adventure-第29章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　good　shot　at　Gogoomy；　only　I　miss。〃

〃But　you　killed　them；〃　Joan　chided。　　〃You　must　catch　them　alive。〃

The　Tahitian　smiled。

〃How？〃　he　queried。　　〃I　am　have　a　smoke。　　I　think　about　Tahiti；　and　breadfruit；　and　jolly　good　time　at　Bora　Bora。　　Quick；　just　like　that；　ten　boy　he　run　out　of　bush　for　me。　　Each　boy　have　long　knife。　Gogoomy　have　long　knife　one　hand；　and　Kwaque's　head　in　other　hand。　I　no　stop　to　catch　'm　alive。　　I　shoot　like　hell。　　How　you　catch　'm　alive；　ten　boy；　ten　long　knife；　and　Kwaque's　head？〃

The　scattered　paths　of　the　different　boys；　where　they　broke　back　after　the　disastrous　attempt　to　rush　the　Tahitian；　soon　led　together。　　They　traced　it　to　the　Berande；　which　the　runaways　had　crossed　with　the　clear　intention　of　burying　themselves　in　the　huge　mangrove　swamp　that　lay　beyond。

〃There　is　no　use　our　going　any　farther；〃　Sheldon　said。　　〃Seelee　will　turn　out　his　village　and　hunt　them　out　of　that。　　They'll　never　get　past　him。　　All　we　can　do　is　to　guard　the　coast　and　keep　them　from　breaking　back　on　the　plantation　and　running　amuck。　　Ah；　I　thought　so。〃

Against　the　jungle　gloom　of　the　farther　shore；　coming　from　down　stream；　a　small　canoe　glided。　　So　silently　did　it　move　that　it　was　more　like　an　apparition。　　Three　naked　blacks　dipped　with　noiseless　paddles。　　Long…hafted；　slender；　bone…barbed　throwing…spears　lay　along　the　gunwale　of　the　canoe；　while　a　quiverful　of　arrows　hung　on　each　man's　back。　　The　eyes　of　the　man…hunters　missed　nothing。　　They　had　seen　Sheldon　and　Joan　first；　but　they　gave　no　sign。　　Where　Gogoomy　and　his　followers　had　emerged　from　the　river；　the　canoe　abruptly　stopped；　then　turned　and　disappeared　into　the　deeper　mangrove　gloom。　　A　second　and　a　third　canoe　came　around　the　bend　from　below；　glided　ghostlike　to　the　crossing　of　the　runaways；　and　vanished　in　the　mangroves。

〃I　hope　there　won't　be　any　more　killing；〃　Joan　said；　as　they　turned　their　horses　homeward。

〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Sheldon　assured　her。　　〃My　understanding　with　old　Seelee　is　that　he　is　paid　only　for　live　boys；　so　he　is　very　careful。〃



CHAPTER　XXIIIA　MESSAGE　FROM　THE　BUSH



Never　had　runaways　from　Berande　been　more　zealously　hunted。　　The　deeds　of　Gogoomy　and　his　fellows　had　been　a　bad　example　for　the　one　hundred　and　fifty　new　recruits。　　Murder　had　been　planned；　a　gang…　boss　had　been　killed；　and　the　murderers　had　broken　their　contracts　by　fleeing　to　the　bush。　　Sheldon　saw　how　imperative　it　was　to　teach　his　new…caught　cannibals　that　bad　examples　were　disastrous　things　to　pattern　after；　and　he　urged　Seelee　on　night　and　day；　while　with　the　Tahitians　he　practically　lived　in　the　bush；　leaving　Joan　in　charge　of　the　plantation。　　To　the　north　Boucher　did　good　work；　twice　turning　the　fugitives　back　when　they　attempted　to　gain　the　coast。

One　by　one　the　boys　were　captured。　　In　the　first　man…drive　through　the　mangrove　swamp　Seelee　caught　two。　　Circling　around　to　the　north；　a　third　was　wounded　in　the　thigh　by　Boucher；　and　this　one；　dragging　behind　in　the　chase；　was　later　gathered　in　by　Seelee's　hunters。　　The　three　captives；　heavily　ironed；　were　exposed　each　day　in　the　compound；　as　good　examples　of　what　happened　to　bad　examples；　all　for　the　edification　of　the　seven　score　and　ten　half…wild　Poonga…Poonga　men。　　Then　the　Minerva；　running　past　for　Tulagi；　was　signalled　to　send　a　boat；　and　the　three　prisoners　were　carried　away　to　prison　to　await　trial。

