adventure-第34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！


seen　it　with　half　an　eye　if　I'd　listened　to　the　gossip　on　the　beach。　　All　Guvutu　and　Tulagi　were　laughing　about　it。　　I　was　a　fool；　and　I　certainly　made　the　mistake　of　taking　the　situation　on　its　assumed　innocent　face…　value。〃

So　angry　was　Sheldon　becoming　that　the　face　and　form　of　the　other　seemed　to　vibrate　and　oscillate　before　his　eyes。　　Yet　outwardly　Sheldon　was　calm　and　apparently　weary　of　the　discussion。

〃Please　keep　her　out　of　the　conversation；〃　he　said。

〃But　why　should　I？〃　was　the　demand。　　〃The　pair　of　you　trapped　me　into　making　a　fool　of　myself。　　How　was　I　to　know　that　everything　was　not　all　right？　　You　and　she　acted　as　if　everything　were　on　the　square。　　But　my　eyes　are　open　now。　　Why；　she　played　the　outraged　wife　to　perfection；　slapped　the　transgressor　and　fled　to　you。　Pretty　good　proof　of　what　all　the　beach　has　been　saying。　　Partners；　eh？a　business　partnership？　　Gammon　my　eye；　that's　what　it　is。〃

Then　it　was　that　Sheldon　struck　out；　coolly　and　deliberately；　with　all　the　strength　of　his　arm；　and　Tudor；　caught　on　the　jaw；　fell　sideways；　crumpling　as　he　did　so　and　crushing　a　chair　to　kindling　wood　beneath　the　weight　of　his　falling　body。　　He　pulled　himself　slowly　to　his　feet；　but　did　not　offer　to　rush。

〃Now　will　you　fight？〃　Tudor　said　grimly。

Sheldon　laughed；　and　for　the　first　time　with　true　spontaneity。　　The　intrinsic　ridiculousness　of　the　situation　was　too　much　for　his　sense　of　humour。　　He　made　as　if　to　repeat　the　blow；　but　Tudor；　white　of　face；　with　arms　hanging　resistlessly　at　his　sides；　offered　no　defence。

〃I　don't　mean　a　fight　with　fists；〃　he　said　slowly。　　〃I　mean　to　a　finish；　to　the　death。　　You're　a　good　shot　with　revolver　and　rifle。　So　am　I。　　That's　the　way　we'll　settle　it。〃

〃You　have　gone　clean　mad。　　You　are　a　lunatic。〃

〃No；　I'm　not；〃　Tudor　retorted。　　〃I'm　a　man　in　love。　　And　once　again　I　ask　you　to　go　outside　and　settle　it；　with　any　weapons　you　choose。〃

Sheldon　regarded　him　for　the　first　time　with　genuine　seriousness；　wondering　what　strange　maggots　could　be　gnawing　in　his　brain　to　drive　him　to　such　unusual　conduct。

〃But　men　don't　act　this　way　in　real　life；〃　Sheldon　remarked。

〃You'll　find　I'm　pretty　real　before　you're　done　with　me。　　I'm　going　to　kill　you　to…day。〃

〃Bosh　and　nonsense；　man。〃　　This　time　Sheldon　had　lost　his　temper　over　the　superficial　aspects　of　the　situation。　　〃Bosh　and　nonsense；　that's　all　it　is。　　Men　don't　fight　duels　in　the　twentieth　century。　It'sit's　antediluvian；　I　tell　you。〃

〃Speaking　of　Joan〃

〃Please　keep　her　name　out　of　it；〃　Sheldon　warned　him。

〃I　will；　if　you'll　fight。〃

Sheldon　threw　up　his　arms　despairingly。

〃Speaking　of　Joan〃

〃Look　out；〃　Sheldon　warned　again。

〃Oh；　go　ahead；　knock　me　down。　　But　that　won't　close　my　mouth。　　You　can　knock　me　down　all　day；　but　as　fast　as　I　get　to　my　feet　I'll　speak　of　Joan　again。　　Now　will　you　fight？〃

〃Listen　to　me；　Tudor；〃　Sheldon　began；　with　an　effort　at　decisiveness。　　〃I　am　not　used　to　taking　from　men　a　tithe　of　what　I've　already　taken　from　you。〃

〃You'll　take　a　lot　more　before　the　day's　out；〃　was　the　answer。　　〃I　tell　you；　you　simply　must　fight。　　I'll　give　you　a　fair　chance　to　kill　me；　but　I'll　kill　you　before　the　day's　out。　　This　isn't　civilization。　　It's　the　Solomon　Islands；　and　a　pretty　primitive　proposition　for　all　that。　　King　Edward　and　law　and　order　are　represented　by　the　Commissioner　at　Tulagi　and　an　occasional　visiting　gunboat。　　And　two　men　and　one　woman　is　an　equally　primitive　proposition。　　We'll　settle　it　in　the　good　old　primitive　way。〃

