adventure-第27章

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ns；　for　revolvers　from　thirty…two　calibre　to　forty…five；　shot…　gun　cartridges；　Joan's　two　boxes　of　thirty…eight；　cartridges　of　prodigious　bore　for　the　ancient　Sniders　of　Malaita；　flasks　of　black　powder；　sticks　of　dynamite；　yards　of　fuse；　and　boxes　of　detonators。　But　the　great　find　was　in　the　house　occupied　by　Gogoomy　and　five　Port　Adams　recruits。　　The　fact　that　the　boxes　yielded　nothing　excited　Sheldon's　suspicions；　and　he　gave　orders　to　dig　up　the　earthen　floor。　　Wrapped　in　matting；　well　oiled；　free　from　rust；　and　brand　new；　two　Winchesters　were　first　unearthed。　　Sheldon　did　not　recognize　them。　　They　had　not　come　from　Berande；　neither　had　the　forty　flasks　of　black　powder　found　under　the　corner…post　of　the　house；　and　while　he　could　not　be　sure；　he　could　remember　no　loss　of　eight　boxes　of　detonators。　　A　big　Colt's　revolver　he　recognized　as　Hughie　Drummond's；　while　Joan　identified　a　thirty…two　Ivor　and　Johnson　as　a　loss　reported　by　Matapuu　the　first　week　he　landed　at　Berande。　　The　absence　of　any　cartridges　made　Sheldon　persist　in　the　digging　up　of　the　floor；　and　a　fifty…pound　flour　tin　was　his　reward。　　With　glowering　eyes　Gogoomy　looked　on　while　Sheldon　took　from　the　tin　a　hundred　rounds　each　for　the　two　Winchesters　and　fully　as　many　rounds　more　of　nondescript　cartridges　of　all　sorts　and　makes　and　calibres。

The　contraband　and　stolen　property　was　piled　in　assorted　heaps　on　the　back　veranda　of　the　bungalow。　　A　few　paces　from　the　bottom　of　the　steps　were　grouped　the　forty…odd　culprits；　with　behind　them；　in　solid　array；　the　several　hundred　blacks　of　the　plantation。　　At　the　head　of　the　steps　Joan　and　Sheldon　were　seated；　while　on　the　steps　stood　the　gang…bosses。　　One　by　one　the　culprits　were　called　up　and　examined。　　Nothing　definite　could　be　extracted　from　them。　　They　lied　transparently；　but　persistently；　and　when　caught　in　one　lie　explained　it　away　with　half　a　dozen　others。　　One　boy　complacently　announced　that　he　had　found　eleven　sticks　of　dynamite　on　the　beach。　Matapuu's　revolver；　found　in　the　box　of　one　Kapu；　was　explained　away　by　that　boy　as　having　been　given　to　him　by　Lervumie。　Lervumie；　called　forth　to　testify；　said　he　had　got　it　from　Noni；　Noni　had　got　it　from　Sulefatoi；　Sulefatoi　from　Choka；　Choka　from　Ngava；　and　Ngava　completed　the　circle　by　stating　that　it　had　been　given　to　him　by　Kapu。　　Kapu；　thus　doubly　damned；　calmly　gave　full　details　of　how　it　had　been　given　to　him　by　Lervumie；　and　Lervumie；　with　equal　wealth　of　detail；　told　how　he　had　received　it　from　Noni；　and　from　Noni　to　Sulefatoi　it　went　on　around　the　circle　again。

Divers　articles　were　traced　indubitably　to　the　house…boys；　each　of　whom　steadfastly　proclaimed　his　own　innocence　and　cast　doubts　on　his　fellows。　　The　boy　with　the　billiard　ball　said　that　he　had　never　seen　it　in　his　life　before；　and　hazarded　the　suggestion　that　it　had　got　into　his　box　through　some　mysterious　and　occultly　evil　agency。　So　far　as　he　was　concerned　it　might　have　dropped　down　from　heaven　for　all　he　knew　how　it　got　there。　　To　the　cooks　and　boats'…crews　of　every　vessel　that　had　dropped　anchor　off　Berande　in　the　past　several　years　were　ascribed　the　arrival　of　scores　of　the　stolen　articles　and　of　the　major　portion　of　the　ammunition。　　There　was　no　tracing　the　truth　in　any　of　it；　though　it　was　without　doubt　that　the　unidentified　weapons　and　unfamiliar　cartridges　had　come　ashore　off　visiting　craft。

〃Look　at　it；〃　Sheldon　said　to　Joan。　　〃We've　been　sleeping　over　a　volcano。　　They　ought　to　be　whipped〃

〃No　whip　me；〃　Gogoomy　cried　out　from　below。　　〃Father　belong　me　big　fella　chief。　　Me　whip；　too　much　trouble　along　you；　close　up；　my　word。〃

〃What　name　you　fella　Gogoomy！〃　Sheldon　shouted。　　〃I　knock　seven　bells　out　of　you。　　Here；　you　Kwaque；　put　'm　irons　along　that　fella　Gogoomy。〃

