adventure-第32章
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child。 The run…way now became a deeply worn path； rising so steeply that several times the party paused for breath。 The path never widened； and in places the feet and the rains of generations had scoured it till it was sunken twenty feet beneath the surface。
〃One man with a rifle could hold it against a thousand；〃 Sheldon whispered to Joan。 〃And twenty men could hold it with spears and arrows。〃
They came out on the village； situated on a small； upland plateau； grass…covered； and with only occasional trees。 There was a wild chorus of warning cries from the women； who scurried out of the grass houses； and like frightened quail dived over the opposite edge of the clearing； gathering up their babies and children as they ran。 At the same time spears and arrows began to fall among the invaders。 At Sheldon's command； the Tahitians and Poonga… Poonga men got into action with their rifles。 The spears and arrows ceased； the last bushman disappeared； and the fight was over almost as soon as it had begun。 On their own side no one had been hurt； while half a dozen bushmen had been killed。 These alone remained； the wounded having been carried off。 The Tahitians and Poonga…Poonga men had warmed up and were for pursuit； but this Sheldon would not permit。 To his pleased surprise； Joan backed him up in the decision； for； glancing at her once during the firing； he had seen her white face； like a glittering sword in its fighting intensity； the nostrils dilated； the eyes bright and steady and shining。
〃Poor brutes；〃 she said。 〃They act only according to their natures。 To eat their kind and take heads is good morality for them。〃
〃But they should be taught not to take white men's heads；〃 Sheldon argued。
She nodded approval； and said； 〃If we find one head we'll burn the village。 Hey； you； Charley！ What fella place head he stop？〃
〃S'pose he stop along devil…devil house；〃 was the answer。 〃That big fella house； he devil…devil。〃
It was the largest house in the village； ambitiously ornamented with fancy…plaited mats and king…posts carved into obscene and monstrous forms half…human and half…animal。 Into it they went； in the obscure light stumbling across the sleeping…logs of the village bachelors and knocking their heads against strings of weird votive… offerings； dried and shrivelled； that hung from the roof…beams。 On either side were rude gods； some grotesquely carved； others no more than shapeless logs swathed in rotten and indescribably filthy matting。 The air was mouldy and heavy with decay； while strings of fish…tails and of half…cleaned dog and crocodile skulls did not add to the wholesomeness of the place。
In the centre； crouched before a slow…smoking fire； in the littered ashes of a thousand fires； was an old man who blinked apathetically at the invaders。 He was extremely oldso old that his withered skin hung about him in loose folds and did not look like skin。 His hands were bony claws； his emaciated face a sheer death's…head。 His task； it seemed； was to tend the fire； and while he blinked at them he added to it a handful of dead and mouldy wood。 And hung in the smoke they found the object of their search。 Joan turned and stumbled out hastily； deathly sick； reeling into the sunshine and clutching at the air for support。
〃See if all are there；〃 she called back faintly； and tottered aimlessly on for a few steps； breathing the air in great draughts and trying to forget the sight she had seen。
Upon Sheldon fell the unpleasant task of tallying the heads。 They were all there； nine of them； white men's heads； the faces of which he had been familiar with when their owners had camped in Berande compound and set up the poling…boats。 Binu Charley； hugely interested； lent a hand； turning the heads around for identification； noting the hatchet…strokes； and remarking the distorted expressions。 The Poonga…Poonga men gloated as usual； and as usual the Tahitians were shocked and angry； several of them cursing and muttering in undertones。 So angry was Matapuu； that he strode suddenly over to the fire…tender and kicked him in the ribs； whereupon the old savage emitted an appalling squeal； pig…like in its wild…animal fear； and fell face downward in the ashes and lay quivering in momentary expectation of death。
Other heads； thoroughly sun…dried and smoke…cured； were found in abundance； but； with two exceptions； they were the heads of blacks。 So this was the manner of hunting that went on in the dark and evil forest； Sheldon thought； as he regarded them。 The atmosphere of the place was sickening； yet he could not forbear to pause before one of Binu Charley's finds。
〃Me savvee black Mary； me savvee white Mary；〃 quoth Binu Charley。 〃Me no savvee that fella Mary。 What name belong him？〃
Sheldon looked。 Ancient and withered； blackened by many years of the smoke of the devil…devil house； nevertheless the shrunken； mummy…like face was unmistakably Chinese。 How it had come there was the mystery。 It was a woman's head； and he had never heard of a Chinese woman in the history of the Solomons。 From the ears hung two…inch…long ear…rings； and at Sheldon's direction the Binu man rubbed away the accretions of smoke and dirt； and from under his fingers appeared the polished green of jade； the sheen of pearl； and the warm red of Oriental gold。 The other head； equally ancient； was a white man's； as the heavy blond moustache； twisted and askew on the shrivelled upper lip； gave sufficient advertisement； and Sheldon wondered what forgotten beche…de…mer fisherman or sandalwood trader had gone to furnish that ghastly trophy。
