lines。　　Tudor　had　seen　the　effect　on　Joan　and　deliberately　continued　the　flow　of　reminiscence；　netting　her　in　the　glamour　of　romance。　　Sheldon　watched　her　rapt　attention；　listened　to　her　spontaneous　laughter；　quick　questions；　and　passing　judgments；　and　felt　grow　within　him　the　dawning　consciousness　that　he　loved　her。

So　he　was　very　quiet　and　almost　sad；　though　at　times　he　was　aware　of　a　distinct　irritation　against　his　guest；　and　he　even　speculated　as　to　what　percentage　of　Tudor's　tale　was　true　and　how　any　of　it　could　be　proved　or　disproved。　　In　this　connection；　as　if　the　scene　had　been　prepared　by　a　clever　playwright；　Utami　came　upon　the　veranda　to　report　to　Joan　the　capture　of　a　crocodile　in　the　trap　they　had　made　for　her。

Tudor's　face；　illuminated　by　the　match　with　which　he　was　lighting　his　cigarette；　caught　Utami's　eye；　and　Utami　forgot　to　report　to　his　mistress。

〃Hello；　Tudor；〃　he　said；　with　a　familiarity　that　startled　Sheldon。

The　Polynesian's　hand　went　out；　and　Tudor；　shaking　it；　was　staring　into　his　face。

〃Who　is　it？　〃　he　asked。　　〃I　can't　see　you。〃

〃Utami。〃

〃And　who　the　dickens　is　Utami？　　Where　did　I　ever　meet　you；　my　man？〃

〃You　no　forget　the　Huahine？〃　Utami　chided。　　〃Last　time　Huahine　sail？〃

Tudor　gripped　the　Tahitian's　hand　a　second　time　and　shook　it　with　genuine　heartiness。

〃There　was　only　one　kanaka　who　came　out　of　the　Huahine　that　last　voyage；　and　that　kanaka　was　Joe。　　The　deuce　take　it；　man；　I'm　glad　to　see　you；　though　I　never　heard　your　new　name　before。〃

〃Yes；　everybody　speak　me　Joe　along　the　Huahine。　　Utami　my　name　all　the　time；　just　the　same。〃

〃But　what　are　you　doing　here？〃　Tudor　asked；　releasing　the　sailor's　hand　and　leaning　eagerly　forward。

〃Me　sail　along　Missie　Lackalanna　her　schooner　Miele。　　We　go　Tahiti；　Raiatea；　Tahaa；　Bora…Bora；　Manua；　Tutuila；　Apia；　Savaii；　and　Fiji　Islandsplenty　Fiji　Islands。　　Me　stop　along　Missie　Lackalanna　in　Solomons。　　Very　soon　she　catch　other　schooner。〃

〃He　and　I　were　the　two　survivors　of　the　wreck　of　the　Huahine；〃　Tudor　explained　to　the　others。　　〃Fifty…seven　all　told　on　board　when　we　sailed　from　Huapa；　and　Joe　and　I　were　the　only　two　that　ever　set　foot　on　land　again。　　Hurricane；　you　know；　in　the　Paumotus。　　That　was　when　I　was　after　pearls。〃

〃And　you　never　told　me；　Utami；　that　you'd　been　wrecked　in　a　hurricane；〃　Joan　said　reproachfully。

The　big　Tahitian　shifted　his　weight　and　flashed　his　teeth　in　a　conciliating　smile。

〃Me　no　t'ink　nothing　't　all；〃　he　said。

He　half…turned；　as　if　to　depart；　by　his　manner　indicating　that　he　considered　it　time　to　go　while　yet　he　desired　to　remain。

〃All　right；　Utami；〃　Tudor　said。　　〃I'll　see　you　in　the　morning　and　have　a　yarn。〃

〃He　saved　my　life；　the　beggar；〃　Tudor　explained；　as　the　Tahitian　strode　away　and　with　heavy　softness　of　foot　went　down　the　steps。　〃Swim！　　I　never　met　a　better　swimmer。〃

And　thereat；　solicited　by　Joan；　Tudor　narrated　the　wreck　of　the　Huahine；　while　Sheldon　smoked　and　pondered；　and　decided　that　whatever　the　man's　shortcomings　were；　he　was　at　least　not　a　liar。