Five　were　still　at　large；　but　escape　was　impossible。　　They　could　not　get　down　to　the　coast；　nor　dared　they　venture　too　far　inland　for　fear　of　the　wild　bushmen。　　Then　one　of　the　five　came　in　voluntarily　and　gave　himself　up；　and　Sheldon　learned　that　Gogoomy　and　two　others　were　all　that　were　at　large。　　There　should　have　been　a　fourth；　but　according　to　the　man　who　had　given　himself　up；　the　fourth　man　had　been　killed　and　eaten。　　It　had　been　fear　of　a　similar　fate　that　had　driven　him　in。　　He　was　a　Malu　man；　from　north…western　Malaita；　as　likewise　had　been　the　one　that　was　eaten。　Gogoomy's　two　other　companions　were　from　Port　Adams。　　As　for　himself；　the　black　declared　his　preference　for　government　trial　and　punishment　to　being　eaten　by　his　companions　in　the　bush。

〃Close　up　Gogoomy　kai…kai　me；〃　he　said。　　〃My　word；　me　no　like　boy　kai…kai　me。〃

Three　days　later　Sheldon　caught　one　of　the　boys；　helpless　from　swamp　fever；　and　unable　to　fight　or　run　away。　　On　the　same　day　Seelee　caught　the　second　boy　in　similar　condition。　　Gogoomy　alone　remained　at　large；　and；　as　the　pursuit　closed　in　on　him；　he　conquered　his　fear　of　the　bushmen　and　headed　straight　in　for　the　mountainous　backbone　of　the　island。　　Sheldon　with　four　Tahitians；　and　Seelee　with　thirty　of　his　hunters；　followed　Gogoomy's　trail　a　dozen　miles　into　the　open　grass…lands；　and　then　Seelee　and　his　people　lost　heart。　　He　confessed　that　neither　he　nor　any　of　his　tribe　had　ever　ventured　so　far　inland　before；　and　he　narrated；　for　Sheldon's　benefit；　most　horrible　tales　of　the　horrible　bushmen。　　In　the　old　days；　he　said；　they　had　crossed　the　grasslands　and　attacked　the　salt…water　natives；　but　since　the　coming　of　the　white　men　to　the　coast　they　had　remained　in　their　interior　fastnesses；　and　no　salt…water　native　had　ever　seen　them　again。

〃Gogoomy　he　finish　along　them　fella　bushmen；〃　he　assured　Sheldon。　〃My　word；　he　finish　close　up；　kai…kai　altogether。〃

So　the　expedition　turned　back。　　Nothing　could　persuade　the　coast　natives　to　venture　farther；　and　Sheldon；　with　his　four　Tahitians；　knew　that　it　was　madness　to　go　on　alone。　　So　he　stood　waist…deep　in　the　grass　and　looked　regretfully　across　the　rolling　savannah　and　the　soft…swelling　foothills　to　the　Lion's　Head；　a　massive　peak　of　rock　that　upreared　into　the　azure　from　the　midmost　centre　of　Guadalcanar；　a　landmark　used　for　bearings　by　every　coasting　mariner；　a　mountain　as　yet　untrod　by　the　foot　of　a　white　man。

That　night；　after　dinner；　Sheldon　and　Joan　were　playing　billiards；　when　Satan　barked　in　the　compound；　and　Lalaperu；　sent　to　see；　brought　back　a　tired　and　travel…stained　native；　who　wanted　to　talk　with　the　〃big　fella　white　marster。〃　　It　was　only　the　man's　insistence　that　procured　him　admittance　at　such　an　hour。　　Sheldon　went　out　on　the　veranda　to　see　him；　and　at　first　glance　at　the　gaunt　features　and　wasted　body　of　the　man　knew　that　his　errand　was　likely　to　prove　important。　　Nevertheless；　Sheldon　demanded　roughly；　…

〃What　name　you　come　along　house　belong　me　sun　he　go　down？〃

〃Me　Charley；〃　the　man　muttered　apologetically　and　wearily。　　〃Me　stop　along　Binu。〃

〃Ah；　Binu　Charley；　eh？　　Well；　what　name　you　talk　along　me？　　What　place　big　fella　marster　along　white　man　he　stop？〃

Joan　and　Sheldon　together　listened　to　the　tale　Binu　Charley　had　brought。　　He　described　Tudor's　expedition　up　the　Balesuna；　the　dragging　of　the　boats　up　the　rapids；　the　passage　up　the　river　where　it　threaded　the　grass…lands；　the　innumerable　washings　of　gravel　by　the　white　men　in　search　of　gold；　the　first　rolling　foothills；　the　man…traps　of　spear…staked　pits　in　the　jungle　trails；　the　first　meeting　with　the　bushmen；　who　had　never　seen　tobacco；　and　knew　not　the　virtues　of　smoking；　their　friendliness；　the　deeper　penetration　of　the　interior　around　the　flanks　of　the　Lion's　Head；　the　bush…　sores　and　the　fevers　of　the　white　men；　and　their　madness　in　trusting　the　bushmen。

〃Allee　time　I　talk　along　white　fella　marster；〃　he　said。　　〃Me　talk；　'That　fella　bushman　he　look　'm　eye　belong　him。　　He　savvee　too　much。　S'pose　musket　he　stop　along　you；　that　fella　bushman　he　too　much　good　friend　along　you。　　Allee　time　he　look　sharp　eye　belong　him。　S'pose　musket　he　no　stop　along　you；　my　word；　that　fella　bushman　he　chop　'm　off　head　belong　you。　　He　kai…kai　you　altogether。'〃