As　Sheldon　looked　at　him　the　thought　came　to　his　mind　that　after　all　there　might　be　something　in　the　other's　wild　adventures　over　the　earth。　　It　required　a　man　of　that　calibre；　a　man　capable　of　obtruding　a　duel　into　orderly　twentieth　century　life；　to　find　such　wild　adventures。

〃There's　only　one　way　to　stop　me；〃　Tudor　went　on。　　〃I　can't　insult　you　directly；　I　know。　　You　are　too　easy…going；　or　cowardly；　or　both；　for　that。　　But　I　can　narrate　for　you　the　talk　of　the　beach　ah；　that　grinds　you；　doesn't　it？　　I　can　tell　you　what　the　beach　has　to　say　about　you　and　this　young　girl　running　a　plantation　under　a　business　partnership。〃

〃Stop！〃　Sheldon　cried；　for　the　other　was　beginning　to　vibrate　and　oscillate　before　his　eyes。　　〃You　want　a　duel。　　I'll　give　it　to　you。〃　　Then　his　common…sense　and　dislike　for　the　ridiculous　asserted　themselves；　and　he　added；　〃But　it's　absurd；　impossible。〃

〃Joan　and　Davidpartners；　eh？　　Joan　and　Davidpartners；〃　Tudor　began　to　iterate　and　reiterate　in　a　malicious　and　scornful　chant。

〃For　heaven's　sake　keep　quiet；　and　I'll　let　you　have　your　way；〃　Sheldon　cried。　　〃I　never　saw　a　fool　so　bent　on　his　folly。　　What　kind　of　a　duel　shall　it　be？　　There　are　no　seconds。　　What　weapons　shall　we　use？〃

Immediately　Tudor's　monkey…like　impishness　left　him；　and　he　was　once　more　the　cool；　self…possessed　man　of　the　world。

〃I've　often　thought　that　the　ideal　duel　should　be　somewhat　different　from　the　conventional　one；〃　he　said。　　〃I've　fought　several　of　that　sort；　you　know〃

〃French　ones；〃　Sheldon　interrupted。

〃Call　them　that。　　But　speaking　of　this　ideal　duel；　here　it　is。　　No　seconds；　of　course；　and　no　onlookers。　　The　two　principals　alone　are　necessary。　　They　may　use　any　weapons　they　please；　from　revolvers　and　rifles　to　machine　guns　and　pompoms。　　They　start　a　mile　apart；　and　advance　on　each　other；　taking　advantage　of　cover；　retreating；　circling；　feintinganything　and　everything　permissible。　　In　short；　the　principals　shall　hunt　each　other〃

〃Like　a　couple　of　wild　Indians？〃

〃Precisely；〃　cried　Tudor；　delighted。　　〃You've　got　the　idea。　　And　Berande　is　just　the　place；　and　this　is　just　the　right　time。　　Miss　Lackland　will　be　taking　her　siesta；　and　she'll　think　we　are。　　We've　got　two　hours　for　it　before　she　wakes。　　So　hurry　up　and　come　on。　You　start　out　from　the　Balesuna　and　I　start　from　the　Berande。　Those　two　rivers　are　the　boundaries　of　the　plantation；　aren't　they？　Very　well。　　The　field　of　the　duel　will　be　the　plantation。　　Neither　principal　must　go　outside　its　boundaries。　　Are　you　satisfied？〃

〃Quite。　　But　have　you　any　objections　if　I　leave　some　orders？〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　Tudor　acquiesced；　the　pink　of　courtesy　now　that　his　wish　had　been　granted。

Sheldon　clapped　his　hands；　and　the　running　house…boy　hurried　away　to　bring　back　Adamu　Adam　and　Noa　Noah。

〃Listen；〃　Sheldon　said　to　them。　　〃This　man　and　me；　we　have　one　big　fight　to…day。　　Maybe　he　die。　　Maybe　I　die。　　If　he　die；　all　right。　If　I　die；　you　two　look　after　Missie　Lackalanna。　　You　take　rifles；　and　you　look　after　her　daytime　and　night…time。　　If　she　want　to　talk　with　Mr。　Tudor；　all　right。　　If　she　not　want　to　talk；　you　make　him　keep　away。　　Savvee？〃

They　grunted　and　nodded。　　They　had　had　much　to　do　with　white　men；　and　had　learned　never　to　question　the　strange　ways　of　the　strange　breed。　　If　these　two　saw　fit　to　go　out　and　kill　each　other；　that　was　their　business　and　not　the　business　of　the　islanders；　who　took　orders　from　them。　　They　stepped　to　the　gun…rack；　and　each　picked　a　rifle。

〃Better　all　Tahitian　men　have　rifles；〃　suggested　Adamu　Adam。　〃Maybe　big　trouble　come。〃

〃All　right；　you　take　them；〃　Sheldon　answered；　busy　with　issuing　the　ammunition。

They　went　to　the　door　and　down　the　steps；　carrying　the　eight　rifles　to　their　quarters。　　Tudor；　with　cartridge…belts　for　rifle　and　pistol　strapped　around　him；　rifle　in　hand；　stood　impatiently　waiting。

