adventure-第7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！



〃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　that　matter〃　　She　tossed　her　head；　opened　her　mouth　to　complete　the　retort；　then　changed　her　mind。　　〃I　shall　go　on　with　my　history。　　Dad　had　practically　nothing　left；　and　he　decided　to　return　to　the　sea。　　He'd　always　loved　it；　and　I　half　believe　that　he　was　glad　things　had　happened　as　they　did。　　He　was　like　a　boy　again；　busy　with　plans　and　preparations　from　morning　till　night。　He　used　to　sit　up　half　the　night　talking　things　over　with　me。　　That　was　after　I　had　shown　him　that　I　was　really　resolved　to　go　along。

〃He　had　made　his　start；　you　know；　in　the　South　Seaspearls　and　pearl　shelland　he　was　sure　that　more　fortunes；　in　trove　of　one　sort　and　another；　were　to　be　picked　up。　　Cocoanut…planting　was　his　particular　idea；　with　trading；　and　maybe　pearling；　along　with　other　things；　until　the　plantation　should　come　into　bearing。　　He　traded　off　his　yacht　for　a　schooner；　the　Miele；　and　away　we　went。　　I　took　care　of　him　and　studied　navigation。　　He　was　his　own　skipper。　　We　had　a　Danish　mate；　Mr。　Ericson；　and　a　mixed　crew　of　Japanese　and　Hawaiians。　　We　went　up　and　down　the　Line　Islands；　first；　until　Dad　was　heartsick。　　Everything　was　changed。　　They　had　been　annexed　and　divided　by　one　power　or　another；　while　big　companies　had　stepped　in　and　gobbled　land；　trading　rights；　fishing　rights；　everything。

〃Next　we　sailed　for　the　Marquesas。　　They　were　beautiful；　but　the　natives　were　nearly　extinct。　　Dad　was　cut　up　when　he　learned　that　the　French　charged　an　export　duty　on　coprahe　called　it　medieval　but　he　liked　the　land。　　There　was　a　valley　of　fifteen　thousand　acres　on　Nuka…hiva；　half　inclosing　a　perfect　anchorage；　which　he　fell　in　love　with　and　bought　for　twelve　hundred　Chili　dollars。　　But　the　French　taxation　was　outrageous　（that　was　why　the　land　was　so　cheap）；　and；　worst　of　all；　we　could　obtain　no　labour。　　What　kanakas　there　were　wouldn't　work；　and　the　officials　seemed　to　sit　up　nights　thinking　out　new　obstacles　to　put　in　our　way。

〃Six　months　was　enough　for　Dad。　　The　situation　was　hopeless。　'We'll　go　to　the　Solomons；'　he　said；　'and　get　a　whiff　of　English　rule。　　And　if　there　are　no　openings　there　we'll　go　on　to　the　Bismarck　Archipelago。　　I'll　wager　the　Admiraltys　are　not　yet　civilized。'　　All　preparations　were　made；　things　packed　on　board；　and　a　new　crew　of　Marquesans　and　Tahitians　shipped。　　We　were　just　ready　to　start　to　Tahiti；　where　a　lot　of　repairs　and　refitting　for　the　Miele　were　necessary；　when　poor　Dad　came　down　sick　and　died。〃

〃And　you　were　left　all　alone？〃

Joan　nodded。

〃Very　much　alone。　　I　had　no　brothers　nor　sisters；　and　all　Dad's　people　were　drowned　in　a　Kansas　cloud…burst。　　That　happened　when　he　was　a　little　boy。　　Of　course；　I　could　go　back　to　Von。　　There's　always　a　home　there　waiting　for　me。　　But　why　should　I　go？　　Besides；　there　were　Dad's　plans；　and　I　felt　that　it　devolved　upon　me　to　carry　them　out。　　It　seemed　a　fine　thing　to　do。　　Also；　I　wanted　to　carry　them　out。　　And　。　。　。　here　I　am。

〃Take　my　advice　and　never　go　to　Tahiti。　　It　is　a　lovely　place；　and　so　are　the　natives。　　But　the　white　people！　　Now　Barabbas　lived　in　Tahiti。　　Thieves；　robbers；　and　lairsthat　is　what　they　are。　　The　honest　men　wouldn't　require　the　fingers　of　one　hand　to　count。　　The　fact　that　I　was　a　woman　only　simplified　matters　with　them。　　They　robbed　me　on　every　pretext；　and　they　lied　without　pretext　or　need。　Poor　Mr。　Ericson　was　corrupted。　　He　joined　the　robbers；　and　O。K。'd　all　their　demands　even　up　to　a　thousand　per　cent。　　If　they　robbed　me　of　ten　francs；　his　share　was　three。　　One　bill　of　fifteen　hundred　francs　I　paid；　netted　him　five　hundred　francs。　　All　this；　of　course；　I　learned　afterward。　　But　the　Miele　was　old；　the　repairs　had　to　be　made；　and　I　was　charged；　not　three　prices；　but　seven　prices。