Kwaque；　a　strapping　gang…boss；　plucked　Gogoomy　from　out　of　his　following；　and；　helped　by　the　other　gang…bosses；　twisted　his　arms　behind　him　and　snapped　on　the　heavy　handcuffs。

〃Me　finish　along　you；　close　up；　you　die　altogether；〃　Gogoomy；　with　wrath…distorted　face；　threatened　the　boss…boy。

〃Please；　no　whipping；〃　Joan　said　in　a　low　voice。　　〃If　whipping　IS　necessary；　send　them　to　Tulagi　and　let　the　Government　do　it。　　Give　them　their　choice　between　a　fine　or　an　official　whipping。〃

Sheldon　nodded　and　stood　up；　facing　the　blacks。

〃Manonmie！〃　he　called。

Manonmie　stood　forth　and　waited。

〃You　fella　boy　bad　fella　too　much；〃　Sheldon　charged。　　〃You　steal　'm　plenty。　　You　steal　'm　one　fella　towel；　one　fella　cane…knife；　two…　ten　fella　cartridge。　　My　word；　plenty　bad　fella　steal　'm　you。　　Me　cross　along　you　too　much。　　S'pose　you　like　'm；　me　take　'm　one　fella　pound　along　you　in　big　book。　　S'pose　you　no　like　'm　me　take　'm　one　fella　pound；　then　me　send　you　fella　along　Tulagi　catch　'm　one　strong　fella　government　whipping。　　Plenty　New　Georgia　boys；　plenty　Ysabel　boys　stop　along　jail　along　Tulagi。　　Them　fella　no　like　Malaita　boys　little　bit。　　My　word；　they　give　'm　you　strong　fella　whipping。　　What　you　say？〃

〃You　take　'm　one　fella　pound　along　me；〃　was　the　answer。

And　Manonmie；　patently　relieved；　stepped　back；　while　Sheldon　entered　the　fine　in　the　plantation　labour　journal。

Boy　after　boy；　he　called　the　offenders　out　and　gave　them　their　choice；　and；　boy　by　boy；　each　one　elected　to　pay　the　fine　imposed。　Some　fines　were　as　low　as　several　shillings；　while　in　the　more　serious　cases；　such　as　thefts　of　guns　and　ammunition；　the　fines　were　correspondingly　heavy。

Gogoomy　and　his　five　tribesmen　were　fined　three　pounds　each；　and　at　Gogoomy's　guttural　command　they　refused　to　pay。

〃S'pose　you　go　along　Tulagi；〃　Sheldon　warned　him；　〃you　catch　'm　strong　fella　whipping　and　you　stop　along　jail　three　fella　year。　Mr。　Burnett；　he　look　'm　along　Winchester；　look　'm　along　cartridge；　look　'm　along　revolver；　look　'm　along　black　powder；　look　'm　along　dynamitemy　word；　he　cross　too　much；　he　give　you　three　fella　year　along　jail。　　S'pose　you　no　like　'm　pay　three　fella　pound　you　stop　along　jail。　　Savvee？〃

Gogoomy　wavered。

〃It's　truethat's　what　Burnett　would　give　them；〃　Sheldon　said　in　an　aside　to　Joan。

〃You　take　'm　three　fella　pound　along　me；〃　Gogoomy　muttered；　at　the　same　time　scowling　his　hatred　at　Sheldon；　and　transferring　half　the　scowl　to　Joan　and　Kwaque。　　〃Me　finish　along　you；　you　catch　'm　big　fella　trouble；　my　word。　　Father　belong　me　big　fella　chief　along　Port　Adams。〃

〃That　will　do；〃　Sheldon　warned　him。　　〃You　shut　mouth　belong　you。〃

〃Me　no　fright；〃　the　son　of　a　chief　retorted；　by　his　insolence　increasing　his　stature　in　the　eyes　of　his　fellows。

〃Lock　him　up　for　to…night；〃　Sheldon　said　to　Kwaque。　　〃Sun　he　come　up　put　'm　that　fella　and　five　fella　belong　him　along　grass…cutting。　Savvee？〃

Kwaque　grinned。

〃Me　savvee；〃　he　said。　　〃Cut　'm　grass；　ngari…ngari　｛4｝　stop　'm　along　grass。　　My　word！〃

〃There　will　be　trouble　with　Gogoomy　yet；〃　Sheldon　said　to　Joan；　as　the　boss…boys　marshalled　their　gangs　and　led　them　away　to　their　work。　　〃Keep　an　eye　on　him。　　Be　careful　when　you　are　riding　alone　on　the　plantation。　　The　loss　of　those　Winchesters　and　all　that　ammunition　has　hit　him　harder　than　your　cuffing　did。　　He　is　dead…　ripe　for　mischief。〃



CHAPTER　XXIIGOGOOMY　FINISHES　ALONG　KWAQUE　ALTOGETHER



〃I　wonder　what　has　become　of　Tudor。　　It's　two　months　since　he　disappeared　into　the　bush；　and　not　a　word　of　him　after　he　left　Binu。〃

Joan　Lackland　was　sitting　astride　her　horse　by　the　bank　of　the　Balesuna　where　the　sweet　corn　had　been　planted；　and　Sheldon；　who　had　come　across　from　the　house　on　foot；　was　leaning　against　her　horse's　shoulder。

