adventure-第30章

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question　with　her；　and　consoling　himself　with　the　reflection　that　heaven　alone　knew　what　adventures　she　was　liable　to　engage　in　if　left　alone　on　Berande　for　a　week。　　He　clapped　his　hands；　and　for　the　next　quarter　of　an　hour　the　house…boys　were　kept　busy　carrying　messages　to　the　barracks。　　A　man　was　sent　to　Balesuna　village　to　command　old　Seelee's　immediate　presence。　　A　boat's…crew　was　started　in　a　whale…boat　with　word　for　Boucher　to　come　down。　　Ammunition　was　issued　to　the　Tahitians；　and　the　storeroom　overhauled　for　a　few　days'　tinned　provisions。　　Viaburi　turned　yellow　when　told　that　he　was　to　accompany　the　expedition；　and；　to　everybody's　surprise；　Lalaperu　volunteered　to　take　his　place。

Seelee　arrived；　proud　in　his　importance　that　the　great　master　of　Berande　should　summon　him　in　the　night…time　for　council；　and　firm　in　his　refusal　to　step　one　inch　within　the　dread　domain　of　the　bushmen。　　As　he　said；　if　his　opinion　had　been　asked　when　the　gold…　hunters　started；　he　would　have　foretold　their　disastrous　end。　There　was　only　one　thing　that　happened　to　any　one　who　ventured　into　the　bushmen's　territory；　and　that　was　that　he　was　eaten。　　And　he　would　further　say；　without　being　asked；　that　if　Sheldon　went　up　into　the　bush　he　would　be　eaten　too。

Sheldon　sent　for　a　gang…boss　and　told　him　to　bring　ten　of　the　biggest；　best；　and　strongest　Poonga…Poonga　men。

〃Not　salt…water　boys；〃　Sheldon　cautioned；　〃but　bush　boysleg　belong　him　strong　fella　leg。　　Boy　no　savvee　musket；　no　good。　　You　bring　'm　boy　shoot　musket　strong　fella。〃

They　were　ten　picked　men　that　filed　up　on　the　veranda　and　stood　in　the　glare　of　the　lanterns。　　Their　heavy；　muscular　legs　advertised　that　they　were　bushmen。　　Each　claimed　long　experience　in　bush…　fighting；　most　of　them　showed　scars　of　bullet　or　spear…thrust　in　proof；　and　all　were　wild　for　a　chance　to　break　the　humdrum　monotony　of　plantation　labour　by　going　on　a　killing　expedition。　　Killing　was　their　natural　vocation；　not　wood…cutting；　and　while　they　would　not　have　ventured　the　Guadalcanar　bush　alone；　with　a　white　man　like　Sheldon　behind　them；　and　a　white　Mary　such　as　they　knew　Joan　to　be；　they　could　expect　a　safe　and　delightful　time。　　Besides；　the　great

master　had　told　them　that　the　eight　gigantic　Tahitians　were　going　along。

The　Poonga…Poonga　volunteers　stood　with　glistening　eyes　and　grinning　faces；　naked　save　for　their　loin…cloths；　and　barbarously　ornamented。　　Each　wore　a　flat；　turtle…shell　ring　suspended　through　his　nose；　and　each　carried　a　clay　pipe　in　an　ear…hole　or　thrust　inside　a　beaded　biceps　armlet。　　A　pair　of　magnificent　boar　tusks　graced　the　chest　of　one。　　On　the　chest　of　another　hung　a　huge　disc　of　polished　fossil　clam…shell。

〃Plenty　strong　fella　fight；〃　Sheldon　warned　them　in　conclusion。

They　grinned　and　shifted　delightedly。

〃S'pose　bushmen　kai…kai　along　you？〃　he　queried。

〃No　fear；〃　answered　their　spokesman；　one　Koogoo；　a　strapping；　thick…lipped　Ethiopian…looking　man。　　〃S'pose　Poonga…Poonga　boy　kai…　kai　bush…boy？〃

Sheldon　shook　his　head；　laughing；　and　dismissed　them；　and　went　to　overhaul　the　dunnage…room　for　a　small　shelter　tent　for　Joan's　use。



CHAPTER　XXIVIN　THE　BUSH



It　was　quite　a　formidable　expedition　that　departed　from　Berande　at　break　of　day　next　morning　in　a　fleet　of　canoes　and　dinghies。　　There　were　Joan　and　Sheldon；　with　Binu　Charley　and　Lalaperu；　the　eight　Tahitians；　and　the　ten　Poonga…Poonga　men；　each　proud　in　the　possession　of　a　bright　and　shining　modern　rifle。　　In　addition；　there　were　two　of　the　plantation　boat's…crews　of　six　men　each。　These；　however；　were　to　go　no　farther　than　Carli；　where　water　transportation　ceased　and　where　they　were　to　wait　with　the　boats。　Boucher　remained　behind　in　charge　of　Berande。

