adventure-第8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！


ssistant　understrapper　and　ex…　sailora　common　sailor。　　He　is　in　charge　of　the　government　of　the　Solomons；　to　say　nothing　of　a　hundred　or　so　niggersprisoners。　Besides；　he　is　such　a　fool　that　he　would　fine　you　five　pounds　for　not　having　entered　at　Tulagi；　which　is　the　port　of　entry；　you　know。　He　is　not　a　nice　man；　and；　I　repeat；　it　is　impossible。〃

〃There　is　Guvutu；〃　she　suggested。

He　shook　his　head。

〃There's　nothing　there　but　fever　and　five　white　men　who　are　drinking　themselves　to　death。　　I　couldn't　permit　it。〃

〃Oh　thank　you；〃　she　said　quietly。　　〃I　guess　I'll　start　to…day。　Viaburi！　　You　go　along　Noa　Noah；　speak　'm　come　along　me。〃

Noa　Noah　was　her　head　sailor；　who　had　been　boatswain　of　the　Miele。

〃Where　are　you　going？〃　Sheldon　asked　in　surprise。〃Vlaburi！　　You　stop。〃

〃To　Guvutuimmediately；〃　was　her　reply。

〃But　I　won't　permit　it。〃

〃That　is　why　I　am　going。　　You　said　it　once　before；　and　it　is　something　I　cannot　brook。〃

〃What？〃　　He　was　bewildered　by　her　sudden　anger。　　〃If　I　have　offended　in　any　way〃

〃Viaburi；　you　fetch　'm　one　fella　Noa　Noah　along　me；〃　she　commanded。

The　black　boy　started　to　obey。

〃Viaburi！　　You　no　stop　I　break　'm　head　belong　you。　　And　now；　Miss　Lackland；　I　insistyou　must　explain。　　What　have　I　said　or　done　to　merit　this？〃

〃You　have　presumed；　you　have　dared〃

She　choked　and　swallowed；　and　could　not　go　on。

Sheldon　looked　the　picture　of　despair。

〃I　confess　my　head　is　going　around　with　it　all；〃　he　said。　　〃If　you　could　only　be　explicit。〃

〃As　explicit　as　you　were　when　you　told　me　that　you　would　not　permit　me　to　go　to　Guvutu？〃

〃But　what's　wrong　with　that？〃

〃But　you　have　no　rightno　man　has　the　rightto　tell　me　what　he　will　permit　or　not　permit。　　I'm　too　old　to　have　a　guardian；　nor　did　I　sail　all　the　way　to　the　Solomons　to　find　one。〃

〃A　gentleman　is　every　woman's　guardian。〃

〃Well；　I'm　not　every　womanthat's　all。　　Will　you　kindly　allow　me　to　send　your　boy　for　Noa　Noah？　　I　wish　him　to　launch　the　whale…　boat。　　Or　shall　I　go　myself　for　him？〃

Both　were　now　on　their　feet；　she　with　flushed　cheeks　and　angry　eyes；　he；　puzzled；　vexed；　and　alarmed。　　The　black　boy　stood　like　a　statuea　plum…black　statuetaking　no　interest　in　the　transactions　of　these　incomprehensible　whites；　but　dreaming　with　calm　eyes　of　a　certain　bush　village　high　on　the　jungle　slopes　of　Malaita；　with　blue　smoke　curling　up　from　the　grass　houses　against　the　gray　background　of　an　oncoming　mountain…squall。

〃But　you　won't　do　anything　so　foolish〃　he　began。

〃There　you　go　again；〃　she　cried。

〃I　didn't　mean　it　that　way；　and　you　know　I　didn't。〃　　He　was　speaking　slowly　and　gravely。　　〃And　that　other　thing；　that　not　permittingit　is　only　a　manner　of　speaking。　　Of　course　I　am　not　your　guardian。　　You　know　you　can　go　to　Guvutu　if　you　want　to〃〃or　to　the　devil；〃　he　was　almost　tempted　to　add。　　〃Only；　I　should　deeply　regret　it；　that　is　all。　　And　I　am　very　sorry　that　I　should　have　said　anything　that　hurt　you。　　Remember；　I　am　an　Englishman。〃

Joan　smiled　and　sat　down　again。

〃Perhaps　I　have　been　hasty；〃　she　admitted。　　〃You　see；　I　am　intolerant　of　restraint。　　If　you　only　knew　how　I　have　been　compelled　to　fight　for　my　freedom。　　It　is　a　sore　point　with　me；　this　being　told　what　I　am　to　do　or　not　do　by　you　self…constituted　lords　of　creation。…Viaburi　I　You　stop　along　kitchen。　　No　bring　'm　Noa　Noah。And　now；　Mr。　Sheldon；　what　am　I　to　do？　　You　don't　want　me　here；　and　there　doesn't　seem　to　be　any　place　for　me　to　go。〃

