adventure-第35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！


　and　nonsensical　as　it　really　was；　it　was　none　the　less　deadly　serious。　　There　was　no　avoiding　the　issue；　no　firing　in　the　air　and　getting　over　with　it　as　in　the　old…fashioned　duel。　　This　mutual　man…hunt　must　keep　up　until　one　got　the　other。　　And　if　one　neglected　a　chance　to　get　the　other；　that　increased　the　other's　chance　to　get　him。　　There　could　be　no　false　sentiment　about　it。　Tudor　had　been　a　cunning　devil　when　he　proposed　this　sort　of　duel；　Sheldon　concluded；　as　he　began　to　work　along　cautiously　in　the　direction　of　the　last　shot。

When　he　arrived　at　the　spot；　Tudor　was　gone；　and　only　his　foot…　prints　remained；　pointing　out　the　course　he　had　taken　into　the　depths　of　the　plantation。　　Once；　ten　minutes　later；　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　Tudor；　a　hundred　yards　away；　crossing　the　same　avenue　as　himself　but　going　in　the　opposite　direction。　　His　rifle　half…leaped　to　his　shoulder；　but　the　other　was　gone。　　More　in　whim　than　in　hope　of　result；　grinning　to　himself　as　he　did　so；　Sheldon　raised　his　automatic　pistol　and　in　two　seconds　sent　eight　shots　scattering　through　the　trees　in　the　direction　in　which　Tudor　had　disappeared。　Wishing　he　had　a　shot…gun；　Sheldon　dropped　to　the　ground　behind　a　tree；　slipped　a　fresh　clip　up　the　hollow　butt　of　the　pistol；　threw　a　cartridge　into　the　chamber；　shoved　the　safety　catch　into　place；　and　reloaded　the　empty　clip。

It　was　but　a　short　time　after　that　that　Tudor　tried　the　same　trick　on　him；　the　bullets　pattering　about　him　like　spiteful　rain；　thudding　into　the　palm　trunks；　or　glancing　off　in　whining　ricochets。　　The　last　bullet　of　all；　making　a　double　ricochet　from　two　different　trees　and　losing　most　of　its　momentum；　struck　Sheldon　a　sharp　blow　on　the　forehead　and　dropped　at　his　feet。　　He　was　partly　stunned　for　the　moment；　but　on　investigation　found　no　greater　harm　than　a　nasty　lump　that　soon　rose　to　the　size　of　a　pigeon's　egg。

The　hunt　went　on。　　Once；　coming　to　the　edge　of　the　grove　near　the　bungalow；　he　saw　the　house…boys　and　the　cook；　clustered　on　the　back　veranda　and　peering　curiously　among　the　trees；　talking　and　laughing　with　one　another　in　their　queer　falsetto　voices。　　Another　time　he　came　upon　a　working…gang　busy　at　hoeing　weeds。　　They　scarcely　noticed　him　when　he　came　up；　though　they　knew　thoroughly　well　what　was　going　on。　　It　was　no　affair　of　theirs　that　the　enigmatical　white　men　should　be　out　trying　to　kill　each　other；　and　whatever　interest　in　the　proceedings　might　be　theirs　they　were　careful　to　conceal　it　from　Sheldon。　　He　ordered　them　to　continue　hoeing　weeds　in　a　distant　and　out…of…the…way　corner；　and　went　on　with　the　pursuit　of　Tudor。

Tiring　of　the　endless　circling；　Sheldon　tried　once　more　to　advance　directly　on　his　foe；　but　the　latter　was　too　crafty；　taking　advantage　of　his　boldness　to　fire　a　couple　of　shots　at　him；　and　slipping　away　on　some　changed　and　continually　changing　course。　　For　an　hour　they　dodged　and　turned　and　twisted　back　and　forth　and　around；　and　hunted　each　other　among　the　orderly　palms。　　They　caught　fleeting　glimpses　of　each　other　and　chanced　flying　shots　which　were　without　result。　　On　a　grassy　shelter　behind　a　tree；　Sheldon　came　upon　where　Tudor　had　rested　and　smoked　a　cigarette。　　The　pressed　grass　showed　where　he　had　sat。　　To　one　side　lay　the　cigarette　stump　and　the　charred　match　which　had　lighted　it。　　In　front　lay　a　scattering　of　bright　metallic　fragments。　　Sheldon　recognized　their　significance。　　Tudor　was　notching　his　steel…jacketed　bullets；　or　cutting　them　blunt；　so　that　they　would　spread　on　strikingin　short；　he　was　making　them　into　the　vicious　dum…dum　prohibited　in　modern　warfare。　　Sheldon　knew　now　what　would　happen　to　him　if　a　bullet　struck　his　body。　　It　would　leave　a　tiny　hole　where　it　entered；　but　the　hole　where　it　emerged　would　be　the　size　of　a　saucer。