Telling Binu Charley to remove the ear…rings； and directing the Poonga…Poonga men to carry out the old fire…tender； Sheldon cleared the devil…devil house and set fire to it。 Soon every house was blazing merrily； while the ancient fire…tender sat upright in the sunshine blinking at the destruction of his village。 From the heights above； where were evidently other villages； came the booming of drums and a wild blowing of war…conchs； but Sheldon had dared all he cared to with his small following。 Besides； his mission was accomplished。 Every member of Tudor's expedition was accounted for； and it was a long； dark way out of the head…hunters' country。 Releasing their two prisoners； who leaped away like startled deer； they plunged down the steep path into the steaming jungle。
Joan； still shocked by what she had seen； walked on in front of Sheldon； subdued and silent。 At the end of half an hour she turned to him with a wan smile and said； …
〃I don't think I care to visit the head…hunters any more。 It's adventure； I know； but there is such a thing as having too much of a good thing。 Riding around the plantation will henceforth be good enough for me； or perhaps salving another Martha； but the bushmen of Guadalcanar need never worry for fear that I shall visit them again。 I shall have nightmares for months to come； I know I shall。 Ugh！the horrid beasts！〃
That night found them back in camp with Tudor； who； while improved； would still have to be carried down on a stretcher。 The swelling of the Poonga…Poonga man's shoulder was going down slowly； but Arahu still limped on his thorn…poisoned foot。
Two days later they rejoined the boats at Carli； and at high noon of the third day； travelling with the current and shooting the rapids； the expedition arrived at Berande。 Joan； with a sigh； unbuckled her revolver…belt and hung it on the nail in the living… room； while Sheldon； who had been lurking about for the sheer joy of seeing her perform that particular home…coming act； sighed； too； with satisfaction。 But the home…coming was not all joy to him； for Joan set about nursing Tudor； and spent much time on the veranda where he lay in the hammock under the mosquito…netting。
CHAPTER XXVIBURNING DAYLIGHT
The ten days of Tudor's convalescence that followed were peaceful days on Berande。 The work of the plantation went on like clock… work。 With the crushing of the premature outbreak of Gogoomy and his following； all insubordination seemed to have vanished。 Twenty more of the old…time boys； their term of service up； were carried away by the Martha； and the fresh stock of labour； treated fairly； was proving of excellent quality。 As Sheldon rode about the plantation； acknowledging to himself the comfort and convenience of a horse and wondering why he had not thought of getting one himself； he pondered the various improvements for which Joan was responsiblethe splendid Poonga…Poonga recruits； the fruits and vegetables； the Martha herself； snatched from the sea for a song and earning money hand over fist despite old Kinross's slow and safe method of running her； and Berande； once more financially secure； approaching each day nearer the dividend…paying time； and growing each day as the black toilers cleared the bush； cut the cane…grass； and planted more cocoanut palms。
In these and a thousand ways Sheldon was made aware of how much he was indebted for material prosperity to Joanto the slender； level…browed girl with romance shining out of her gray eyes and adventure shouting from the long…barrelled Colt's on her hip； who had landed on the beach that piping gale； along with her stalwart Tahitian crew； and who had entered his bungalow to hang with boy's hands her revolver…belt and Baden…Powell hat on the nail by the billiard table。 He forgot all the early exasperations； remembering only her charms and sweetnesses and glorying much in the traits he at first had disliked mosther boyishness and adventurousness； her delight to swim and risk the sharks； her desire to go recruiting； her love of the sea and ships； her sharp authoritative words when she launched the whale…boat and； with firestick in one hand and dynamite…stick in the other； departed with her picturesque crew to shoot fish in the Balesuna； her super…innocent disdain for the commonest conventions； her juvenile joy in argument； her fluttering； wild…bird love of freedom and mad passion for independence。 All this he now loved； and he no longer desired to tame and hold her； though the paradox was the winning of her without the taming and the holding。
There were times when he was dizzy with thought of her and love of her； when he would stop his horse and with closed eyes picture her as he had seen her that first day； in the stern…sheets of the whale…boat； dashing madly in to shore and marching belligerently along his veranda to remark that it was pretty hospitality this letting strangers sink or swim in his front yard。 And as he opened his eyes and urged his horse onward； he would ponder for the ten thousandth time how possibly he was ever to hold her when she was so wild and bird…like that she was bound to flutter out and away from under his hand。
It was patent to Sheldon that Tudor had become interested in Joan。 That convalescent visitor practically lived on the veranda； though； while preposterously weak and shaky in the legs； he had for some time insisted on coming in to join them at the table at meals。 The first warning Sheldon had of the other's growing interest in the girl was when Tudor eased down and finally ceased pricking him with his habitual sharpness of quip and speech。 This cessation of verbal sparring was like the breaking off o