〃I　never　shall　know　how　much　Ericson　got　out　of　it。　　He　lived　ashore　in　a　nicely　furnished　house。　　The　shipwrights　were　giving　it　to　him　rent…free。　　Fruit；　vegetables；　fish；　meat；　and　ice　came　to　this　house　every　day；　and　he　paid　for　none　of　it。　　It　was　part　of　his　graft　from　the　various　merchants。　　And　all　the　while；　with　tears　in　his　eyes；　he　bemoaned　the　vile　treatment　I　was　receiving　from　the　gang。　　No；　I　did　not　fall　among　thieves。　　I　went　to　Tahiti。

〃But　when　the　robbers　fell　to　cheating　one　another；　I　got　my　first　clues　to　the　state　of　affairs。　　One　of　the　robbed　robbers　came　to　me　after　dark；　with　facts；　figures；　and　assertions。　　I　knew　I　was　ruined　if　I　went　to　law。　　The　judges　were　corrupt　like　everything　else。　　But　I　did　do　one　thing。　　In　the　dead　of　night　I　went　to　Ericson's　house。　　I　had　the　same　revolver　I've　got　now；　and　I　made　him　stay　in　bed　while　I　overhauled　things。　　Nineteen　hundred　and　odd　francs　was　what　I　carried　away　with　me。　　He　never　complained　to　the　police；　and　he　never　came　back　on　board。　　As　for　the　rest　of　the　gang；　they　laughed　and　snapped　their　fingers　at　me。　　There　were　two　Americans　in　the　place；　and　they　warned　me　to　leave　the　law　alone　unless　I　wanted　to　leave　the　Miele　behind　as　well。

〃Then　I　sent　to　New　Zealand　and　got　a　German　mate。　　He　had　a　master's　certificate；　and　was　on　the　ship's　papers　as　captain；　but　I　was　a　better　navigator　than　he；　and　I　was　really　captain　myself。　I　lost　her；　too；　but　it's　no　reflection　on　my　seamanship。　　We　were　drifting　four　days　outside　there　in　dead　calms。　　Then　the　nor'wester　caught　us　and　drove　us　on　the　lee　shore。　　We　made　sail　and　tried　to　clew　off；　when　the　rotten　work　of　the　Tahiti　shipwrights　became　manifest。　　Our　jib…boom　and　all　our　head…stays　carried　away。　　Our　only　chance　was　to　turn　and　run　through　the　passage　between　Florida　and　Ysabel。　　And　when　we　were　safely　through；　in　the　twilight；　where　the　chart　shows　fourteen　fathoms　as　the　shoalest　water；　we　smashed　on　a　coral　patch。　　The　poor　old　Miele　struck　only　once；　and　then　went　clear；　but　it　was　too　much　for　her；　and　we　just　had　time　to　clear　away　in　the　boat　when　she　went　down。　　The　German　mate　was　drowned。　　We　lay　all　night　to　a　sea…drag；　and　next　morning　sighted　your　place　here。〃

〃I　suppose　you　will　go　back　to　Von；　now？〃　Sheldon　queried。

〃Nothing　of　the　sort。　　Dad　planned　to　go　to　the　Solomons。　　I　shall　look　about　for　some　land　and　start　a　small　plantation。　　Do　you　know　any　good　land　around　here？　　Cheap？〃

〃By　George；　you　Yankees　are　remarkable；　really　remarkable；〃　said　Sheldon。　　〃I　should　never　have　dreamed　of　such　a　venture。〃

〃Adventure；〃　Joan　corrected　him。

〃That's　rightadventure　it　is。　　And　if　you'd　gone　ashore　on　Malaita　instead　of　Guadalcanar　you'd　have　been　kai…kai'd　long　ago；　along　with　your　noble　Tahitian　sailors。〃

Joan　shuddered。

〃To　tell　the　truth；〃　she　confessed；　〃we　were　very　much　afraid　to　land　on　Guadalcanar。　　I　read　in　the　'Sailing　Directions'　that　the　natives　were　treacherous　and　hostile。　　Some　day　I　should　like　to　go　to　Malaita。　　Are　there　any　plantations　there？〃

〃Not　one。　　Not　a　white　trader　even。〃

〃Then　I　shall　go　over　on　a　recruiting　vessel　some　time。〃

〃Impossible！〃　Sheldon　cried。　　〃It　is　no　place　for　a　woman。〃

〃I　shall　go　just　the　same；〃　she　repeated。

〃But　no　self…respecting　woman〃

〃Be　careful；〃　she　warned　him。　　〃I　shall　go　some　day；　and　then　you　may　be　sorry　for　the　names　you　have　called　me。〃