But　the　patience　of　the　bushmen　had　exceeded　that　of　the　white　men。　The　weeks　had　gone　by；　and　no　overt　acts　had　been　attempted。　　The　bushmen　swarmed　in　the　camp　in　increasing　numbers；　and　they　were　always　making　presents　of　yams　and　taro；　of　pig　and　fowl；　and　of　wild　fruits　and　vegetables。　　Whenever　the　gold…hunters　moved　their　camp；　the　bushmen　volunteered　to　carry　the　luggage。　　And　the　white　men　waxed　ever　more　careless。　　They　grew　weary　prospecting；　and　at　the　same　time　carrying　their　rifles　and　the　heavy　cartridge…belts；　and　the　practice　began　of　leaving　their　weapons　behind　them　in　camp。

〃I　tell　'm　plenty　fella　white　marster　look　sharp　eye　belong　him。　And　plenty　fella　white　marster　make　'm　big　laugh　along　me；　say　Binu　Charley　allee　same　pickaninnymy　word；　they　speak　along　me　allee　same　pickaninny。〃

Came　the　morning　when　Binu　Charley　noticed　that　the　women　and　children　had　disappeared。　　Tudor；　at　the　time；　was　lying　in　a　stupor　with　fever　in　a　late　camp　five　miles　away；　the　main　camp　having　moved　on　those　five　miles　in　order　to　prospect　an　outcrop　of　likely　quartz。　　Binu　Charley　was　midway　between　the　two　camps　when　the　absence　of　the　women　and　children　struck　him　as　suspicious。

〃My　word；〃　he　said；　〃me　t'ink　like　hell。　　Him　black　Mary；　him　pickaninny；　walk　about　long　way　big　bit。　　What　name？　　Me　savvee　too　much　trouble　close　up。　　Me　fright　like　hell。　　Me　run。　　My　word；　me　run。〃

Tudor；　quite　unconscious；　was　slung　across　his　shoulder；　and　carried　a　mile　down　the　trail。　　Here；　hiding　new　trail；　Binu　Charley　had　carried　him　for　a　quarter　of　a　mile　into　the　heart　of　the　deepest　jungle；　and　hidden　him　in　a　big　banyan　tree。　　Returning　to　try　to　save　the　rifles　and　personal　outfit；　Binu　Charley　had　seen　a　party　of　bushmen　trotting　down　the　trail；　and　had　hidden　in　the　bush。　　Here；　and　from　the　direction　of　the　main　camp；　he　had　heard　two　rifle　shots。　　And　that　was　all。　　He　had　never　seen　the　white　men　again；　nor　had　he　ventured　near　their　old　camp。　　He　had　gone　back　to　Tudor；　and　hidden　with　him　for　a　week；　living　on　wild　fruits　and　the　few　pigeons　and　cockatoos　he　had　been　able　to　shoot　with　bow　and　arrow。　　Then　he　had　journeyed　down　to　Berande　to　bring　the　news。　　Tudor；　he　said；　was　very　sick；　lying　unconscious　for　days　at　a　time；　and；　when　in　his　right　mind；　too　weak　to　help　himself。

〃What　name　you　no　kill　'm　that　big　fella　marster？〃　Joan　demanded。　〃He　have　'm　good　fella　musket；　plenty　calico；　plenty　tobacco；　plenty　knife…fee；　and　two　fella　pickaninny　musket　shoot　quick；　bang…bang…bangjust　like　that。〃

The　black　smiled　cunningly。

〃Me　savvee　too　much。　　S'pose　me　kill　'm　big　fella　marster；　bimeby　plenty　white　fella　marster　walk　about　Binu　cross　like　hell。　　'What　name　this　fellow　musket？'　those　plenty　fella　white　marster　talk　'm　along　me。　　My　word；　Binu　Charley　finish　altogether。　　S'pose　me　kill　'm　him；　no　good　along　me。　　Plenty　white　fella　marster　cross　along　me。　　S'pose　me　no　kill　'm　him；　bimeby　he　give　me　plenty　tobacco；　plenty　calico；　plenty　everything　too　much。〃

〃There　is　only　the　one　thing　to　do；〃　Sheldon　said　to　Joan。

She　drummed　with　her　hand　and　waited；　while　Binu　Charley　gazed　wearily　at　her　with　unblinking　eyes。

〃I'll　start　the　first　thing　in　the　morning；〃　Sheldon　said。

〃We'll　start；〃　she　corrected。　　〃I　can　get　twice　as　much　out　of　my　Tahitians　as　you　can；　and；　besides；　one　white　should　never　be　alone　under　such　circumstances。〃

He　shrugged　his　shoulders　in　token；　not　of　consent；　but　of　surrender；　knowing　the　uselessness　of　attempting　to　argue　the　question　with　her；　and　consoling　himself　with　the　reflection　that　heaven　alone　knew　what　adventures