〃Yes；　it　is　along　time　for　no　news　to　have　trickled　down；〃　he　answered；　watching　her　keenly　from　under　his　hat…brim　and　wondering　as　to　the　measure　of　her　anxiety　for　the　adventurous　gold…hunter；　〃but　Tudor　will　come　out　all　right。　　He　did　a　thing　at　the　start　that　I　wouldn't　have　given　him　or　any　other　man　credit　for　persuaded　Binu　Charley　to　go　along　with　him。　　I'll　wager　no　other　Binu　nigger　has　ever　gone　so　far　into　the　bush　unless　to　be　kai…　kai'd。　　As　for　Tudor〃

〃Look！　　look！〃　Joan　cried　in　a　low　voice；　pointing　across　the　narrow　stream　to　a　slack　eddy　where　a　huge　crocodile　drifted　like　a　log　awash。　　〃My！　　I　wish　I　had　my　rifle。〃

The　crocodile；　leaving　scarcely　a　ripple　behind；　sank　down　and　disappeared。

〃A　Binu　man　was　in　early　this　morningfor　medicine；〃　Sheldon　remarked。　　〃It　may　have　been　that　very　brute　that　was　responsible。　A　dozen　of　the　Binu　women　were　out；　and　the　foremost　one　stepped　right　on　a　big　crocodile。　　It　was　by　the　edge　of　the　water；　and　he　tumbled　her　over　and　got　her　by　the　leg。　　All　the　other　women　got　hold　of　her　and　pulled。　　And　in　the　tug　of　war　she　lost　her　leg；　below　the　knee；　he　said。　　I　gave　him　a　stock　of　antiseptics。　She'll　pull　through；　I　fancy。〃

〃Ughthe　filthy　beasts；〃　Joan　gulped　shudderingly。　　〃I　hate　them！　I　hate　them！〃

〃And　yet　you　go　diving　among　sharks；〃　Sheldon　chided。

〃They're　only　fish…sharks。　　And　as　long　as　there　are　plenty　of　fish　there　is　no　danger。　　It　is　only　when　they're　famished　that　they're　liable　to　take　a　bite。〃

Sheldon　shuddered　inwardly　at　the　swift　vision　that　arose　of　the　dainty　flesh　of　her　in　a　shark's　many…toothed　maw。

〃I　wish　you　wouldn't；　just　the　same；〃　he　said　slowly。　　〃You　acknowledge　there　is　a　risk。〃

〃But　that's　half　the　fun　of　it；〃　she　cried。

A　trite　platitude　about　his　not　caring　to　lose　her　was　on　his　lips；　but　he　refrained　from　uttering　it。　　Another　conclusion　he　had　arrived　at　was　that　she　was　not　to　be　nagged。　　Continual；　or　even　occasional；　reminders　of　his　feeling　for　her　would　constitute　a　tactical　error　of　no　mean　dimensions。

〃Some　for　the　book　of　verse；　some　for　the　simple　life；　and　some　for　the　shark's　belly；〃　he　laughed　grimly；　then　added：　　〃Just　the　same；　I　wish　I　could　swim　as　well　as　you。　　Maybe　it　would　beget　confidence　such　as　you　have。〃

〃Do　you　know；　I　think　it　would　be　nice　to　be　married　to　a　man　such　as　you　seem　to　be　becoming；〃　she　remarked；　with　one　of　her　abrupt　changes　that　always　astounded　him。　　〃I　should　think　you　could　be　trained　into　a　very　good　husbandyou　know；　not　one　of　the　domineering　kind；　but　one　who　considered　his　wife　was　just　as　much　an　individual　as　himself　and　just　as　much　a　free　agent。　　Really；　you　know；　I　think　you　are　improving。〃

She　laughed　and　rode　away；　leaving　him　greatly　cast　down。　　If　he　had　thought　there　had　been　one　bit　of　coyness　in　her　words；　one　feminine　flutter；　one　womanly　attempt　at　deliberate　lure　and　encouragement；　he　would　have　been　elated。　　But　he　knew　absolutely　that　it　was　the　boy；　and　not　the　woman；　who　had　so　daringly　spoken。

Joan　rode　on　among　the　avenues　of　young　cocoanut…palms；　saw　a　hornbill；　followed　it　in　its　erratic　flights　to　the　high　forest　on　the　edge　of　the　plantation；　heard　the　cooing　of　wild　pigeons　and　located　them　in　the　deeper　woods；　followed　the　fresh　trail　of　a　wild　pig　for　a　distance；　circled　back；　and　took　the　narrow　path　for　the　bungalow　that　ran　through　twenty　acres　of　uncleared　cane。　　The　grass　was　waist…high　and　higher；　and　as　she　rode　along　she　remembered　that　Gogoomy　was　one　of　a　gang　of　boys　that　had　been　detailed　to　the　grass…cutting。　　She　came　to　where　they　had　been　at　work；　but　saw　no　signs　of　them。　　Her　unshod　horse　made　no　sound　on　the　soft；　sandy　footing；　and　a　little　further　on　she　heard　voice