CHAPTER　XVA　DISCOURSE　ON　MANNERS



The　days　passed；　and　Tudor　seemed　loath　to　leave　the　hospitality　of　Berande。　　Everything　was　ready　for　the　start；　but　he　lingered　on；　spending　much　time　in　Joan's　company　and　thereby　increasing　the　dislike　Sheldon　had　taken　to　him。　　He　went　swimming　with　her；　in　point　of　rashness　exceeding　her；　and　dynamited　fish　with　her；　diving　among　the　hungry　ground…sharks　and　contesting　with　them　for　possession　of　the　stunned　prey；　until　he　earned　the　approval　of　the　whole　Tahitian　crew。　　Arahu　challenged　him　to　tear　a　fish　from　a　shark's　jaws；　leaving　half　to　the　shark　and　bringing　the　other　half　himself　to　the　surface；　and　Tudor　performed　the　feat；　a　flip　from　the　sandpaper　hide　of　the　astonished　shark　scraping　several　inches　of　skin　from　his　shoulder。　　And　Joan　was　delighted；　while　Sheldon；　looking　on；　realized　that　here　was　the　hero　of　her　adventure…dreams　coming　true。　　She　did　not　care　for　love；　but　he　felt　that　if　ever　she　did　love　it　would　be　that　sort　of　a　man〃a　man　who　exhibited；〃　was　his　way　of　putting　it。

He　felt　himself　handicapped　in　the　presence　of　Tudor；　who　had　the　gift　of　making　a　show　of　all　his　qualities。　　Sheldon　knew　himself　for　a　brave　man；　wherefore　he　made　no　advertisement　of　the　fact。　He　knew　that　just　as　readily　as　the　other　would　he　dive　among　ground…sharks　to　save　a　life；　but　in　that　fact　he　could　find　no　sanction　for　the　foolhardy　act　of　diving　among　sharks　for　the　half　of　a　fish。　　The　difference　between　them　was　that　he　kept　the　curtain　of　his　shop　window　down。　　Life　pulsed　steadily　and　deep　in　him；　and　it　was　not　his　nature　needlessly　to　agitate　the　surface　so　that　the　world　could　see　the　splash　he　was　making。　　And　the　effect　of　the　other's　amazing　exhibitions　was　to　make　him　retreat　more　deeply　within　himself　and　wrap　himself　more　thickly　than　ever　in　the　nerveless；　stoical　calm　of　his　race。

〃You　are　so　stupid　the　last　few　days；〃　Joan　complained　to　him。　〃One　would　think　you　were　sick；　or　bilious；　or　something。　　You　don't　seem　to　have　an　idea　in　your　head　above　black　labour　and　cocoanuts。　　What　is　the　matter？〃

Sheldon　smiled　and　beat　a　further　retreat　within　himself；　listening　the　while　to　Joan　and　Tudor　propounding　the　theory　of　the　strong　arm　by　which　the　white　man　ordered　life　among　the　lesser　breeds。　As　he　listened　Sheldon　realized；　as　by　revelation；　that　that　was　precisely　what　he　was　doing。　　While　they　philosophized　about　it　he　was　living　it；　placing　the　strong　hand　of　his　race　firmly　on　the　shoulders　of　the　lesser　breeds　that　laboured　on　Berande　or　menaced　it　from　afar。　　But　why　talk　about　it？　he　asked　himself。　　It　was　sufficient　to　do　it　and　be　done　with　it。

He　said　as　much；　dryly　and　quietly；　and　found　himself　involved　in　a　discussion；　with　Joan　and　Tudor　siding　against　him；　in　which　a　more　astounding　charge　than　ever　he　had　dreamed　of　was　made　against　the　very　English　control　and　reserve　of　which　he　was　secretly　proud。

〃The　Yankees　talk　a　lot　about　what　they　do　and　have　done；〃　Tudor　said；　〃and　are　looked　down　upon　by　the　English　as　braggarts。　　But　the　Yankee　is　only　a　child。　　He　does　not　know　effectually　how　to　brag。　　He　talks　about　it；　you　see。　　But　the　Englishman　goes　him　one　better　by　not　talking　about　it。　　The　Englishman's　proverbial　lack　of　bragging　is　a　subtler　form　of　brag　after　all。　　It　is　really　clever；　as　you　will　agree。〃

〃I　never　thought　of　it　before；〃　Joan　cried。　　〃Of　course。　　An　Englishman　performs　some　terrifically　heroic　exploit；　and　is　very　modest　and　reservedrefuses　to　talk　about　it　at　alland　the　effect　is　that　by　his　silence　he　as　much　as　says；　'I　do　things　like　this　every　day。　　It　is　as　easy　as　rolling　off　a　log。　　You　ought　to　see　the　really　heroic　things　I　could　do　if　they　ever　came　my　way。　But　this　little　thing；　this　little　episodereally；　don't　you　know；　I　fail　to　see　anything　in　it　remarkable　or　unusual。'　　As　for　me；　if　I　went　up　in　a　powder　explosion；　or　saved　a　hundred　lives；　I'd　want　all　my　friends　to　hear　about　it；　and　their　friends　as　well。　　I'd　be　prouder　than　Lucifer　over　the　affair。　　Confess；　Mr。　Sheldon；　don't　you　feel　proud　down　inside　when　you've　done　something　daring　or　courageous？〃