By　eleven　in　the　morning　the　expedition　arrived　at　Binu；　a　cluster　of　twenty　houses　on　the　river　bank。　　And　from　here　thirty　odd　Binu　men　accompanied　them；　armed　with　spears　and　arrows；　chattering　and　grimacing　with　delight　at　the　warlike　array。　　The　long　quiet　stretches　of　river　gave　way　to　swifter　water；　and　progress　was　slower　and　more　dogged。　　The　Balesuna　grew　shallow　as　well；　and　oftener　were　the　loaded　boats　bumped　along　and　half…lifted　over　the　bottom。　　In　places　timber…falls　blocked　the　passage　of　the　narrow　stream；　and　the　boats　and　canoes　were　portaged　around。　　Night　brought　them　to　Carli；　and　they　had　the　satisfaction　of　knowing　that　they　had　accomplished　in　one　day　what　had　required　two　days　for　Tudor's　expedition。

Here　at　Carli；　next　morning；　half…way　through　the　grass…lands；　the　boat's…crews　were　left；　and　with　them　the　horde　of　Binu　men；　the　boldest　of　which　held　on　for　a　bare　mile　and　then　ran　scampering　back。　　Binu　Charley；　however；　was　at　the　fore；　and　led　the　way　onward　into　the　rolling　foot…hills；　following　the　trail　made　by　Tudor　and　his　men　weeks　before。　　That　night　they　camped　well　into　the　hills　and　deep　in　the　tropic　jungle。　　The　third　day　found　them　on　the　run…ways　of　the　bushmennarrow　paths　that　compelled　single　file　and　that　turned　and　twisted　with　endless　convolutions　through　the　dense　undergrowth。　　For　the　most　part　it　was　a　silent　forest；　lush　and　dank；　where　only　occasionally　a　wood…pigeon　cooed　or　snow…　white　cockatoos　laughed　harshly　in　laborious　flight。

Here；　in　the　mid…morning；　the　first　casualty　occurred。　　Binu　Charley　had　dropped　behind　for　a　time；　and　Koogoo；　the　Poonga…　Poonga　man　who　had　boasted　that　he　would　eat　the　bushmen；　was　in　the　lead。　　Joan　and　Sheldon　heard　the　twanging　thrum　and　saw　Koogoo　throw　out　his　arms；　at　the　same　time　dropping　his　rifle；　stumble　forward；　and　sink　down　on　his　hands　and　knees。　　Between　his　naked　shoulders；　low　down　and　to　the　left；　appeared　the　bone…barbed　head　of　an　arrow。　　He　had　been　shot　through　and　through。　　Cocked　rifles　swept　the　bush　with　nervous　apprehension。　　But　there　was　no　rustle；　no　movement；　nothing　but　the　humid　oppressive　silence。

〃Bushmen　he　no　stop；〃　Binu　Charley　called　out；　the　sound　of　his　voice　startling　more　than　one　of　them。　　〃Allee　same　damn　funny　business。　　That　fella　Koogoo　no　look　'm　eye　belong　him。　　He　no　savvee　little　bit。〃

Koogoo's　arms　had　crumpled　under　him；　and　he　lay　quivering　where　he　had　fallen。　　Even　as　Binu　Charley　came　to　the　front　the　stricken　black's　breath　passed　from　him；　and　with　a　final　convulsive　stir　he　lay　still。

〃Right　through　the　heart；〃　Sheldon　said；　straightening　up　from　the　stooping　examination。　　〃It　must　have　been　a　trap　of　some　sort。〃

He　noticed　Joan's　white；　tense　face；　and　the　wide　eyes　with　which　she　stared　at　the　wreck　of　what　had　been　a　man　the　minute　before。

〃I　recruited　that　boy　myself；〃　she　said　in　a　whisper。　　〃He　came　down　out　of　the　bush　at　Poonga…Poonga　and　right　on　board　the　Martha　and　offered　himself。　　And　I　was　proud。　　He　was　my　very　first　recruit〃

〃My　word！　　Look　'm　that　fella；〃　Binu　Charley　interrupted；　brushing　aside　the　leafy　wall　of　the　run…way　and　exposing　a　bow　so　massive　that　no　one　bushman　could　have　bent　it。

The　Binu　man　traced　out　the　mechanics　of　the　trap；　and　exposed　the　hidden　fibre　in　the　tangled　undergrowth　that　at　contact　with　Koogoo's　foot　had　released　the　taut　bow。

They　were　deep　in　the　primeval　forest。　　A　dim　twilight　prevailed；　for　no　random　shaft　of　sunlight　broke　through　the　thick　roof　of　leaves　and　creepers　overhead。　　The　Tahitians　were　plainly　awed　by　the　silence　and　gloom　and　mystery　of　the　place　and　happening；　but　they　showed　themselves　doggedly　unafraid；　and　were　for　pushing　on。　The　Poonga…Poonga　men；　on　the　contrary；　were　not　awed。　　They　were　bushmen　themselves；　and　they　were　used　to　this　silent　warfare；　though　the　devices　were　different　from　those　employed　by　them　in　their　own　bush。　　Most　awed　of　all　were　Joan　and　Sheldon；　but；　being　whites；　they　were　not　supposed　to　be　subject　to　such　commonplace　emotions；　and　their　task　was　to　carry　the　situation　off　with　careless　bravado　as　befitted　〃big　fella　marsters〃　of　the　dominant　breed。