〃That　is　unfair。　　Your　being　wrecked　here　has　been　a　godsend　to　me。　I　was　very　lonely　and　very　sick。　　I　really　am　not　certain　whether　or　not　I　should　have　pulled　through　had　you　not　happened　along。　But　that　is　not　the　point。　　Personally；　purely　selfishly　personally；　I　should　be　sorry　to　see　you　go。　　But　I　am　not　considering　myself。　　I　am　considering　you。　　Itit　is　hardly　the　proper　thing；　you　know。　　If　I　were　marriedif　there　were　some　woman　of　your　own　race　herebut　as　it　is〃

She　threw　up　her　hands　in　mock　despair。

〃I　cannot　follow　you；〃　she　said。　　〃In　one　breath　you　tell　me　I　must　go；　and　in　the　next　breath　you　tell　me　there　is　no　place　to　go　and　that　you　will　not　permit　me　to　go。　　What　is　a　poor　girl　to　do？〃

〃That's　the　trouble；〃　he　said　helplessly。

〃And　the　situation　annoys　you。〃

〃Only　for　your　sake。〃

〃Then　let　me　save　your　feelings　by　telling　you　that　it　does　not　annoy　me　at　allexcept　for　the　row　you　are　making　about　it。　　I　never　allow　what　can't　be　changed　to　annoy　me。　　There　is　no　use　in　fighting　the　inevitable。　　Here　is　the　situation。　　You　are　here。　　I　am　here。　　I　can't　go　elsewhere；　by　your　own　account。　　You　certainly　can't　go　elsewhere　and　leave　me　here　alone　with　a　whole　plantation　and　two　hundred　woolly　cannibals　on　my　hands。　　Therefore　you　stay；　and　I　stay。　　It　is　very　simple。　　Also；　it　is　adventure。　　And　furthermore；　you　needn't　worry　for　yourself。　　I　am　not　matrimonially　inclined。　　I　came　to　the　Solomons　for　a　plantation；　not　a　husband。〃

Sheldon　flushed；　but　remained　silent。

〃I　know　what　you　are　thinking；〃　she　laughed　gaily。　　〃That　if　I　were　a　man　you'd　wring　my　neck　for　me。　　And　I　deserve　it；　too。　　I'm　so　sorry。　　I　ought　not　to　keep　on　hurting　your　feelings。〃

〃I'm　afraid　I　rather　invite　it；〃　he　said；　relieved　by　the　signs　of　the　tempest　subsiding。

〃I　have　it；〃　she　announced。　　〃Lend　me　a　gang　of　your　boys　for　to…　day。　　I'll　build　a　grass　house　for　myself　over　in　the　far　corner　of　the　compoundon　piles；　of　course。　　I　can　move　in　to…night。　　I'll　be　comfortable　and　safe。　　The　Tahitians　can　keep　an　anchor　watch　just　as　aboard　ship。　　And　then　I'll　study　cocoanut　planting。　　In　return；　I'll　run　the　kitchen　end　of　your　household　and　give　you　some　decent　food　to　eat。　　And　finally；　I　won't　listen　to　any　of　your　protests。　　I　know　all　that　you　are　going　to　say　and　offer　your　giving　the　bungalow　up　to　me　and　building　a　grass　house　for　yourself。　　And　I　won't　have　it。　　You　may　as　well　consider　everything　settled。　　On　the　other　hand；　if　you　don't　agree；　I　will　go　across　the　river；　beyond　your　jurisdiction；　and　build　a　village　for　myself　and　my　sailors；　whom　I　shall　send　in　the　whale…boat　to　Guvutu　for　provisions。　　And　now　I　want　you　to　teach　me　billiards。〃



CHAPTER　VIIA　HARD…BITTEN　GANG



Joan　took　hold　of　the　household　with　no　uncertain　grip；　revolutionizing　things　till　Sheldon　hardly　recognized　the　place。　For　the　first　time　the　bungalow　was　clean　and　orderly。　　No　longer　the　house…boys　loafed　and　did　as　little　as　they　could；　while　the　cook　complained　that　〃head　belong　him　walk　about　too　much；〃　from　the　strenuous　course　in　cookery　which　she　put　him　through。　　Nor　did　Sheldon　escape　being　roundly　lectured　for　his　laziness　in　eating　nothing　but　tinned　provisions。　　She　called　him　a　muddler　and　a　slouch；　and　other　invidious　names；　for　his　slackness　and　his　disregard　of　healthful　food。