CHAPTER　VITEMPEST



It　was　the　first　time　Sheldon　had　been　at　close　quarters　with　an　American　girl；　and　he　would　have　wondered　if　all　American　girls　were　like　Joan　Lackland　had　he　not　had　wit　enough　to　realize　that　she　was　not　at　all　typical。　　Her　quick　mind　and　changing　moods　bewildered　him；　while　her　outlook　on　life　was　so　different　from　what　he　conceived　a　woman's　outlook　should　be；　that　he　was　more　often　than　not　at　sixes　and　sevens　with　her。　　He　could　never　anticipate　what　she　would　say　or　do　next。　　Of　only　one　thing　was　he　sure；　and　that　was　that　whatever　she　said　or　did　was　bound　to　be　unexpected　and　unsuspected。　　There　seemed；　too；　something　almost　hysterical　in　her　make…up。　　Her　temper　was　quick　and　stormy；　and　she　relied　too　much　on　herself　and　too　little　on　him；　which　did　not　approximate　at　all　to　his　ideal　of　woman's　conduct　when　a　man　was　around。　　Her　assumption　of　equality　with　him　was　disconcerting；　and　at　times　he　half…consciously　resented　the　impudence　and　bizarreness　of　her　intrusion　upon　himrising　out　of　the　sea　in　a　howling　nor'wester；　fresh　from　poking　her　revolver　under　Ericson's　nose；　protected　by　her　gang　of　huge　Polynesian　sailors；　and　settling　down　in　Berande　like　any　shipwrecked　sailor。　　It　was　all　on　a　par　with　her　Baden…Powell　and　the　long　38　Colt's。

At　any　rate；　she　did　not　look　the　part。　　And　that　was　what　he　could　not　forgive。　　Had　she　been　short…haired；　heavy…jawed；　large…　muscled；　hard…bitten；　and　utterly　unlovely　in　every　way；　all　would　have　been　well。　　Instead　of　which　she　was　hopelessly　and　deliciously　feminine。　　Her　hair　worried　him；　it　was　so　generously　beautiful。　　And　she　was　so　slenderly　and　prettily　the　womanthe　girl；　ratherthat　it　cut　him　like　a　knife　to　see　her；　with　quick；　comprehensive　eyes　and　sharply　imperative　voice；　superintend　the　launching　of　the　whale…boat　through　the　surf。　　In　imagination　he　could　see　her　roping　a　horse；　and　it　always　made　him　shudder。　Then；　too；　she　was　so　many…sided。　　Her　knowledge　of　literature　and　art　surprised　him；　while　deep　down　was　the　feeling　that　a　girl　who　knew　such　things　had　no　right　to　know　how　to　rig　tackles；　heave　up　anchors；　and　sail　schooners　around　the　South　Seas。　　Such　things　in　her　brain　were　like　so　many　oaths　on　her　lips。　　While　for　such　a　girl　to　insist　that　she　was　going　on　a　recruiting　cruise　around　Malaita　was　positive　self…sacrilege。

He　always　perturbedly　harked　back　to　her　feminineness。　　She　could　play　the　piano　far　better　than　his　sisters　at　home；　and　with　far　finer　appreciationthe　piano　that　poor　Hughie　had　so　heroically　laboured　over　to　keep　in　condition。　　And　when　she　strummed　the　guitar　and　sang　liquid；　velvety　Hawaiian　hulas；　he　sat　entranced。　Then　she　was　all　woman；　and　the　magic　of　sex　kidnapped　the　irritations　of　the　day　and　made　him　forget　the　big　revolver；　the　Baden…Powell；　and　all　the　rest。　　But　what　right；　the　next　thought　in　his　brain　would　whisper；　had　such　a　girl　to　swagger　around　like　a　man　and　exult　that　adventure　was　not　dead？　　Woman　that　adventured　were　adventuresses；　and　the　connotation　was　not　nice。　　Besides；　he　was　not　enamoured　of　adventure。　　Not　since　he　was　a　boy　had　it　appealed　to　himthough　it　would　have　driven　him　hard　to　explain　what　had　brought　him　from　England　to　the　Solomons　if　it　had　not　been　adventure。

Sheldon　certainly　was　not　happy。　　The　unconventional　state　of　affairs　was　too　much　for　his　conservative　disposition　and　training。　Berande；　inhabited　by　one　lone　white　man；　was　no　place　for　Joan　Lackland。　　Yet　he　racked　his　brain　for　a　way　out；　and　even　talked　it　over　with　her。　　In　the　first　place；　the　steamer　from　Australia　was　not　due　for　three　weeks。

〃One　thing　is　evident：　　you　don't　want　me　here；〃　she　said。　　〃I'll　man　the　whale…boat　to…morrow　and　go　over　to　Tulagi。〃

〃But　as　I　told　you　before；　that　is　impossible；〃　he　cried。　　〃There　is　no　one　there。　　The　Resident　Commissioner　is　away　in　Australia。　Them　is　only　one　white　man；　a　third　assistant