adventure-第3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！


fella　Arunga。　　All　right。　　Arunga　pay　that　fella　case　tobacco。　Six　pounds　that　fella　Arunga　pay。　　Alle　same　one　year　more　that　fella　Arunga　work　Berande。　　All　right。　　Now　he　catch　ten　fella　whip　three　times。　　You　fella　Billy　catch　whip；　give　that　fella　Arunga　ten　fella　three　times。　　All　fella　boys　look　see；　all　fella　Marys　｛3｝　look　see；　bime　bye；　they　like　run　away　they　think　strong　fella　too　much；　no　run　away。　　Billy；　strong　fella　too　much　ten　fella　three　times。〃

The　house…boy　extended　the　whip　to　him；　but　Billy　did　not　take　it。　Sheldon　waited　quietly。　　The　eyes　of　all　the　cannibals　were　fixed　upon　him　in　doubt　and　fear　and　eagerness。　　It　was　the　moment　of　test；　whereby　the　lone　white　man　was　to　live　or　be　lost。

　〃Ten　fella　three　times；　Billy；〃　Sheldon　said　encouragingly；　though　there　was　a　certain　metallic　rasp　in　his　voice。

Billy　scowled；　looked　up　and　looked　down；　but　did　not　move。

〃Billy！〃

Sheldon's　voice　exploded　like　a　pistol　shot。　　The　savage　started　physically。　　Grins　overspread　the　grotesque　features　of　the　audience；　and　there　was　a　sound　of　tittering。

〃S'pose　you　like　too　much　lash　that　fella　Arunga；　you　take　him　fella　Tulagi；〃　Billy　said。　　〃One　fella　government　agent　make　plenty　lash。　　That　um　fella　law。　　Me　savvee　um　fella　law。〃

It　was　the　law；　and　Sheldon　knew　it。　　But　he　wanted　to　live　this　day　and　the　next　day　and　not　to　die　waiting　for　the　law　to　operate　the　next　week　or　the　week　after。

〃Too　much　talk　along　you！〃　he　cried　angrily。　　〃What　name　eh？　　What　name？〃

〃Me　savvee　law；〃　the　savage　repeated　stubbornly。

〃Astoa！〃

Another　man　stepped　forward　in　almost　a　sprightly　way　and　glanced　insolently　up。　　Sheldon　was　selecting　the　worst　characters　for　the　lesson。

〃You　fella　Astoa；　you　fella　Narada；　tie　up　that　fella　Billy　alongside　other　fella　same　fella　way。〃

〃Strong　fella　tie；〃　he　cautioned　them。

〃You　fella　Astoa　take　that　fella　whip。　　Plenty　strong　big　fella　too　much　ten　fella　three　times。　　Savvee！〃

〃No；〃　Astoa　grunted。

Sheldon　picked　up　the　rifle　that　had　leaned　against　the　rail；　and　cocked　it。

〃I　know　you；　Astoa；〃　he　said　calmly。　　〃You　work　along　Queensland　six　years。〃

〃Me　fella　missionary；〃　the　black　interrupted　with　deliberate　insolence。

〃Queensland　you　stop　jail　one　fella　year。　　White　fella　master　damn　fool　no　hang　you。　　You　too　much　bad　fella。　　Queensland　you　stop　jail　six　months　two　fella　time。　　Two　fella　time　you　steal。　　All　right；　you　missionary。　　You　savvee　one　fella　prayer？〃

〃Yes；　me　savvee　prayer；〃　was　the　reply。

〃All　right；　then　you　pray　now；　short　time　little　bit。　　You　say　one　fella　prayer　damn　quick；　then　me　kill　you。〃

Sheldon　held　the　rifle　on　him　and　waited。　　The　black　glanced　around　at　his　fellows；　but　none　moved　to　aid　him。　　They　were　intent　upon　the　coming　spectacle；　staring　fascinated　at　the　white　man　with　death　in　his　hands　who　stood　alone　on　the　great　veranda。　　Sheldon　has　won；　and　he　knew　it。　　Astoa　changed　his　weight　irresolutely　from　one　foot　to　the　other。　　He　looked　at　the　white　man；　and　saw　his　eyes　gleaming　level　along　the　sights。

〃Astoa；〃　Sheldon　said；　seizing　the　psychological　moment；　〃I　count　three　fella　time。　　Then　I　shoot　you　fella　dead；　good…bye；　all　finish　you。〃

And　Sheldon　knew　that　when　he　had　counted　three　he　would　drop　him　in　his　tracks。　　The　black　knew　it；　too。　　That　was　why　Sheldon　did　not　have　to　do　it；　for　when　he　had　counted　one；　Astoa　reached　out　his　hand　and　took　the　whip。　　And　right　well　Astoa　laid　on　the　whip；　angered　at　his　fellows　for　not　supporting　him　and　venting　his　anger　with　every　stroke。　　From　the　veranda　Sheldon　egged　him　on　to　strike　with　strength；　till　the　two　triced　savages　screamed　and　howled　while　the　blood　oozed　down　their　backs。　　The　lesson　was　being　well　written　in　red。

