adventure-第26章

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t。　　It　is　my　dearest　desire。〃

He　paused　and　looked　at　her　with　intent　significance；　but　it　was　plain　to　him　that　she　thought　there　was　nothing　more　at　issue　than　mutual　confidences　about　things　in　general。

〃Yes；　go　ahead；〃　she　said；　a　trifle　impatient　at　his　delay。

〃I　love　to　think　of　the　success　of　Berande；〃　he　said；　〃but　that　is　secondary。　　It　is　subordinate　to　the　dearest　wish；　which　is　that　some　day　you　will　share　Berande　with　me　in　a　completer　way　than　that　of　mere　business　partnership。　　It　is　for　you；　some　day；　when　you　are　ready；　to　be　my　wife。〃

She　started　back　from　him　as　if　she　had　been　stung。　　Her　face　went　white　on　the　instant；　not　from　maidenly　embarrassment；　but　from　the　anger　which　he　could　see　flaming　in　her　eyes。

〃This　taking　for　granted！this　when　I　am　ready！〃　she　cried　passionately。　　Then　her　voice　swiftly　became　cold　and　steady；　and　she　talked　in　the　way　he　imagined　she　must　have　talked　business　with　Morgan　and　Raff　at　Guvutu。　　〃Listen　to　me；　Mr。　Sheldon。　　I　like　you　very　well；　though　you　are　slow　and　a　muddler；　but　I　want　you　to　understand；　once　and　for　all；　that　I　did　not　come　to　the　Solomons　to　get　married。　　That　is　an　affliction　I　could　have　accumulated　at　home；　without　sailing　ten　thousand　miles　after　it。　I　have　my　own　way　to　make　in　the　world；　and　I　came　to　the　Solomons　to　do　it。　　Getting　married　is　not　making　MY　way　in　the　world。　　It　may　do　for　some　women；　but　not　for　me；　thank　you。　　When　I　sit　down　to　talk　over　the　freight　on　copra；　I　don't　care　to　have　proposals　of　marriage　sandwiched　in。　　Besidesbesides〃

Her　voice　broke　for　the　moment；　and　when　she　went　on　there　was　a　note　of　appeal　in　it　that　well…nigh　convicted　him　to　himself　of　being　a　brute。

〃Don't　you　see？it　spoils　everything；　it　makes　the　whole　situation　impossible　。　。　。　and　。　。　。　and　I　so　loved　our　partnership；　and　was　proud　of　it。　　Don't　you　see？I　can't　go　on　being　your　partner　if　you　make　love　to　me。　　And　I　was　so　happy。〃

Tears　of　disappointment　were　in　her　eyes；　and　she　caught　a　swift　sob　in　her　throat。

〃I　warned　you；〃　he　said　gravely。　　〃Such　unusual　situations　between　men　and　women　cannot　endure。　　I　told　you　so　at　the　beginning。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　it　is　quite　clear　to　me　what　you　did。〃　　She　was　angry　again；　and　the　feminine　appeal　had　disappeared。　　〃You　were　very　discreet　in　your　warning。　　You　took　good　care　to　warn　me　against　every　other　man　in　the　Solomons　except　yourself。〃

It　was　a　blow　in　the　face　to　Sheldon。　　He　smarted　with　the　truth　of　it；　and　at　the　same　time　he　smarted　with　what　he　was　convinced　was　the　injustice　of　it。　　A　gleam　of　triumph　that　flickered　in　her　eye　because　of　the　hit　she　had　made　decided　him。

〃It　is　not　so　one…sided　as　you　seem　to　think　it　is；〃　he　began。　　〃I　was　doing　very　nicely　on　Berande　before　you　came。　　At　least　I　was　not　suffering　indignities；　such　as　being　accused　of　cowardly　conduct；　as　you　have　just　accused　me。　　Rememberplease　remember；　I　did　not　invite　you　to　Berande。　　Nor　did　I　invite　you　to　stay　on　at　Berande。　　It　was　by　staying　that　you　brought　about　thisto　you　unpleasant　situation。　　By　staying　you　made　yourself　a　temptation；　and　now　you　would　blame　me　for　it。　　I　did　not　want　you　to　stay。　　I　wasn't　in　love　with　you　then。　　I　wanted　you　to　go　to　Sydney；　to　go　back　to　Hawaii。　　But　you　insisted　on　staying。　　You　virtually〃

He　paused　for　a　softer　word　than　the　one　that　had　risen　to　his　lips；　and　she　took　it　away　from　him。

〃Forced　myself　on　youthat's　what　you　meant　to　say；〃　she　cried；　the　flags　of　battle　painting　her　cheeks。　　〃Go　ahead。　　Don't　mind　my　feelings。〃

