adventure-第25章

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　the　same　if　she　had　not　been　his　partner。　　And　in　the　saving　of　the　Martha　he　had　played　no　part。　　Single…handed；　unadvised；　in　the　teeth　of　the　laughter　of　Guvutu　and　of　the　competition　of　men　like　Morgan　and　Raff；　she　had　gone　into　the　adventure　and　brought　it　through　to　success。

〃You　make　me　feel　like　a　big　man　who　has　robbed　a　small　child　of　a　lolly；〃　he　said　with　sudden　contrition。

〃And　the　small　child　is　crying　for　it。〃　　She　looked　at　him；　and　he　noted　that　her　lip　was　slightly　trembling　and　that　her　eyes　were　moist。　　It　was　the　boy　all　over；　he　thought；　the　boy　crying　for　the　wee　bit　boat　with　which　to　play。　　And　yet　it　was　a　woman；　too。　What　a　maze　of　contradiction　she　was！　　And　he　wondered；　had　she　been　all　woman　and　no　boy；　if　he　would　have　loved　her　in　just　the　same　way。　　Then　it　rushed　in　upon　his　consciousness　that　he　really　loved　her　for　what　she　was；　for　all　the　boy　in　her　and　all　the　rest　of　herfor　the　total　of　her　that　would　have　been　a　different　total　in　direct　proportion　to　any　differing　of　the　parts　of　her。

〃But　the　small　child　won't　cry　any　more　for　it；〃　she　was　saying。　〃This　is　the　last　sob。　　Some　day；　if　Kinross　doesn't　lose　her；　you'll　turn　her　over　to　your　partner；　I　know。　　And　I　won't　nag　you　any　more。　　Only　I　do　hope　you　know　how　I　feel。　　It　isn't　as　if　I'd　merely　bought　the　Martha；　or　merely　built　her。　　I　saved　her。　　I　took　her　off　the　reef。　　I　saved　her　from　the　grave　of　the　sea　when　fifty…five　pounds　was　considered　a　big　risk。　　She　is　mine；　peculiarly　mine。　　Without　me　she　wouldn't　exist。　　That　big　nor'wester　would　have　finished　her　the　first　three　hours　it　blew。　And　then　I've　sailed　her；　too；　and　she　is　a　witch；　a　perfect　witch。　Why；　do　you　know；　she'll　steer　by　the　wind　with　half　a　spoke；　give　and　take。　　And　going　about！　　Well；　you　don't　have　to　baby　her；　starting　head…sheets；　flattening　mainsail；　and　gentling　her　with　the　wheel。　　Put　your　wheel　down；　and　around　she　comes；　like　a　colt　with　the　bit　in　its　teeth。　　And　you　can　back　her　like　a　steamer。　　I　did　it　at　Langa…Langa；　between　that　shoal　patch　and　the　shore…reef。　It　was　wonderful。

〃But　you　don't　love　boats　like　I　do；　and　I　know　you　think　I'm　making　a　fool　of　myself。　　But　some　day　I'm　going　to　sail　the　Martha　again。　　I　know　it。　　I　know　it。〃

In　reply；　and　quite　without　premeditation；　his　hand　went　out　to　hers；　covering　it　as　it　lay　on　the　railing。　　But　he　knew；　beyond　the　shadow　of　a　doubt；　that　it　was　the　boy　that　returned　the　pressure　he　gave；　the　boy　sorrowing　over　the　lost　toy。　　The　thought　chilled　him。　　Never　had　he　been　actually　nearer　to　her；　and　never　had　she　been　more　convincingly　remote。　　She　was　certainly　not　acutely　aware　that　his　hand　was　touching　hers。　　In　her　grief　at　the　departure　of　the　Martha　it　was；　to　her；　anybody's　handat　the　best；　a　friend's　hand。

He　withdrew　his　hand　and　walked　perturbedly　away。

〃Why　hasn't　he　got　that　big　fisherman's　staysail　on　her？〃　she　demanded　irritably。　　〃It　would　make　the　old　girl　just　walk　along　in　this　breeze。　　I　know　the　sort　old　Kinross　is。　　He's　the　skipper　that　lies　three　days　under　double…reefed　topsails　waiting　for　a　gale　that　doesn't　come。　　Safe？　　Oh；　yes；　he's　safedangerously　safe。〃

Sheldon　retraced　his　steps。

〃Never　mind；〃　he　said。　　〃You　can　go　sailing　on　the　Martha　any　time　you　pleaserecruiting　on　Malaita　if　you　want　to。〃

It　was　a　great　concession　he　was　making；　and　he　felt　that　he　did　it　against　his　better　judgment。　　Her　reception　of　it　was　a　surprise　to　him。