When　the　last　of　the　gang；　including　the　two　howling　culprits；　had　passed　out　through　the　compound　gate；　Sheldon　sank　down　half…　fainting　on　his　couch。

〃You're　a　sick　man；〃　he　groaned。　　〃A　sick　man。〃

〃But　you　can　sleep　at　ease　to…night；〃　he　added；　half　an　hour　later。



CHAPTER　IIITHE　JESSIE



Two　days　passed；　and　Sheldon　felt　that　he　could　not　grow　any　weaker　and　live；　much　less　make　his　four　daily　rounds　of　the　hospital。　The　deaths　were　averaging　four　a　day；　and　there　were　more　new　cases　than　recoveries。　　The　blacks　were　in　a　funk。　　Each　one；　when　taken　sick；　seemed　to　make　every　effort　to　die。　　Once　down　on　their　backs　they　lacked　the　grit　to　make　a　struggle。　　They　believed　they　were　going　to　die；　and　they　did　their　best　to　vindicate　that　belief。　Even　those　that　were　well　were　sure　that　it　was　only　a　mater　of　days　when　the　sickness　would　catch　them　and　carry　them　off。　　And　yet；　believing　this　with　absolute　conviction；　they　somehow　lacked　the　nerve　to　rush　the　frail　wraith　of　a　man　with　the　white　skin　and　escape　from　the　charnel　house　by　the　whale…boats。　　They　chose　the　lingering　death　they　were　sure　awaited　them；　rather　than　the　immediate　death　they　were　very　sure　would　pounce　upon　them　if　they　went　up　against　the　master。　　That　he　never　slept；　they　knew。　　That　he　could　not　be　conjured　to　death；　they　were　equally　surethey　had　tried　it。　　And　even　the　sickness　that　was　sweeping　them　off　could　not　kill　him。

With　the　whipping　in　the　compound；　discipline　had　improved。　　They　cringed　under　the　iron　hand　of　the　white　man。　　They　gave　their　scowls　or　malignant　looks　with　averted　faces　or　when　his　back　was　turned。　　They　saved　their　mutterings　for　the　barracks　at　night；　where　he　could　not　hear。　　And　there　were　no　more　runaways　and　no　more　night…prowlers　on　the　veranda。

Dawn　of　the　third　day　after　the　whipping　brought　the　Jessie's　white　sails　in　sight。　　Eight　miles　away；　it　was　not　till　two　in　the　afternoon　that　the　light　air…fans　enabled　her　to　drop　anchor　a　quarter　of　a　mile　off　the　shore。　　The　sight　of　her　gave　Sheldon　fresh　courage；　and　the　tedious　hours　of　waiting　did　not　irk　him。　He　gave　his　orders　to　the　boss…boys　and　made　his　regular　trips　to　the　hospital。　　Nothing　mattered　now。　　His　troubles　were　at　an　end。　He　could　lie　down　and　take　care　of　himself　and　proceed　to　get　well。　The　Jessie　had　arrived。　　His　partner　was　on　board；　vigorous　and　hearty　from　six　weeks'　recruiting　on　Malaita。　　He　could　take　charge　now；　and　all　would　be　well　with　Berande。

Sheldon　lay　in　the　steamer…chair　and　watched　the　Jessie's　whale…　boat　pull　in　for　the　beach。　　He　wondered　why　only　three　sweeps　were　pulling；　and　he　wondered　still　more　when；　beached；　there　was　so　much　delay　in　getting　out　of　the　boat。　　Then　he　understood。　　The　three　blacks　who　had　been　pulling　started　up　the　beach　with　a　stretcher　on　their　shoulders。　　A　white　man；　whom　he　recognized　as　the　Jessie's　captain；　walked　in　front　and　opened　the　gate；　then　dropped　behind　to　close　it。　　Sheldon　knew　that　it　was　Hughie　Drummond　who　lay　in　the　stretcher；　and　a　mist　came　before　his　eyes。　He　felt　an　overwhelming　desire　to　die。　　The　disappointment　was　too　great。　　In　his　own　state　of　terrible　weakness　he　felt　that　it　was　impossible　to　go　on　with　his　task　of　holding　Berande　plantation　tight…gripped　in　his　fist。　　Then　the　will　of　him　flamed　up　again；　and　he　directed　the　blacks　to　lay　the　stretcher　beside　him　on　the　floor。　　Hughie　Drummond；　whom　he　had　last　seen　in　health；　was　an　emaciated　skeleton。　　His　closed　eyes　were　deep…sunken。　　The　shrivelled　lips　had　fallen　away　from　the　teeth；　and　the　cheek…bones　seemed　bursting　through　the　skin。　　Sheldon　sent　a　house…boy　for　his　thermometer　and　glanced　questioningly　at　the　captain。

〃Black…water　fever；〃　the　captain　said。　　〃He's　been　like　this　for　six　days；　unconscious。　　And　we've　got　dysentery　on　board。　　What's　the　matter　with　you？〃