〃All　right；　I　won't；〃　he　said　decisively；　realizing　that　the　discussion　was　in　danger　of　becoming　a　vituperative；　schoolboy　argument。　　〃You　have　insisted　on　being　considered　as　a　man。　Consistency　would　demand　that　you　talk　like　a　man；　and　like　a　man　listen　to　man…talk。　　And　listen　you　shall。　　It　is　not　your　fault　that　this　unpleasantness　has　arisen。　　I　do　not　blame　you　for　anything；　remember　that。　　And　for　the　same　reason　you　should　not　blame　me　for　anything。〃

He　noticed　her　bosom　heaving　as　she　sat　with　clenched　hands；　and　it　was　all　he　could　do　to　conquer　the　desire　to　flash　his　arms　out　and　around　her　instead　of　going　on　with　his　coolly　planned　campaign。　As　it　was；　he　nearly　told　her　that　she　was　a　most　adorable　boy。　But　he　checked　all　such　wayward　fancies；　and　held　himself　rigidly　down　to　his　disquisition。

〃You　can't　help　being　yourself。　　You　can't　help　being　a　very　desirable　creature　so　far　as　I　am　concerned。　　You　have　made　me　want　you。　　You　didn't　intend　to；　you　didn't　try　to。　　You　were　so　made；　that　is　all。　　And　I　was　so　made　that　I　was　ripe　to　want　you。　　But　I　can't　help　being　myself。　　I　can't　by　an　effort　of　will　cease　from　wanting　you；　any　more　than　you　by　an　effort　of　will　can　make　yourself　undesirable　to　me。〃

〃Oh；　this　desire！　this　want！　want！　want！〃　she　broke　in　rebelliously。　　〃I　am　not　quite　a　fool。　　I　understand　some　things。　And　the　whole　thing　is　so　foolish　and　absurdand　uncomfortable。　　I　wish　I　could　get　away　from　it。　　I　really　think　it　would　be　a　good　idea　for　me　to　marry　Noa　Noah；　or　Adamu　Adam；　or　Lalaperu　there；　or　any　black　boy。　　Then　I　could　give　him　orders；　and　keep　him　penned　away　from　me；　and　men　like　you　would　leave　me　alone；　and　not　talk　marriage　and　'I　want；　I　want。'〃

Sheldon　laughed　in　spite　of　himself；　and　far　from　any　genuine　impulse　to　laugh。

〃You　are　positively　soulless；〃　he　said　savagely。

〃Because　I've　a　soul　that　doesn't　yearn　for　a　man　for　master？〃　she　took　up　the　gage。　　〃Very　well；　then。　　I　am　soulless；　and　what　are　you　going　to　do　about　it？〃

〃I　am　going　to　ask　you　why　you　look　like　a　woman？　　Why　have　you　the　form　of　a　woman？　the　lips　of　a　woman？　the　wonderful　hair　of　a　woman？　　And　I　am　going　to　answer：　　because　you　are　a　womanthough　the　woman　in　you　is　asleepand　that　some　day　the　woman　will　wake　up。〃

〃Heaven　forbid！〃　she　cried；　in　such　sudden　and　genuine　dismay　as　to　make　him　laugh；　and　to　bring　a　smile　to　her　own　lips　against　herself。

〃I've　got　some　more　to　say　to　you；〃　Sheldon　pursued。　　〃I　did　try　to　protect　you　from　every　other　man　in　the　Solomons；　and　from　yourself　as　well。　　As　for　me；　I　didn't　dream　that　danger　lay　in　that　quarter。　　So　I　failed　to　protect　you　from　myself。　　I　failed　to　protect　you　at　all。　　You　went　your　own　wilful　way；　just　as　though　I　didn't　existwrecking　schooners；　recruiting　on　Malaita；　and　sailing　schooners；　one　lone；　unprotected　girl　in　the　company　of　some　of　the　worst　scoundrels　in　the　Solomons。　　Fowler！　and　Brahms！　and　Curtis！　　And　such　is　the　perverseness　of　human　natureI　am　frank；　you　seeI　love　you　for　that　too。　　I　love　you　for　all　of　you；　just　as　you　are。〃

She　made　a　moue　of　distaste　and　raised　a　hand　protestingly。

〃Don't；〃　he　said。　　〃You　have　no　right　to　recoil　from　the　mention　of　my　love　for　you。　　Remember　this　is　a　man…talk。　　From　the　point　of　view　of　the　talk；　you　are　a　man。　　The　woman　in　you　is　only　incidental；　accidental；　and　irrelevant。　　You've　got　to　listen　to　the　bald　statement　of　fact；　strange　though　it　is；　that　I　love　you。〃

〃And　now　I　won't　bother　you　any　more　about　love。　　We'll　go　on　the　same　as　before。　　You　are　better　off　and　safer　on　Berande；　in　spite　of　the　fact　that　I　love　you；　than　anywhere　else　in　the　Solomons。　But　I　want　you；　as　a　final　item　of　man…talk；　to　remember；　from　time　to　time；　that　I　love　you；　and　that　it　will　be　the　dearest　day　of　my　life　when　you　consent　to　marry　me。　　I　want　you　to　think　of　it　sometimes。　　You　can't　help　but　think　of　it　sometimes。　　And　now　we　won't　talk　about　it　any　more。　　As　between　men；　there's　my　hand。〃