She　sent　her　whale…boat　down　the　coast　twenty　miles　for　limes　and　oranges；　and　wanted　to　know　scathingly　why　said　fruits　had　not　long　since　been　planted　at　Berande；　while　he　was　beneath　contempt　because　there　was　no　kitchen　garden。　　Mummy　apples；　which　he　had　regarded　as　weeds；　under　her　guidance　appeared　as　appetizing　breakfast　fruit；　and；　at　dinner；　were　metamorphosed　into　puddings　that　elicited　his　unqualified　admiration。　　Bananas；　foraged　from　the　bush；　were　served；　cooked　and　raw；　a　dozen　different　ways；　each　one　of　which　he　declared　was　better　than　any　other。　　She　or　her　sailors　dynamited　fish　daily；　while　the　Balesuna　natives　were　paid　tobacco　for　bringing　in　oysters　from　the　mangrove　swamps。　　Her　achievements　with　cocoanuts　were　a　revelation。　　She　taught　the　cook　how　to　make　yeast　from　the　milk；　that；　in　turn；　raised　light　and　airy　bread。　　From　the　tip…top　heart　of　the　tree　she　concocted　a　delicious　salad。　　From　the　milk　and　the　meat　of　the　nut　she　made　various　sauces　and　dressings；　sweet　and　sour；　that　were　served；　according　to　preparation；　with　dishes　that　ranged　from　fish　to　pudding。　　She　taught　Sheldon　the　superiority　of　cocoanut　cream　over　condensed　cream；　for　use　in　coffee。　　From　the　old　and　sprouting　nuts　she　took　the　solid；　spongy　centres　and　turned　them　into　salads。　　Her　forte　seemed　to　be　salads；　and　she　astonished　him　with　the　deliciousness　of　a　salad　made　from　young　bamboo　shoots。　　Wild　tomatoes；　which　had　gone　to　seed　or　been　remorselessly　hoed　out　from　the　beginning　of　Berande；　were　foraged　for　salads；　soups；　and　sauces。　　The　chickens；　which　had　always　gone　into　the　bush　and　hidden　their　eggs；　were　given　laying…bins；　and　Joan　went　out　herself　to　shoot　wild　duck　and　wild　pigeons　for　the　table。

〃Not　that　I　like　to　do　this　sort　of　work；〃　she　explained；　in　reference　to　the　cookery；　〃but　because　I　can't　get　away　from　Dad's　training。〃

Among　other　things；　she　burned　the　pestilential　hospital；　quarrelled　with　Sheldon　over　the　dead；　and；　in　anger；　set　her　own　men　to　work　building　a　new；　and　what　she　called　a　decent；　hospital。　She　robbed　the　windows　of　their　lawn　and　muslin　curtains；　replacing　them　with　gaudy　calico　from　the　trade…store；　and　made　herself　several　gowns。　　When　she　wrote　out　a　list　of　goods　and　clothing　for　herself；　to　be　sent　down　to　Sydney　by　the　first　steamer；　Sheldon　wondered　how　long　she　had　made　up　her　mind　to　stay。

She　was　certainly　unlike　any　woman　he　had　ever　known　or　dreamed　of。　So　far　as　he　was　concerned　she　was　not　a　woman　at　all。　　She　neither　languished　nor　blandished。　　No　feminine　lures　were　wasted　on　him。　He　might　have　been　her　brother；　or　she　his　brother；　for　all　sex　had　to　do　with　the　strange　situation。　　Any　mere　polite　gallantry　on　his　part　was　ignored　or　snubbed；　and　he　had　very　early　given　up　offering　his　hand　to　her　in　getting　into　a　boat　or　climbing　over　a　log；　and　he　had　to　acknowledge　to　himself　that　she　was　eminently　fitted　to　take　care　of　herself。　　Despite　his　warnings　about　crocodiles　and　sharks；　she　persisted　in　swimming　in　deep　water　off　the　beach；　nor　could　he　persuade　her；　when　she　was　in　the　boat；　to　let　one　of　the　sailors　throw　the　dynamite　when　shooting　fish。　　She　argued　that　she　was　at　least　a　little　bit　more　intelligent　than　they；　and　that；　therefore；　there　was　less　liability　of　an　accident　if　she　did　the　shooting。　　She　was　to　him　the　most　masculine　and　at　the　same　time　the　most　feminine　woman　he　had　ever　met。

A　source　of　continual　trouble　between　them　was　the　disagreement　over　methods　of　handling　the　black　boys。　　She　ruled　by　stern　kindness；　rarely　rewarding；　never　punishing；　and　he　had　to　confess　that　her　own　sailors　worshipped　her；　while　the　house…boys　were　her　slaves；　and　did　three　times　as　much　work　for　her　as　he　had　ever　got　out　of　them。　　She　quickly　saw　the　unrest　of　the　contract　labourers；　and　was　not　blind　to　the　danger；　always　imminent；　that　both　she　and　Sheldon　ran。　　Neither　of　them　ever　ventured　out　without　a　revolver；　and　the　sailors　who　stood　the　night　watches　by　Joan's　grass　house　were　armed　with　rifles。　　But　Joan　insisted　that　this　reign　of　terror　had　been　caused　by　the　reign　of　fear　practised　by　the　white　men。　　She　had　been　brought　up　with　the　gentle　Hawaiians；　who　never　were　ill…treated　nor　roughly　handled；　and　she　generalized　that　the　Solomon　Islanders；　under　kind　treatment；　would　grow　gentle。

One　evening　a　terrific　uproar　arose　in　the　barracks；　and　Sheldon；　aided　by　Joan's　sailors；　succeeded　in　rescuing　two　women　whom　the