〃I'm　burying　four　a　day；〃　Sheldon　answered；　as　he　bent　over　from　the　steamer…chair　and　inserted　the　thermometer　under　his　partner's　tongue。

Captain　Oleson　swore　blasphemously；　and　sent　a　house…boy　to　bring　whisky　and　soda。　　Sheldon　glanced　at　the　thermometer。

〃One　hundred　and　seven；〃　he　said。　　〃Poor　Hughie。〃

Captain　Oleson　offered　him　some　whisky。

〃Couldn't　think　of　itperforation；　you　know；〃　Sheldon　said。

He　sent　for　a　boss…boy　and　ordered　a　grave　to　be　dug；　also　some　of　the　packing…cases　to　be　knocked　together　into　a　coffin。　　The　blacks　did　not　get　coffins。　　They　were　buried　as　they　died；　being　carted　on　a　sheet　of　galvanized　iron；　in　their　nakedness；　from　the　hospital　to　the　hole　in　the　ground。　　Having　given　the　orders；　Sheldon　lay　back　in　his　chair　with　closed　eyes。

〃It's　ben　fair　hell；　sir；〃　Captain　Oleson　began；　then　broke　off　to　help　himself　to　more　whisky。　　〃It's　ben　fair　hell；　Mr。　Sheldon；　I　tell　you。　　Contrary　winds　and　calms。　　We've　ben　driftin'　all　about　the　shop　for　ten　days。　　There's　ten　thousand　sharks　following　us　for　the　tucker　we've　ben　throwin'　over　to　them。　　They　was　snappin'　at　the　oars　when　we　started　to　come　ashore。　　I　wisht　to　God　a　nor'wester'd　come　along　an'　blow　the　Solomons　clean　to　hell。〃

〃We　got　it　from　the　waterwater　from　Owga　creek。　　Filled　my　casks　with　it。　　How　was　we　to　know？　　I've　filled　there　before　an'　it　was　all　right。　　We　had　sixty　recruits…full　up；　and　my　crew　of　fifteen。　We've　ben　buryin'　them　day　an'　night。　　The　beggars　won't　live；　damn　them！　　They　die　out　of　spite。　　Only　three　of　my　crew　left　on　its　legs。　　Five　more　down。　　Seven　dead。　　Oh；　hell！　　What's　the　good　of　talkin'？〃

〃How　many　recruits　left？〃　Sheldon　asked。

〃Lost　half。　　Thirty　left。　　Twenty　down；　and　ten　tottering　around。〃

Sheldon　sighed。

〃That　means　another　addition　to　the　hospital。　　We've　got　to　get　them　ashore　somehow。Viaburi！　　Hey；　you；　Viaburi；　ring　big　fella　bell　strong　fella　too　much。〃

The　hands；　called　in　from　the　fields　at　that　unwonted　hour；　were　split　into　detachments。　　Some　were　sent　into　the　woods　to　cut　timber　for　house…beams；　others　to　cutting　cane…grass　for　thatching；　and　forty　of　them　lifted　a　whale…boat　above　their　heads　and　carried　it　down　to　the　sea。　　Sheldon　had　gritted　his　teeth；　pulled　his　collapsing　soul　together；　and　taken　Berande　plantation　into　his　fist　once　more。

〃Have　you　seen　the　barometer？〃　Captain　Oleson　asked；　pausing　at　the　bottom　of　the　steps　on　his　way　to　oversee　the　disembarkation　of　the　sick。

〃No；〃　Sheldon　answered。　　〃Is　it　down？〃

〃It's　going　down。〃

〃Then　you'd　better　sleep　aboard　to…night；〃　was　Sheldon's　judgment。　〃Never　mind　the　funeral。　　I'll　see　to　poor　Hughie。〃

〃A　nigger　was　kicking　the　bucket　when　I　dropped　anchor。〃

The　captain　made　the　statement　as　a　simple　fact；　but　obviously　waited　for　a　suggestion。　　The　other　felt　a　sudden　wave　of　irritation　rush　through　him。

〃Dump　him　over；〃　he　cried。　　〃Great　God；　man！　don't　you　think　I've　got　enough　graves　ashore？〃

〃I　just　wanted　to　know；　that　was　all；〃　the　captain　answered；　in　no　wise　offended。

Sheldon　regretted　his　childishness。

〃Oh；　Captain　Oleson；〃　he　called。　　〃If　you　can　see　your　way　to　it；　come　ashore　to…morrow　and　lend　me　a　hand。　　If　you　can't；　send　the　mate。〃

〃Right　O。　　I'll　come　myself。　　Mr。　Johnson's　dead；　sir。　　I　forgot　to　tell　youthree　days　ago。〃

Sheldon　watched　the　Jessie's　captain　go　down　the　path；　with　waving　arms　and　loud　curses　calling　upon　God　to　sink　the　Solomons。　　Next；　Sheldon　noted　the　Jessie　rolling　lazily　on　the　glassy　swell；　and　beyond；　in　the　north…west；　high　over　Florida　Island；　an　alpine　chain　of　dark…massed　clouds。　　Then　he　turned