He　decided　to　give　up　the　pursuit；　and　lay　down　in　the　grass；　protected　right　and　left　by　the　row　of　palms；　with　on　either　hand　the　long　avenue　extending。　　This　he　could　watch。　　Tudor　would　have　to　come　to　him　or　else　there　would　be　no　termination　of　the　affair。　He　wiped　the　sweat　from　his　face　and　tied　the　handkerchief　around　his　neck　to　keep　off　the　stinging　gnats　that　lurked　in　the　grass。　Never　had　he　felt　so　great　a　disgust　for　the　thing　called　〃adventure。〃　　Joan　had　been　bad　enough；　with　her　Baden…Powell　and　long…barrelled　Colt's；　but　here　was　this　newcomer　also　looking　for　adventure；　and　finding　it　in　no　other　way　than　by　lugging　a　peace…　loving　planter　into　an　absurd　and　preposterous　bush…whacking　duel。　If　ever　adventure　was　well　damned；　it　was　by　Sheldon；　sweating　in　the　windless　grass　and　fighting　gnats；　the　while　he　kept　close　watch　up　and　down　the　avenue。

Then　Tudor　came。　　Sheldon　happened　to　be　looking　in　his　direction　at　the　moment　he　came　into　view；　peering　quickly　up　and　down　the　avenue　before　he　stepped　into　the　open。　　Midway　he　stopped；　as　if　debating　what　course　to　pursue。　　He　made　a　splendid　mark；　facing　his　concealed　enemy　at　two　hundred　yards'　distance。　　Sheldon　aimed　at　the　centre　of　his　chest；　then　deliberately　shifted　the　aim　to　his　right　shoulder；　and；　with　the　thought；　〃That　will　put　him　out　of　business；〃　pulled　the　trigger。　　The　bullet；　driving　with　momentum　sufficient　to　perforate　a　man's　body　a　mile　distant；　struck　Tudor　with　such　force　as　to　pivot　him；　whirling　him　half　around　by　the　shock　of　its　impact　and　knocking　him　down。

〃'Hope　I　haven't　killed　the　beggar；〃　Sheldon　muttered　aloud；　springing　to　his　feet　and　running　forward。

A　hundred　feet　away　all　anxiety　on　that　score　was　relieved　by　Tudor；　who　made　shift　with　his　left　hand；　and　from　his　automatic　pistol　hurled　a　rain　of　bullets　all　around　Sheldon。　　The　latter　dodged　behind　a　palm　trunk；　counting　the　shots；　and　when　the　eighth　had　been　fired　he　rushed　in　on　the　wounded　man。　　He　kicked　the　pistol　out　of　the　other's　hand；　and　then　sat　down　on　him　in　order　to　keep　him　down。

〃Be　quiet；〃　he　said。　　〃I've　got　you；　so　there's　no　use　struggling。〃

Tudor　still　attempted　to　struggle　and　to　throw　him　off。

〃Keep　quiet；　I　tell　you；〃　Sheldon　commanded。　　〃I'm　satisfied　with　the　outcome；　and　you've　got　to　be。　　So　you　might　as　well　give　in　and　call　this　affair　closed。〃

Tudor　reluctantly　relaxed。

〃Rather　funny；　isn't　it；　these　modern　duels？〃　　Sheldon　grinned　down　at　him　as　he　removed　his　weight。　　〃Not　a　bit　dignified。　　If　you'd　struggled　a　moment　longer　I'd　have　rubbed　your　face　in　the　earth。　I've　a　good　mind　to　do　it　anyway；　just　to　teach　you　that　duelling　has　gone　out　of　fashion。　　Now　let　us　see　to　your　injuries。〃

〃You　only　got　me　that　last；〃　Tudor　grunted　sullenly；　〃lying　in　ambush　like〃

〃Like　a　wild　Indian。　　Precisely。　　You've　caught　the　idea；　old　man。〃　Sheldon　ceased　his　mocking　and　stood　up。　　〃You　lie　there　quietly　until　I　send　back　some　of　the　boys　to　carry　you　in。　　You're　not　seriously　hurt；　and　it's　lucky　for　you　I　didn't　follow　your　example。　　If　you　had　been　struck　with　one　of　your　own　bullets；　a　carriage　and　pair　would　have　been　none　too　large　to　drive　through　the　hole　it　would　have　made。　　As　it　is；　you're　drilled　cleana　nice　little　perforation。　　All　you　need　is　antiseptic　washing　and　dressing；　and　you'll　be　around　in　a　month。　　Now　take　it　easy；　and　I'll　send　a　stretcher　for　you。〃



CHAPTER　XXVIIICAPITULATION



When　Sheldon　emerged　from　among　the　trees　he　found　Joan　waiting　at　the　compound　gate；　and　he　could　not　fail　to　see　that　she　was　visibly　gladdened　at　the　sight　of　him。

〃I　can't　tell　you　how　glad　I　am　to　see　you；〃　was　her　greeting。　〃What's　become　of　Tudor？　　That　last　flutter　of　the　automatic　wasn't　nice　to　listen　to。　　Was　it　you　or　Tudor？〃