〃With　old　Kinross　in　command？〃　she　queried。　　〃No；　thank　you。　　He'd　drive　me　to　suicide。　　I　couldn't　stand　his　handling　of　her。　　It　would　give　me　nervous　prostration。　　I'll　never　step　on　the　Martha　again；　unless　it　is　to　take　charge　of　her。　　I'm　a　sailor；　like　my　father；　and　he　could　never　bear　to　see　a　vessel　mishandled。　　Did　you　see　the　way　Kinross　got　under　way？　　It　was　disgraceful。　　And　the　noise　he　made　about　it！　　Old　Noah　did　better　with　the　Ark。〃

〃But　we　manage　to　get　somewhere　just　the　same；〃　he　smiled。

〃So　did　Noah。〃

〃That　was　the　main　thing。〃

〃For　an　antediluvian。〃

She　took　another　lingering　look　at　the　Martha；　then　turned　to　Sheldon。

〃You　are　a　slovenly　lot　down　here　when　it　comes　to　boatsmost　of　you　are；　any　way。　　Christian　Young　is　all　right　though；　Munster　has　a　slap…dash　style　about　him；　and　they　do　say　old　Nielsen　was　a　crackerjack。　　But　with　the　rest　I've　seen；　there's　no　dash；　no　go；　no　cleverness；　no　real　sailor's　pride。　　It's　all　hum…drum；　and　podgy；　and　slow…going；　any　going　so　long　as　you　get　there　heaven　knows　when。　　But　some　day　I'll　show　you　how　the　Martha　should　be　handled。　　I'll　break　out　anchor　and　get　under　way　in　a　speed　and　style　that　will　make　your　head　hum；　and　I'll　bring　her　alongside　the　wharf　at　Guvutu　without　dropping　anchor　and　running　a　line。〃

She　came　to　a　breathless　pause；　and　then　broke　into　laughter；　directed；　he　could　see；　against　herself。

〃Old　Kinross　is　setting　that　fisherman's　staysail；〃　he　remarked　quietly。

〃No！〃　she　cried　incredulously；　swiftly　looking；　then　running　for　the　telescope。

She　regarded　the　manoeuvre　steadily　through　the　glass；　and　Sheldon；　watching　her　face；　could　see　that　the　skipper　was　not　making　a　success　of　it。

She　finally　lowered　the　glass　with　a　groan。

〃He's　made　a　mess　of　it；〃　she　said；　〃and　now　he's　trying　it　over　again。　　And　a　man　like　that　is　put　in　charge　of　a　fairy　like　the　Martha！　　Well；　it's　a　good　argument　against　marriage；　that's　all。　No；　I　won't　look　any　more。　　Come　on　in　and　play　a　steady；　conservative　game　of　billiards　with　me。　　And　after　that　I'm　going　to　saddle　up　and　go　after　pigeons。　　Will　you　come　along？〃

An　hour　later；　just　as　they　were　riding　out　of　the　compound；　Joan　turned　in　the　saddle　for　a　last　look　at　the　Martha；　a　distant　speck　well　over　toward　the　Florida　coast。

〃Won't　Tudor　be　surprised　when　he　finds　we　own　the　Martha？〃　she　laughed。　　〃Think　of　it！　　If　he　doesn't　strike　pay…dirt　he'll　have　to　buy　a　steamer…passage　to　get　away　from　the　Solomons。〃

Still　laughing　gaily；　she　rode　through　the　gate。　　But　suddenly　her　laughter　broke　flatly　and　she　reined　in　the　mare。　　Sheldon　glanced　at　her　sharply；　and　noted　her　face　mottling；　even　as　he　looked；　and　turning　orange　and　green。

〃It's　the　fever；〃　she　said。　　〃I'll　have　to　turn　back。〃

By　the　time　they　were　in　the　compound　she　was　shivering　and　shaking；　and　he　had　to　help　her　from　her　horse。

〃Funny；　isn't　it？〃　she　said　with　chattering　teeth。　　〃Like　seasicknessnot　serious；　but　horribly　miserable　while　it　lasts。　I'm　going　to　bed。　　Send　Noa　Noah　and　Viaburi　to　me。　　Tell　Ornfiri　to　make　hot　water。　　I'll　be　out　of　my　head　in　fifteen　minutes。　　But　I'll　be　all　right　by　evening。　　Short　and　sharp　is　the　way　it　takes　me。　　Too　bad　to　lose　the　shooting。　　Thank　you；　I'm　all　right。〃

Sheldon　obeyed　her　instructions；　rushed　hot…water　bottles　along　to　her；　and　then　sat　on　the　veranda　vainly　trying　to　interest　himself　in　a　two…months…old　file　of　Sydney　newspapers。　　He　kept　glancing　up　and　across　the　compound　to　the　grass　house。　　Yes；　he　decided；　the　contention　of　every　white　man　in　the　islands　was　right；　the　Solomons　was　no　place　for　a　woman。

He　clapped　his　hands；　and　Lalaperu　came　running。

〃Here；　you！〃　he　ordered；　〃go　along　barracks；　bring　'm　black　fella　Mary；　plenty　too　much；　altogether。〃

A　few　minutes　later　the　dozen　black　women　of　Berande　were　ranged　before　him。　　He　looked　them　over　critically；　finally　selecting　one　that　was　young；　comely　as　such　creatures　went；　and　whose　body　bore　no　signs　of　skin…disease。

