adventure-第24章

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Lackland；　'is　a　hostage。'〃

〃'That's　what　they　do　in　books；'　I　said；　thinking　to　laugh　her　away　from　her　folly；〃　Munster　interrupted。　　〃'True；'　says　she；　'and　have　you　never　seen　the　books　come　true？'　　I　shook　my　head。　　'Then　you're　not　too　old　to　learn；'　says　she。　　'I'll　tell　you　one　thing　right　now；'　says　I；　'and　that　is　I'll　be　blowed　if　you　catch　me　ashore　in　the　night…time　stealing　niggers　in　a　place　like　this。'〃

〃You　didn't　say　blowed；〃　Sparrowhawk　corrected。　　〃You　said　you'd　be　damned。〃

〃That's　what　I　did；　and　I　meant　it；　too。〃

〃'Nobody　asked　you　to　go　ashore；'　says　she；　quick　as　lightning；〃　Sparrowhawk　grinned。　　〃And　she　said　more。　　She　said；　'And　if　I　catch　you　going　ashore　without　orders　there'll　be　trouble　understand；　Captain　Munster？'〃

〃Who　in　hell's　telling　this；　you　or　me？〃　the　skipper　demanded　wrathfully。

〃Well；　she　did；　didn't　she？〃　insisted　the　mate。

〃Yes；　she　did；　if　you　want　to　make　so　sure　of　it。　　And　while　you're　about　it；　you　might　as　well　repeat　what　she　said　to　you　when　you　said　you　wouldn't　recruit　on　the　Poonga…Poonga　coast　for　twice　your　screw。〃

Sparrowhawk's　sun…reddened　face　flamed　redder；　though　he　tried　to　pass　the　situation　off　by　divers　laughings　and　chucklings　and　face…　twistings。

〃Go　on；　go　on；〃　Sheldon　urged；　and　Munster　resumed　the　narrative。

〃'What　we　need；'　says　she；　'is　the　strong　hand。　　It's　the　only　way　to　handle　them；　and　we've　got　to　take　hold　firm　right　at　the　beginning。　　I'm　going　ashore　to…night　to　fetch　Kina…Kina　himself　on　board；　and　I'm　not　asking　who's　game　to　go　for　I've　got　every　man's　work　arranged　with　me　for　him。　　I'm　taking　my　sailors　with　me；　and　one　white　man。'　　'Of　course；　I'm　that　white　man；'　I　said；　for　by　that　time　I　was　mad　enough　to　go　to　hell　and　back　again。　　'Of　course　you're　not；'　says　she。　　'You'll　have　charge　of　the　covering　boat。　　Curtis　stands　by　the　landing　boat。　　Fowler　goes　with　me。　Brahms　takes　charge　of　the　Flibberty；　and　Sparrowhawk　of　the　Emily。　And　we　start　at　one　o'clock。'

〃My　word；　it　was　a　tough　job　lying　there　in　the　covering　boat。　　I　never　thought　doing　nothing　could　be　such　hard　work。　　We　stopped　about　fifty　fathoms　off；　and　watched　the　other　boat　go　in。　　It　was　so　dark　under　the　mangroves　we　couldn't　see　a　thing　of　it。　　D'ye　know　that　little；　monkey…looking　nigger；　Sheldon；　on　the　Flibberty…　…the　cook；　I　mean？　　Well；　he　was　cabin…boy　twenty　years　ago　on　the　Scottish　Chiefs；　and　after　she　was　cut　off　he　was　a　slave　there　at　Poonga…Poonga。　　And　Miss　Lackland　had　discovered　the　fact。　　So　he　was　the　guide。　　She　gave　him　half　a　case　of　tobacco　for　that　night's　work〃

〃And　scared　him　fit　to　die　before　she　could　get　him　to　come　along；〃　Sparrowhawk　observed。

〃Well；　I　never　saw　anything　so　black　as　the　mangroves。　　I　stared　at　them　till　my　eyes　were　ready　to　burst。　　And　then　I'd　look　at　the　stars；　and　listen　to　the　surf　sighing　along　the　reef。　　And　there　was　a　dog　that　barked。　　Remember　that　dog；　Sparrowhawk？　　The　brute　nearly　gave　me　heart…failure　when　he　first　began。　　After　a　while　he　stoppedwasn't　barking　at　the　landing　party　at　all；　and　then　the　silence　was　harder　than　ever；　and　the　mangroves　grew　blacker；　and　it　was　all　I　could　do　to　keep　from　calling　out　to　Curtis　in　there　in　the　landing　boat；　just　to　make　sure　that　I　wasn't　the　only　white　man　left　alive。

〃Of　course　there　was　a　row。　　It　had　to　come；　and　I　knew　it；　but　it　startled　me　just　the　same。　　I　never　heard　such　screeching　and　yelling　in　my　life。　　The　niggers　must　have　just　dived　for　the　bush　without　looking　to　see　what　was　up；　while　her　Tahitians　let　loose；　shooting　in　the　air　and　yelling　to　hurry　'em　on。　　And　then；　just　as　sudden；　came　the　silence　againall　except　for　some　small　kiddie　that　had　got　dropped　in　the　stampede　and　that　kept　crying　in　the　bush　for　its　mother。

