adventure-第6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！


tic；　is　certainly　the　quintessence　of　adventure。　　And　adventure　and　romance　are　allied；　you　know。〃

〃By　the　same　token；　to　go　into　a　nigger's　stomach　should　be　the　quintessence　of　adventure；〃　he　retorted。

〃I　don't　think　you　have　any　romance　in　you；〃　she　exclaimed。　〃You're　just　dull　and　sombre　and　sordid　like　the　business　men　at　home。　　I　don't　know　why　you're　here　at　all。　　You　should　be　at　home　placidly　vegetating　as　a　banker's　clerk　oror〃

〃A　shopkeeper's　assistant；　thank　you。〃

〃Yes；　thatanything。　　What　under　the　sun　are　you　doing　here　on　the　edge　of　things？〃

〃Earning　my　bread　and　butter；　trying　to　get　on　in　the　world。〃

〃'By　the　bitter　road　the　younger　son　must　tread；　Ere　he　win　to　hearth　and　saddle　of　his　own；'〃　she　quoted。　　〃Why；　if　that　isn't　romantic；　then　nothing　is　romantic。　　Think　of　all　the　younger　sons　out　over　the　world；　on　a　myriad　of　adventures　winning　to　those　same　hearths　and　saddles。　　And　here　you　are　in　the　thick　of　it；　doing　it；　and　here　am　I　in　the　thick　of　it；　doing　it。〃

〃II　beg　pardon；〃　he　drawled。

〃Well；　I'm　a　younger　daughter；　then；〃　she　amended；　〃and　I　have　no　hearth　nor　saddleI　haven't　anybody　or　anythingand　I'm　just　as　far　on　the　edge　of　things　as　you　are。〃

〃In　your　case；　then；　I'll　admit　there　is　a　bit　of　romance；〃　he　confessed。

He　could　not　help　but　think　of　the　preceding　nights；　and　of　her　sleeping　in　the　hammock　on　the　veranda；　under　mosquito　curtains；　her　bodyguard　of　Tahitian　sailors　stretched　out　at　the　far　corner　of　the　veranda　within　call。　　He　had　been　too　helpless　to　resist；　but　now　he　resolved　she　should　have　his　couch　inside　while　he　would　take　the　hammock。

〃You　see；　I　had　read　and　dreamed　about　romance　all　my　life；〃　she　was　saying；　〃but　I　never；　in　my　wildest　fancies；　thought　that　I　should　live　it。　　It　was　all　so　unexpected。　　Two　years　ago　I　thought　there　was　nothing　left　to　me　but。　。　。　。〃　　She　faltered；　and　made　a　moue　of　distaste。　　〃Well；　the　only　thing　that　remained；　it　seemed　to　me；　was　marriage。〃

〃And　you　preferred　a　cannibal　isle　and　a　cartridge…belt？〃　he　suggested。

〃I　didn't　think　of　the　cannibal　isle；　but　the　cartridge…belt　was　blissful。〃

〃You　wouldn't　dare　use　the　revolver　if　you　were　compelled　to。　　Or；〃　noting　the　glint　in　her　eyes；　〃if　you　did　use　it；　towell；　to　hit　anything。〃

She　started　up　suddenly　to　enter　the　house。　　He　knew　she　was　going　for　her　revolver。

〃Never　mind；〃　he　said；　〃here's　mine。　　What　can　you　do　with　it？〃

〃Shoot　the　block　off　your　flag…halyards。〃

He　smiled　his　unbelief。

〃I　don't　know　the　gun；〃　she　said　dubiously。

〃It's　a　light　trigger　and　you　don't　have　to　hold　down。　　Draw　fine。〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　she　spoke　impatiently。　　〃I　know　automaticsthey　jam　when　they　get　hotonly　I　don't　know　yours。〃　　She　looked　at　it　a　moment。　　〃It's　cocked。　　Is　there　a　cartridge　in　the　chamber？〃

She　fired；　and　the　block　remained　intact。

〃It's　a　long　shot；〃　he　said；　with　the　intention　of　easing　her　chagrin。

But　she　bit　her　lip　and　fired　again。　　The　bullet　emitted　a　sharp　shriek　as　it　ricochetted　into　space。　　The　metal　block　rattled　back　and　forth。　　Again　and　again　she　fired；　till　the　clip　was　emptied　of　its　eight　cartridges。　　Six　of　them　were　hits。　　The　block　still　swayed　at　the　gaff…end；　but　it　was　battered　out　of　all　usefulness。　Sheldon　was　astonished。　　It　was　better　than　he　or　even　Hughie　Drummond　could　have　done。　　The　women　he　had　known；　when　they　sporadically　fired　a　rifle　or　revolver；　usually　shrieked；　shut　their　eyes；　and　blazed　away　into　space。

〃That's　really　good　shooting　。　。　。　for　a　woman；〃　he　said。　　〃You　only　missed　it　twice；　and　it　was　a　strange　weapon。〃

〃But　I　can't　make　out　the　two　misses；〃　she　complained。　　〃The　gun　worked　beautifully；　too。　　Give　me　another　clip　and　I'll　hit　it　eight　times　for　anything　you　wish。〃