Sheldon　nodded。

〃Then；〃　she　pressed　home　the　point；　〃isn't　disguising　that　pride　under　a　mask　of　careless　indifference　equivalent　to　telling　a　lie？〃

〃Yes；　it　is；〃　he　admitted。　　〃But　we　tell　similar　lies　every　day。　It　is　a　matter　of　training；　and　the　English　are　better　trained；　that　is　all。　　Your　countrymen　will　be　trained　as　well　in　time。　　As　Mr。　Tudor　said；　the　Yankees　are　young。〃

〃Thank　goodness　we　haven't　begun　to　tell　such　lies　yet！〃　was　Joan's　ejaculation。

〃Oh；　but　you　have；〃　Sheldon　said　quickly。　　〃You　were　telling　me　a　lie　of　that　order　only　the　other　day。　　You　remember　when　you　were　going　up　the　lantern…halyards　hand　over　hand？　　Your　face　was　the　personification　of　duplicity。〃

〃It　was　no　such　thing。〃

〃Pardon　me　a　moment；〃　he　went　on。　　〃Your　face　was　as　calm　and　peaceful　as　though　you　were　reclining　in　a　steamer…chair。　　To　look　at　your　face　one　would　have　inferred　that　carrying　the　weight　of　your　body　up　a　rope　hand　over　hand　was　a　very　commonplace　accomplishmentas　easy　as　rolling　off　a　log。　　And　you　needn't　tell　me；　Miss　Lackland；　that　you　didn't　make　faces　the　first　time　you　tried　to　climb　a　rope。　　But；　like　any　circus　athlete；　you　trained　yourself　out　of　the　face…making　period。　　You　trained　your　face　to　hide　your　feelings；　to　hide　the　exhausting　effort　your　muscles　were　making。　　It　was；　to　quote　Mr。　Tudor；　a　subtler　exhibition　of　physical　prowess。　　And　that　is　all　our　English　reserve　isa　mere　matter　of　training。　　Certainly　we　are　proud　inside　of　the　things　we　do　and　have　done；　proud　as　Luciferyes；　and　prouder。　　But　we　have　grown　up；　and　no　longer　talk　about　such　things。〃

〃I　surrender；〃　Joan　cried。　　〃You　are　not　so　stupid　after　all。〃

〃Yes；　you　have　us　there；〃　Tudor　admitted。　　〃But　you　wouldn't　have　had　us　if　you　hadn't　broken　your　training　rules。〃

〃How　do　you　mean？〃

〃By　talking　about　it。〃

Joan　clapped　her　hands　in　approval。　　Tudor　lighted　a　fresh　cigarette；　while　Sheldon　sat　on；　imperturbably　silent。

〃He　got　you　there；〃　Joan　challenged。　　〃Why　don't　you　crush　him？〃

〃Really；　I　can't　think　of　anything　to　say；〃　Sheldon　said。　　〃I　know　my　position　is　sound；　and　that　is　satisfactory　enough。〃

〃You　might　retort；〃　she　suggested；　〃that　when　an　adult　is　with　kindergarten　children　he　must　descend　to　kindergarten　idioms　in　order　to　make　himself　intelligible。　　That　was　why　you　broke　training　rules。　　It　was　the　only　way　to　make　us　children　understand。〃

〃You've　deserted　in　the　heat　of　the　battle；　Miss　Lackland；　and　gone　over　to　the　enemy；〃　Tudor　said　plaintively。

But　she　was　not　listening。　　Instead；　she　was　looking　intently　across　the　compound　and　out　to　sea。　　They　followed　her　gaze；　and　saw　a　green　light　and　the　loom　of　a　vessel's　sails。

〃I　wonder　if　it's　the　Martha　come　back；〃　Tudor　hazarded。

〃No；　the　sidelight　is　too　low；〃　Joan　answered。　　〃Besides；　they've　got　the　sweeps　out。　　Don't　you　hear　them？　　They　wouldn't　be　sweeping　a　big　vessel　like　the　Martha。〃

〃Besides；　the　Martha　has　a　gasoline　enginetwenty…five　horse…　power；〃　Tudor　added。

〃Just　the　sort　of　a　craft　for　us；〃　Joan　said　wistfully　to　Sheldon。　〃I　really　must　see　if　I　can't　get　a　schooner　with　an　engine。　　I　might　get　a　second…hand　engine　put　in。〃

〃That　would　mean　the　additional　expense　of　an　engineer's　wages；〃　he　objected。

〃But　it　would　pay　for　itself　by　quicker　passages；〃　she　argued；　〃and　it　would　be　as　good　as　insurance。　　I　know。　　I've　knocked　about　amongst　reefs　myself。　　Besides；　if　you　weren't　so　mediaeval；　I　could　be　skipper　and　save　more　than　the　engineer's　wages。〃

He　did　not　reply　to　her　thrust；　and　she　glanced　at　him。　　He　was　looking　out　over