〃And　then　I　heard　them　coming　through　the　mangroves；　and　an　oar　strike　on　a　gunwale；　and　Miss　Lackland　laugh；　and　I　knew　everything　was　all　right。　　We　pulled　on　board　without　a　shot　being　fired。　And；　by　God！　she　had　made　the　books　come　true；　for　there　was　old　Kina…Kina　himself　being　hoisted　over　the　rail；　shivering　and　chattering　like　an　ape。　　The　rest　was　easy。　　Kina…Kina's　word　was　law；　and　he　was　scared　to　death。　　And　we　kept　him　on　board　issuing　proclamations　all　the　time　we　were　in　Poonga…Poonga。

〃It　was　a　good　move；　too；　in　other　ways。　　She　made　Kina…Kina　order　his　people　to　return　all　the　gear　they'd　stripped　from　the　Martha。　And　back　it　came；　day　after　day；　steering　compasses；　blocks　and　tackles；　sails；　coils　of　rope；　medicine　chests；　ensigns；　signal　flagseverything；　in　fact；　except　the　trade　goods　and　supplies　which　had　already　been　kai…kai'd。　　Of　course；　she　gave　them　a　few　sticks　of　tobacco　to　keep　them　in　good　humour。〃

〃Sure　she　did；〃　Sparrowhawk　broke　forth。　　〃She　gave　the　beggars　five　fathoms　of　calico　for　the　big　mainsail；　two　sticks　of　tobacco　for　the　chronometer；　and　a　sheath…knife　worth　elevenpence　ha'penny　for　a　hundred　fathoms　of　brand　new　five…inch　manila。　　She　got　old　Kina…Kina　with　that　strong　hand　on　the　go　off；　and　she　kept　him　going　all　the　time。　　Shehere　she　comes　now。〃

It　was　with　a　shock　of　surprise　that　Sheldon　greeted　her　appearance。　　All　the　time；　while　the　tale　of　happening　at　Poonga…　Poonga　had　been　going　on；　he　had　pictured　her　as　the　woman　he　had　always　known；　clad　roughly；　skirt　made　out　of　window…curtain　stuff；　an　undersized　man's　shirt　for　a　blouse；　straw　sandals　for　foot　covering；　with　the　Stetson　hat　and　the　eternal　revolver　completing　her　costume。　　The　ready…made　clothes　from　Sydney　had　transformed　her。　　A　simple　skirt　and　shirt…waist　of　some　sort　of　wash…goods　set　off　her　trim　figure　with　a　hint　of　elegant　womanhood　that　was　new　to　him。　　Brown　slippers　peeped　out　as　she　crossed　the　compound；　and　he　once　caught　a　glimpse　to　the　ankle　of　brown　open…work　stockings。　Somehow；　she　had　been　made　many　times　the　woman　by　these　mere　extraneous　trappings；　and　in　his　mind　these　wild　Arabian　Nights　adventures　of　hers　seemed　thrice　as　wonderful。

As　they　went　in　to　breakfast　he　became　aware　that　Munster　and　Sparrowhawk　had　received　a　similar　shock。　　All　their　air　of　camaraderie　was　dissipated；　and　they　had　become　abruptly　and　immensely　respectful。

〃I've　opened　up　a　new　field；〃　she　said；　as　she　began　pouring　the　coffee。　　〃Old　Kina…Kina　will　never　forget　me；　I'm　sure；　and　I　can　recruit　there　whenever　I　want。　　I　saw　Morgan　at　Guvutu。　　He's　willing　to　contract　for　a　thousand　boys　at　forty　shillings　per　head。　　Did　I　tell　you　that　I'd　taken　out　a　recruiting　license　for　the　Martha？　　I　did；　and　the　Martha　can　sign　eighty　boys　every　trip。

Sheldon　smiled　a　trifle　bitterly　to　himself。　　The　wonderful　woman　who　had　tripped　across　the　compound　in　her　Sydney　clothes　was　gone；　and　he　was　listening　to　the　boy　come　back　again。



CHAPTER　XIXTHE　LOST　TOY



〃Well；〃　Joan　said　with　a　sigh；　〃I've　shown　you　hustling　American　methods　that　succeed　and　get　somewhere；　and　here　you　are　beginning　your　muddling　again。〃

Five　days　had　passed；　and　she　and　Sheldon　were　standing　on　the　veranda　watching　the　Martha；　close…hauled　on　the　wind；　laying　a　tack　off　shore。　　During　those　five　days　Joan　had　never　once　broached　the　desire　of　her　heart；　though　Sheldon；　in　this　particular　instance　reading　her　like　a　book；　had　watched　her　lead　up　to　the　question　a　score　of　times　in　the　hope　that　he　would　himself　suggest　her　taking　charge　of　the　Martha。　　She　had　wanted　him　to　say　the　word；　and　she　had　steeled　herself　not　to　say　it　herself。　　The　matter　of　finding　a　skipper　had　been　a　hard　one。　　She　was　jealous　of　the　Martha；　and　no　suggested　man　had　satisfied　her。