Binu　Charley　took　the　lead　as　they　pushed　on；　and　trap　after　trap　yielded　its　secret　lurking…place　to　his　keen　scrutiny。　　The　way　was　beset　with　a　thousand　annoyances；　chiefest　among　which　were　thorns；　cunningly　concealed；　that　penetrated　the　bare　feet　of　the　invaders。　Once；　during　the　afternoon；　Binu　Charley　barely　missed　being　impaled　in　a　staked　pit　that　undermined　the　trail。　　There　were　times　when　all　stood　still　and　waited　for　half　an　hour　or　more　while　Binu　Charley　prospected　suspicious　parts　of　the　trail。　Sometimes　he　was　compelled　to　leave　the　trail　and　creep　and　climb　through　the　jungle　so　as　to　approach　the　man…traps　from　behind；　and　on　one　occasion；　in　spite　of　his　precaution；　a　spring…bow　was　discharged；　the　flying　arrow　barely　clipping　the　shoulder　of　one　of　the　waiting　Poonga…Poonga　boys。

Where　a　slight　run…way　entered　the　main　one；　Sheldon　paused　and　asked　Binu　Charley　if　he　knew　where　it　led。

〃Plenty　bush　fella　garden　he　stop　along　there　short　way　little　bit；〃　was　the　answer。　　〃All　right　you　like　'm　go　look　'm　along。〃

〃'Walk　'm　easy；〃　he　cautioned；　a　few　minutes　later。　　〃Close　up；　that　fella　garden。　　S'pose　some　bush　fella　he　stop；　we　catch　'm。〃

Creeping　ahead　and　peering　into　the　clearing　for　a　moment；　Binu　Charley　beckoned　Sheldon　to　come　on　cautiously。　　Joan　crouched　beside　him；　and　together　they　peeped　out。　　The　cleared　space　was　fully　half　an　acre　in　extent　and　carefully　fenced　against　the　wild　pigs。　　Paw…paw　and　banana…trees　were　just　ripening　their　fruit；　while　beneath　grew　sweet　potatoes　and　yams。　　On　one　edge　of　the　clearing　was　a　small　grass　house；　open…sided；　a　mere　rain…shelter。　In　front　of　it；　crouched　on　his　hams　before　a　fire；　was　a　gaunt　and　bearded　bushman。　　The　fire　seemed　to　smoke　excessively；　and　in　the　thick　of　the　smoke　a　round　dark　object　hung　suspended。　　The　bushman　seemed　absorbed　in　contemplation　of　this　object。

Warning　them　not　to　shoot　unless　the　man　was　successfully　escaping；　Sheldon　beckoned　the　Poonga…Poonga　men　forward。　　Joan　smiled　appreciatively　to　Sheldon。　　It　was　head…hunters　against　head…　hunters。　　The　blacks　trod　noiselessly　to　their　stations；　which　were　arranged　so　that　they　could　spring　simultaneously　into　the　open。　Their　faces　were　keen　and　serious；　their　eyes　eloquent　with　the　ecstasy　of　living　that　was　upon　themfor　this　was　living；　this　game　of　life　and　death；　and　to　them　it　was　the　only　game　a　man　should　play；　withal　they　played　it　in　low　and　cowardly　ways；　killing　from　behind　in　the　dim　forest　gloom　and　rarely　coming　out　into　the　open。

Sheldon　whispered　the　word；　and　the　ten　runners　leaped　forwardfor　Binu　Charley　ran　with　them。　　The　bushman's　keen　ears　warned　him；　and　he　sprang　to　his　feet；　bow　and　arrow　in　hand；　the　arrow　fixed　in　the　notch　and　the　bow　bending　as　he　sprang。　　The　man　he　let　drive　at　dodged　the　arrow；　and　before　he　could　shoot　another　his　enemies　were　upon　him。　　He　was　rolled　over　and　over　and　dragged　to　his　feet；　disarmed　and　helpless。

〃Why；　he's　an　ancient　Babylonian！〃　Joan　cried；　regarding　him。　〃He's　an　Assyrian；　a　Phoenician！　　Look　at　that　straight　nose；　that　narrow　face；　those　high　cheek…bonesand　that　slanting；　oval　forehead；　and　the　beard；　and　the　eyes；　too。〃

〃And　the　snaky　locks；〃　Sheldon　laughed。

The　bushman　was　in　mortal　fear；　led　by　all　his　training　to　expect　nothing　less　than　death；　yet　he　did　not　cower　away　from　them。　Instead；　he