〃What　name；　you？〃　he　demanded。　　〃Sangui？〃

〃Me　Mahua；〃　was　the　answer。

〃All　right；　you　fella　Mahua。　　You　finish　cook　along　boys。　　You　stop　along　white　Mary。　　All　the　time　you　stop　along。　　You　savvee？〃

〃Me　savvee；〃　she　grunted；　and　obeyed　his　gesture　to　go　to　the　grass　house　immediately。

〃What　name？〃　he　asked　Viaburi；　who　had　just　come　out　of　the　grass　house。

〃Big　fella　sick；〃　was　the　answer。　　〃White　fella　Mary　talk　'm　too　much　allee　time。　　Allee　time　talk　'm　big　fella　schooner。〃

Sheldon　nodded。　　He　understood。　　It　was　the　loss　of　the　Martha　that　had　brought　on　the　fever。　　The　fever　would　have　come　sooner　or　later；　he　knew；　but　her　disappointment　had　precipitated　it。　　He　lighted　a　cigarette；　and　in　the　curling　smoke　of　it　caught　visions　of　his　English　mother；　and　wondered　if　she　would　understand　how　her　son　could　love　a　woman　who　cried　because　she　could　not　be　skipper　of　a　schooner　in　the　cannibal　isles。



CHAPTER　XXA　MAN…TALK



The　most　patient　man　in　the　world　is　prone　to　impatience　in　love　and　Sheldon　was　in　love。　　He　called　himself　an　ass　a　score　of　times　a　day；　and　strove　to　contain　himself　by　directing　his　mind　in　other　channels；　but　more　than　a　score　of　times　each　day　his　thoughts　roved　back　and　dwelt　on　Joan。　　It　was　a　pretty　problem　she　presented；　and　he　was　continually　debating　with　himself　as　to　what　was　the　best　way　to　approach　her。

He　was　not　an　adept　at　love…making。　　He　had　had　but　one　experience　in　the　gentle　art　（in　which　he　had　been　more　wooed　than　wooing）；　and　the　affair　had　profited　him　little。　　This　was　another　affair；　and　he　assured　himself　continually　that　it　was　a　uniquely　different　and　difficult　affair。　　Not　only　was　here　a　woman　who　was　not　bent　on　finding　a　husband；　but　it　was　a　woman　who　wasn't　a　woman　at　all；　who　was　genuinely　appalled　by　the　thought　of　a　husband；　who　joyed　in　boys'　games；　and　sentimentalized　over　such　things　as　adventure；　who　was　healthy　and　normal　and　wholesome；　and　who　was　so　immature　that　a　husband　stood　for　nothing　more　than　an　encumbrance　in　her　cherished　scheme　of　existence。

But　how　to　approach　her？　　He　divined　the　fanatical　love　of　freedom　in　her；　the　deep…seated　antipathy　for　restraint　of　any　sort。　　No　man　could　ever　put　his　arm　around　her　and　win　her。　　She　would　flutter　away　like　a　frightened　bird。　　Approach　by　contactthat；　he　realized；　was　the　one　thing　he　must　never　do。　　His　hand…clasp　must　be　what　it　had　always　been；　the　hand…clasp　of　hearty　friendship　and　nothing　more。　　Never　by　action　must　he　advertise　his　feeling　for　her。　　Remained　speech。　　But　what　speech？　　Appeal　to　her　love？　　But　she　did　not　love　him。　　Appeal　to　her　brain？　　But　it　was　apparently　a　boy's　brain。　　All　the　deliciousness　and　fineness　of　a　finely　bred　woman　was　hers；　but；　for　all　he　could　discern；　her　mental　processes　were　sexless　and　boyish。　　And　yet　speech　it　must　be；　for　a　beginning　had　to　be　made　somewhere；　some　time；　her　mind　must　be　made　accustomed　to　the　idea；　her　thoughts　turned　upon　the　matter　of　marriage。

And　so　he　rode　overseeing　about　the　plantation；　with　tightly　drawn　and　puckered　brows；　puzzling　over　the　problem；　and　steeling　himself　to　the　first　attempt。　　A　dozen　ways　he　planned　an　intricate　leading　up　to　the　first　breaking　of　the　ice；　and　each　time　some　link　in　the　chain　snapped　and　the　talk　went　off　on　unexpected　and　irrelevant　lines。　　And　then　one　morning；　quite　fortuitously；　the　opportunity　came。

〃My　dearest　wish　is　the　success　of　Berande；〃　Joan　had　just　said；　apropos　of　a　discussion　about　the　cheapening　of　freights　on　copra　to　market。

〃Do　you　mind　if　I　tell　you　the　dearest　wish　of　my　heart？〃　he　promptly　returned。　　〃I　long　for　it。　　I　dream　about　it。　　It　is　my　dearest　desire。〃

He　paused　and　looked　at　her　with　intent　significance；　but　it　was　pl