〃Oleson？〃　she　had　demanded。　　〃He　does　very　well　on　the　Flibberty；　with　me　and　my　men　to　overhaul　her　whenever　she's　ready　to　fall　to　pieces　through　his　slackness。　　But　skipper　of　the　Martha？　Impossible！〃

〃Munster？　　Yes；　he's　the　only　man　I　know　in　the　Solomons　I'd　care　to　see　in　charge。　　And　yet；　there's　his　record。　　He　lost　the　Umbawaone　hundred　and　forty　drowned。　　He　was　first　officer　on　the　bridge。　　Deliberate　disobedience　to　instructions。　　No　wonder　they　broke　him。

〃Christian　Young　has　never　had　any　experience　with　large　boats。　Besides；　we　can't　afford　to　pay　him　what　he's　clearing　on　the　Minerva。　　Sparrowhawk　is　a　good　manto　take　orders。　　He　has　no　initiative。　　He's　an　able　sailor；　but　he　can't　command。　　I　tell　you　I　was　nervous　all　the　time　he　had　charge　of　the　Flibberty　at　Poonga…Poonga　when　I　had　to　stay　by　the　Martha。〃

And　so　it　had　gone。　　No　name　proposed　was　satisfactory；　and；　moreover；　Sheldon　had　been　surprised　by　the　accuracy　of　her　judgments。　　A　dozen　times　she　almost　drove　him　to　the　statement　that　from　the　showing　she　made　of　Solomon　Islands　sailors；　she　was　the　only　person　fitted　to　command　the　Martha。　　But　each　time　he　restrained　himself；　while　her　pride　prevented　her　from　making　the　suggestion。

〃Good　whale…boat　sailors　do　not　necessarily　make　good　schooner…　handlers；〃　she　replied　to　one　of　his　arguments。　　〃Besides；　the　captain　of　a　boat　like　the　Martha　must　have　a　large　mind；　see　things　in　a　large　way；　he　must　have　capacity　and　enterprise。〃

〃But　with　your　Tahitians　on　board〃　Sheldon　had　begun　another　argument。

〃There　won't　be　any　Tahitians　on　board；〃　she　had　returned　promptly。　〃My　men　stay　with　me。　　I　never　know　when　I　may　need　them。　　When　I　sail；　they　sail；　when　I　remain　ashore；　they　remain　ashore。　　I'll　find　plenty　for　them　to　do　right　here　on　the　plantation。　　You've　seen　them　clearing　bush；　each　of　them　worth　half　a　dozen　of　your　cannibals。〃

So　it　was　that　Joan　stood　beside　Sheldon　and　sighed　as　she　watched　the　Martha　beating　out　to　sea；　old　Kinross；　brought　over　from　Savo；　in　command。

〃Kinross　is　an　old　fossil；〃　she　said；　with　a　touch　of　bitterness　in　her　voice。　　〃Oh；　he'll　never　wreck　her　through　rashness；　rest　assured　of　that；　but　he's　timid　to　childishness；　and　timid　skippers　lose　just　as　many　vessels　as　rash　ones。　　Some　day；　Kinross　will　lose　the　Martha　because　there'll　be　only　one　chance　and　he'll　be　afraid　to　take　it。　　I　know　his　sort。　　Afraid　to　take　advantage　of　a　proper　breeze　of　wind　that　will　fetch　him　in　in　twenty　hours；　he'll　get　caught　out　in　the　calm　that　follows　and　spend　a　whole　week　in　getting　in。　　The　Martha　will　make　money　with　him；　there's　no　doubt　of　it；　but　she　won't　make　near　the　money　that　she　would　under　a　competent　master。〃

She　paused；　and　with　heightened　colour　and　sparkling　eyes　gazed　seaward　at　the　schooner。

〃My！　but　she　is　a　witch！　　Look　at　her　eating　up　the　water；　and　there's　no　wind　to　speak　of。　　She's　not　got　ordinary　white　metal　either。　　It's　man…of…war　copper；　every　inch　of　it。　　I　had　them　polish　it　with　cocoanut　husks　when　she　was　careened　at　Poonga…　Poonga。　　She　was　a　seal…hunter　before　this　gold　expedition　got　her。　And　seal…hunters　had　to　sail。　　They've　run　away　from　second　class　Russian　cruisers　more　than　once　up　there　off　Siberia。

〃Honestly；　if　I'd　dreamed　of　the　chance　waiting　for　me　at　Guvutu　when　I　bought　her　for　less　than　three　hundred　dollars；　I'd　never　have　gone　partners　with　you。　　And　in　that　case　I'd　be　sailing　her　right　now。

The　justice　of　her　contention　came　abruptly　home　to　Sheldon。　　What　she　had　done　she　would　have　done　just　the　same　if　she　had　not　been　his　partner。　　And　in　the　saving　of　the　Martha　he　had　played　no　part。