〃I　don't　doubt　it。　　Now　I'll　have　to　get　a　new　block。　　Viaburi！　Here　you　fella；　catch　one　fella　block　along　store…room。〃

〃I'll　wager　you　can't　do　it　eight　out　of　eight　。　。　。　anything　you　wish；〃　she　challenged。

〃No　fear　of　my　taking　it　on；〃　was　his　answer。　　〃Who　taught　you　to　shoot？〃

〃Oh；　my　father；　at　first；　and　then　Von；　and　his　cowboys。　　He　was　a　shotDad；　I　mean；　though　Von　was　splendid；　too。〃

Sheldon　wondered　secretly　who　Von　was；　and　he　speculated　as　to　whether　it　was　Von　who　two　years　previously　had　led　her　to　believe　that　nothing　remained　for　her　but　matrimony。

〃What　part　of　the　United　States　is　your　home？〃　he　asked。　　〃Chicago　or　Wyoming？　or　somewhere　out　there？　　You　know　you　haven't　told　me　a　thing　about　yourself。　　All　that　I　know　is　that　you　are　Miss　Joan　Lackland　from　anywhere。〃

〃You'd　have　to　go　farther　west　to　find　my　stamping　grounds。〃

〃Ah；　let　me　seeNevada？〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃California？〃

〃Still　farther　west。〃

〃It　can't　be；　or　else　I've　forgotten　my　geography。〃

〃It's　your　politics；〃　she　laughed。　　〃Don't　you　remember　'Annexation'？〃

〃The　Philippines！〃　he　cried　triumphantly。

〃No；　Hawaii。　　I　was　born　there。　　It　is　a　beautiful　land。　　My；　I'm　almost　homesick　for　it　already。　　Not　that　I　haven't　been　away。　　I　was　in　New　York　when　the　crash　came。　　But　I　do　think　it　is　the　sweetest　spot　on　earthHawaii；　I　mean。〃

〃Then　what　under　the　sun　are　you　doing　down　here　in　this　God…　forsaken　place？〃　he　asked。　　〃Only　fools　come　here；〃　he　added　bitterly。

〃Nielsen　wasn't　a　fool；　was　he？〃　she　queried。　　〃As　I　understand；　he　made　three　millions　here。〃

〃Only　too　true；　and　that　fact　is　responsible　for　my　being　here。〃

〃And　for　me；　too；〃　she　said。　　〃Dad　heard　about　him　in　the　Marquesas；　and　so　we　started。　　Only　poor　Dad　didn't　get　here。〃

〃Heyour　fatherdied？〃　he　faltered。

She　nodded；　and　her　eyes　grew　soft　and　moist。

〃I　might　as　well　begin　at　the　beginning。〃　　She　lifted　her　head　with　a　proud　air　of　dismissing　sadness；　after；　the　manner　of　a　woman　qualified　to　wear　a　Baden…Powell　and　a　long…barrelled　Colt's。　　〃I　was　born　at　Hilo。　　That's　on　the　island　of　Hawaiithe　biggest　and　best　in　the　whole　group。　　I　was　brought　up　the　way　most　girls　in　Hawaii　are　brought　up。　　They　live　in　the　open；　and　they　know　how　to　ride　and　swim　before　they　know　what　six…times…six　is。　　As　for　me；　I　can't　remember　when　I　first　got　on　a　horse　nor　when　I　learned　to　swim。　　That　came　before　my　A　B　C's。　　Dad　owned　cattle　ranches　on　Hawaii　and　Mauibig　ones；　for　the　islands。　　Hokuna　had　two　hundred　thousand　acres　alone。　　It　extended　in　between　Mauna　Koa　and　Mauna　Loa；　and　it　was　there　I　learned　to　shoot　goats　and　wild　cattle。　　On　Molokai　they　have　big　spotted　deer。　　Von　was　the　manager　of　Hokuna。　He　had　two　daughters　about　my　own　age；　and　I　always　spent　the　hot　season　there；　and；　once；　a　whole　year。　　The　three　of　us　were　like　Indians。　　Not　that　we　ran　wild；　exactly；　but　that　we　were　wild　to　run　wild。　　There　were　always　the　governesses；　you　know；　and　lessons；　and　sewing；　and　housekeeping；　but　I'm　afraid　we　were　too　often　bribed　to　our　tasks　with　promises　of　horses　or　of　cattle　drives。

〃Von　had　been　in　the　army；　and　Dad　was　an　old　sea…dog；　and　they　were　both　stern　disciplinarians；　only　the　two　girls　had　no　mother；　and　neither　had　I；　and　they　were　two　men　after　all。　　They　spoiled　us　terribly。　　You　see；　they　didn't　have　any　wives；　and　they　made　chums　out　of　uswhen　our　tasks　were　done。　　We　had　to　learn　to　do　everything　about　the　house　twice　as　well　as　the　native　servants　did　itthat　was　so　that　we　should　know　how　to　manage　some　day。　　And　we　always　made　the　cocktails；　which　was　too　holy　a　rite　for　any　servant。　　Then；　too；　we　were　never　allowed　anything　we　could　not　take　care　of　ourselves。　　Of　course　the　cowboys　always　roped　and　saddled　our　horses；　but　we　had　to　be　able　ourselves　to　go　out　in　the　paddock　and　rope　our　horses〃