〃Come　on；　hurry　up；　we're　burning　daylight；〃　he　urged；　as　Sheldon　searched　after　extra　clips　for　his　automatic　pistol。

Together　they　passed　down　the　steps　and　out　of　the　compound　to　the　beach；　where　they　turned　their　backs　to　each　other；　and　each　proceeded　toward　his　destination；　their　rifles　in　the　hollows　of　their　arms；　Tudor　walking　toward　the　Berande　and　Sheldon　toward　the　Balesuna。



CHAPTER　XXVIIMODERN　DUELLING



Barely　had　Sheldon　reached　the　Balesuna；　when　he　heard　the　faint　report　of　a　distant　rifle　and　knew　it　was　the　signal　of　Tudor；　giving　notice　that　he　had　reached　the　Berande；　turned　about；　and　was　coming　back。　　Sheldon　fired　his　rifle　into　the　air　in　answer；　and　in　turn　proceeded　to　advance。　　He　moved　as　in　a　dream；　absent…　mindedly　keeping　to　the　open　beach。　　The　thing　was　so　preposterous　that　he　had　to　struggle　to　realize　it；　and　he　reviewed　in　his　mind　the　conversation　with　Tudor；　trying　to　find　some　clue　to　the　common…sense　of　what　he　was　doing。　　He　did　not　want　to　kill　Tudor。　Because　that　man　had　blundered　in　his　love…making　was　no　reason　that　he；　Sheldon；　should　take　his　life。　　Then　what　was　it　all　about？　　True；　the　fellow　had　insulted　Joan　by　his　subsequent　remarks　and　been　knocked　down　for　it；　but　because　he　had　knocked　him　down　was　no　reason　that　he　should　now　try　to　kill　him。

In　this　fashion　he　covered　a　quarter　of　the　distance　between　the　two　rivers；　when　it　dawned　upon　him　that　Tudor　was　not　on　the　beach　at　all。　　Of　course　not。　　He　was　advancing；　according　to　the　terms　of　the　agreement；　in　the　shelter　of　the　cocoanut　trees。　　Sheldon　promptly　swerved　to　the　left　to　seek　similar　shelter；　when　the　faint　crack　of　a　rifle　came　to　his　ears；　and　almost　immediately　the　bullet；　striking　the　hard　sand　a　hundred　feet　beyond　him；　ricochetted　and　whined　onward　on　a　second　flight；　convincing　him　that；　preposterous　and　unreal　as　it　was；　it　was　nevertheless　sober　fact。　　It　had　been　intended　for　him。　　Yet　even　then　it　was　hard　to　believe。　　He　glanced　over　the　familiar　landscape　and　at　the　sea　dimpling　in　the　light　but　steady　breeze。　　From　the　direction　of　Tulagi　he　could　see　the　white　sails　of　a　schooner　laying　a　tack　across　toward　Berande。　　Down　the　beach　a　horse　was　grazing；　and　he　idly　wondered　where　the　others　were。　　The　smoke　rising　from　the　copra…drying　caught　his　eyes；　which　roved　on　over　the　barracks；　the　tool…houses；　the　boat…　sheds；　and　the　bungalow；　and　came　to　rest　on　Joan's　little　grass　house　in　the　corner　of　the　compound。

Keeping　now　to　the　shelter　of　the　trees；　he　went　forward　another　quarter　of　a　mile。　　If　Tudor　had　advanced　with　equal　speed　they　should　have　come　together　at　that　point；　and　Sheldon　concluded　that　the　other　was　circling。　　The　difficulty　was　to　locate　him。　　The　rows　of　trees；　running　at　right　angles；　enabled　him　to　see　along　only　one　narrow　avenue　at　a　time。　　His　enemy　might　be　coming　along　the　next　avenue；　or　the　next；　to　right　or　left。　　He　might　be　a　hundred　feet　away　or　half　a　mile。　　Sheldon　plodded　on；　and　decided　that　the　old　stereotyped　duel　was　far　simpler　and　easier　than　this　protracted　hide…and…seek　affair。　　He；　too；　tried　circling；　in　the　hope　of　cutting　the　other's　circle；　but；　without　catching　a　glimpse　of　him；　he　finally　emerged　upon　a　fresh　clearing　where　the　young　trees；　waist…high；　afforded　little　shelter　and　less　hiding。　　Just　as　he　emerged；　stepping　out　a　pace；　a　rifle　cracked　to　his　right；　and　though　he　did　not　hear　the　bullet　in　passing；　the　thud　of　it　came　to　his　ears　when　it　struck　a　palm…trunk　farther　on。

He　sprang　back　into　the　protection　of　the　larger　trees。　　Twice　he　had　exposed　himself　and　been　fired　at；　while　he　had　failed　to　catch　a　single　glimpse　of　his　antagonist。　　A　slow　anger　began　to　burn　in　him。　　It　was　deucedly　unpleasant；　he　decided；　this　being　peppered　at；　and　nonsensical　as　it　really　was；　it　was　none　the　less　deadly　serious。　　There　was　no　avoiding　the　i