He　held　out　his　hand。　　She　hesitated；　then　gripped　it　heartily；　and　smiled　through　her　tears。

〃I　wish〃　she　faltered；　〃I　wish；　instead　of　that　black　Mary；　you'd　given　me　somebody　to　swear　for　me。〃

And　with　this　enigmatic　utterance　she　turned　away。



CHAPTER　XXICONTRABAND



Sheldon　did　not　mention　the　subject　again；　nor　did　his　conduct　change　from　what　it　had　always　been。　　There　was　nothing　of　the　pining　lover；　nor　of　the　lover　at　all；　in　his　demeanour。　　Nor　was　there　any　awkwardness　between　them。　　They　were　as　frank　and　friendly　in　their　relations　as　ever。　　He　had　wondered　if　his　belligerent　love　declaration　might　have　aroused　some　womanly　self…　consciousness　in　Joan；　but　he　looked　in　vain　for　any　sign　of　it。　She　appeared　as　unchanged　as　he；　and　while　he　knew　that　he　hid　his　real　feelings；　he　was　firm　in　his　belief　that　she　hid　nothing。　　And　yet　the　germ　he　had　implanted　must　be　at　work；　he　was　confident　of　that；　though　he　was　without　confidence　as　to　the　result。　　There　was　no　forecasting　this　strange　girl's　processes。　　She　might　awaken；　it　was　true；　and　on　the　other　hand；　and　with　equal　chance；　he　might　be　the　wrong　man　for　her；　and　his　declaration　of　love　might　only　more　firmly　set　her　in　her　views　on　single　blessedness。

While　he　devoted　more　and　more　of　his　time　to　the　plantation　itself；　she　took　over　the　house　and　its　multitudinous　affairs；　and　she　took　hold　firmly；　in　sailor　fashion；　revolutionizing　the　system　and　discipline。　　The　labour　situation　on　Berande　was　improving。　The　Martha　had　carried　away　fifty　of　the　blacks　whose　time　was　up；　and　they　had　been　among　the　worst　on　the　plantationfive…year　men　recruited　by　Billy　Be…blowed；　men　who　had　gone　through　the　old　days　of　terrorism　when　the　original　owners　of　Berande　had　been　driven　away。　　The　new　recruits；　being　broken　in　under　the　new　regime；　gave　better　promise。　　Joan　had　joined　with　Sheldon　from　the　start　in　the　programme　that　they　must　be　gripped　with　the　strong　hand；　and　at　the　same　time　be　treated　with　absolute　justice；　if　they　were　to　escape　being　contaminated　by　the　older　boys　that　still　remained。

〃I　think　it　would　be　a　good　idea　to　put　all　the　gangs　at　work　close　to　the　house　this　afternoon；〃　she　announced　one　day　at　breakfast。　〃I've　cleaned　up　the　house；　and　you　ought　to　clean　up　the　barracks。　There　is　too　much　stealing　going　on。〃

〃A　good　idea；〃　Sheldon　agreed。　　〃Their　boxes　should　be　searched。　I've　just　missed　a　couple　of　shirts；　and　my　best　toothbrush　is　gone。〃

〃And　two　boxes　of　my　cartridges；〃　she　added；　〃to　say　nothing　of　handkerchiefs；　towels；　sheets；　and　my　best　pair　of　slippers。　　But　what　they　want　with　your　toothbrush　is　more　than　I　can　imagine。　They'll　be　stealing　the　billiard　balls　next。〃

〃One　did　disappear　a　few　weeks　before　you　came；〃　Sheldon　laughed。　〃We'll　search　the　boxes　this　afternoon。〃

And　a　busy　afternoon　it　was。　　Joan　and　Sheldon；　both　armed；　went　through　the　barracks；　house　by　house；　the　boss…boys　assisting；　and　half　a　dozen　messengers；　in　relay；　shouting　along　the　line　the　names　of　the　boys　wanted。　　Each　boy　brought　the　key　to　his　particular　box；　and　was　permitted　to　look　on　while　the　contents　were　overhauled　by　the　boss…boys。

A　wealth　of　loot　was　recovered。　　There　were　fully　a　dozen　cane…　knivesbig　hacking　weapons　with　razor…edges；　capable　of　decapitating　a　man　at　a　stroke。　　Towels；　sheets；　shirts；　and　slippers；　along　with　toothbrushes；　wisp…brooms；　soap；　the　missing　billiard　ball；　and　all　the　lost　and　forgotten　trifles　of　many　months；　came　to　light。　　But　most　astonishing　was　the　quantity　of　ammunition…cartridges　for　Lee…Metfords；　for　Winchesters　and　Marlins；　for　revolvers　from　thirty…two　calibre　to　forty…five；　shot…　gun　cartridges；　Joan's　two　boxes　of　t