〃So　you　know　all　about　it；〃　he　answered　coolly。　　〃Well；　it　was　Tudor；　but　he　was　doing　it　left…handed。　　He's　down　with　a　hole　in　his　shoulder。〃　　He　looked　at　her　keenly。　　〃Disappointing；　isn't　it？〃　he　drawled。

〃How　do　you　mean？〃

〃Why；　that　I　didn't　kill　him。〃

〃But　I　didn't　want　him　killed　just　because　he　kissed　me；〃　she　cried。

〃Oh；　he　did　kiss　you！〃　Sheldon　retorted；　in　evident　surprise。　　〃I　thought　you　said　he　hurt　your　arm。〃

〃One　could　call　it　a　kiss；　though　it　was　only　on　the　end　of　the　nose。〃　　She　laughed　at　the　recollection。　　〃But　I　paid　him　back　for　that　myself。　　I　boxed　his　face　for　him。　　And　he　did　hurt　my　arm。　It's　black　and　blue。　　Look　at　it。〃

She　pulled　up　the　loose　sleeve　of　her　blouse；　and　he　saw　the　bruised　imprints　of　two　fingers。

Just　then　a　gang　of　blacks　came　out　from　among　the　trees　carrying　the　wounded　man　on　a　rough　stretcher。

〃Romantic；　isn't　it？〃　Sheldon　sneered；　following　Joan's　startled　gaze。　　〃And　now　I'll　have　to　play　surgeon　and　doctor　him　up。　Funny；　this　twentieth…century　duelling。　　First　you　drill　a　hole　in　a　man；　and　next　you　set　about　plugging　the　hole　up。〃

They　had　stepped　aside　to　let　the　stretcher　pass；　and　Tudor；　who　had　heard　the　remark；　lifted　himself　up　on　the　elbow　of　his　sound　arm　and　said　with　a　defiant　grin；　…

〃If　you'd　got　one　of　mine　you'd　have　had　to　plug　with　a　dinner…　plate。〃

〃Oh；　you　wretch！〃　Joan　cried。　　〃You've　been　cutting　your　bullets。〃

〃It　was　according　to　agreement；〃　Tudor　answered。　　〃Everything　went。　We　could　have　used　dynamite　if　we　wanted　to。〃


〃He's　right；〃　Sheldon　assured　her；　as　they　swung　in　behind。　　〃Any　weapon　was　permissible。　　I　lay　in　the　grass　where　he　couldn't　see　me；　and　bushwhacked　him　in　truly　noble　fashion。　　That's　what　comes　of　having　women　on　the　plantation。　　And　now　it's　antiseptics　and　drainage　tubes；　I　suppose。　　It's　a　nasty　mess；　and　I'll　have　to　read　up　on　it　before　I　tackle　the　job。〃

〃I　don't　see　that　it's　my　fault；〃　she　began。　　〃I　couldn't　help　it　because　he　kissed　me。　　I　never　dreamed　he　would　attempt　it。〃

〃We　didn't　fight　for　that　reason。　　But　there　isn't　time　to　explain。　If　you'll　get　dressings　and　bandages　ready　I'll　look　up　'gun…shot　wounds'　and　see　what's　to　be　done。〃

〃Is　he　bleeding　seriously？〃　she　asked。

〃No；　the　bullet　seems　to　have　missed　the　important　arteries。　　But　that　would　have　been　a　pickle。〃

〃Then　there's　no　need　to　bother　about　reading　up；〃　Joan　said。　　〃And　I'm　just　dying　to　hear　what　it　was　all　about。　　The　Apostle　is　lying　becalmed　inside　the　point；　and　her　boats　are　out　to　wing。　　She'll　be　at　anchor　in　five　minutes；　and　Doctor　Welshmere　is　sure　to　be　on　board。　　So　all　we've　got　to　do　is　to　make　Tudor　comfortable。　　We'd　better　put　him　in　your　room　under　the　mosquito…netting；　and　send　a　boat　off　to　tell　Dr。　Welshmere　to　bring　his　instruments。〃

An　hour　afterward；　Dr。　Welshmere　left　the　patient　comfortable　and　attended　to；　and　went　down　to　the　beach　to　go　on　board；　promising　to　come　back　to　dinner。　　Joan　and　Sheldon；　standing　on　the　veranda；　watched　him　depart。

〃I'll　never　have　it　in　for　the　missionaries　again　since　seeing　them　here　in　the　Solomons；〃　she　said；　seating　herself　in　a　steamer…　chair。

She　looked　at　Sheldon　and　began　to　laugh。

〃That's　right；〃　he　said。　　〃It's　the　way　I　feel；　playing　the　fool　and　trying　to　murder　a　guest。〃

〃But　you　haven't　told　me　what　it　was　all　about。〃

〃You；〃　he　answered　shortly。

〃Me？　　But　you　just　said　it　wasn't。〃

〃Oh；　it　wasn't　the　kiss。〃　　He　walked　over　to　the　railing　and　leaned　against　it；　facing　her。　　〃But　it　was　about　you　all　the　same；　and　I　may　as　well　tell　you。　　You　remember；　I　warned　you　long　ago　what　would　happen　when　you　wanted　to　become　a　partner　in　Beran