〃What　do　you　mean　by　ROPE？〃　Sheldon　asked。

〃To　lariat　them；　to　lasso　them。　　And　Dad　and　Von　timed　us　in　the　saddling　and　made　a　most　rigid　examination　of　the　result。　　It　was　the　same　way　with　our　revolvers　and　rifles。　　The　house…boys　always　cleaned　them　and　greased　them；　but　we　had　to　learn　how　in　order　to　see　that　they　did　it　properly。　　More　than　once；　at　first；　one　or　the　other　of　us　had　our　rifles　taken　away　for　a　week　just　because　of　a　tiny　speck　of　rust。　　We　had　to　know　how　to　build　fires　in　the　driving　rain；　too；　out　of　wet　wood；　when　we　camped　out；　which　was　the　hardest　thing　of　allexcept　grammar；　I　do　believe。　　We　learned　more　from　Dad　and　Von　than　from　the　governesses；　Dad　taught　us　French　and　Von　German。　　We　learned　both　languages　passably　well；　and　we　learned　them　wholly　in　the　saddle　or　in　camp。

〃In　the　cool　season　the　girls　used　to　come　down　and　visit　me　in　Hilo；　where　Dad　had　two　houses；　one　at　the　beach；　or　the　three　of　us　used　to　go　down　to　our　place　in　Puna；　and　that　meant　canoes　and　boats　and　fishing　and　swimming。　　Then；　too；　Dad　belonged　to　the　Royal　Hawaiian　Yacht　Club；　and　took　us　racing　and　cruising。　　Dad　could　never　get　away　from　the　sea；　you　know。　　When　I　was　fourteen　I　was　Dad's　actual　housekeeper；　with　entire　power　over　the　servants；　and　I　am　very　proud　of　that　period　of　my　life。　　And　when　I　was　sixteen　we　three　girls　were　all　sent　up　to　California　to　Mills　Seminary；　which　was　quite　fashionable　and　stifling。　　How　we　used　to　long　for　home！　　We　didn't　chum　with　the　other　girls；　who　called　us　little　cannibals；　just　because　we　came　from　the　Sandwich　Islands；　and　who　made　invidious　remarks　about　our　ancestors　banqueting　on　Captain　Cookwhich　was　historically　untrue；　and；　besides；　our　ancestors　hadn't　lived　in　Hawaii。

〃I　was　three　years　at　Mills　Seminary；　with　trips　home；　of　course；　and　two　years　in　New　York；　and　then　Dad　went　smash　in　a　sugar　plantation　on　Maui。　　The　report　of　the　engineers　had　not　been　right。　　Then　Dad　had　built　a　railroad　that　was　called　'Lackland's　Folly；'it　will　pay　ultimately；　though。　　But　it　contributed　to　the　smash。　　The　Pelaulau　Ditch　was　the　finishing　blow。　　And　nothing　would　have　happened　anyway；　if　it　hadn't　been　for　that　big　money　panic　in　Wall　Street。　　Dear　good　Dad！　　He　never　let　me　know。　　But　I　read　about　the　crash　in　a　newspaper；　and　hurried　home。　　It　was　before　that；　though；　that　people　had　been　dinging　into　my　ears　that　marriage　was　all　any　woman　could　get　out　of　life；　and　good…bye　to　romance。　　Instead　of　which；　with　Dad's　failure；　I　fell　right　into　romance。〃

〃How　long　ago　was　that？〃　Sheldon　asked。

〃Last　yearthe　year　of　the　panic。〃

〃Let　me　see；〃　Sheldon　pondered　with　an　air　of　gravity。　　〃Sixteen　plus　five；　plus　one；　equals　twenty…two。　　You　were　born　in　1887？〃

〃Yes；　but　it　is　not　nice　of　you。〃

〃I　am　really　sorry；〃　he　said；　〃but　the　problem　was　so　obvious。〃

〃Can't　you　ever　say　nice　things？　　Or　is　it　the　way　you　English　have？〃　　There　was　a　snap　in　her　gray　eyes；　and　her　lips　quivered　suspiciously　for　a　moment。　　〃I　should　recommend；　Mr。　Sheldon；　that　you　read　Gertrude　Atherton's　'American　Wives　and　English　Husbands。'〃

〃Thank　you；　I　have。　　It's　over　there。〃　　He　pointed　at　the　generously　filled　bookshelves。　　〃But　I　am　afraid　it　is　rather　partisan。〃

〃Anything　un…English　is　bound　to　be；〃　she　retorted。　　〃I　never　have　liked　the　English　anyway。　　The　last　one　I　knew　was　an　overseer。　Dad　was　compelled　to　discharge　him。〃

〃One　swallow　doesn't　make　a　summer。〃

〃But　that　Englishman　made　lots　of　troublethere！　　And　now　please　don't　make　me　any　more　absurd　than　I　already　am。〃

〃I'm　trying　not　to。〃

〃Oh；　for