south sea tales-第1章

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South　Sea　Tales



by　Jack　London








CONTENTS



The　House　of　Mapuhi



The　Whale　Tooth



Mauki



〃Yah！　Yah！　Yah！〃



The　Heathen



The　Terrible　Solomons



The　Inevitable　White　Man



The　Seed　of　McCoy









THE　HOUSE　OF　MAPUHI



Despite　the　heavy　clumsiness　of　her　lines；　the　Aorai　handled　easily　in　the

light　breeze；　and　her　captain　ran　her　well　in　before　he　hove　to　just　outside

the　suck　of　the　surf。　The　atoll　of　Hikueru　lay　low　on　the　water；　a　circle　of

pounded　coral　sand　a　hundred　yards　wide；　twenty　miles　in　circumference；　and

from　three　to　five　feet　above　high…water　mark。　On　the　bottom　of　the　huge　and

glassy　lagoon　was　much　pearl　shell；　and　from　the　deck　of　the　schooner；　across

the　slender　ring　of　the　atoll；　the　divers　could　be　seen　at　work。　But　the

lagoon　had　no　entrance　for　even　a　trading　schooner。　With　a　favoring　breeze

cutters　could　win　in　through　the　tortuous　and　shallow　channel；　but　the

schooners　lay　off　and　on　outside　and　sent　in　their　small　boats。



The　Aorai　swung　out　a　boat　smartly；　into　which　sprang　half　a　dozen

brown…skinned　sailors　clad　only　in　scarlet　loincloths。　　They　took　the　oars；

while　in　the　stern　sheets；　at　the　steering　sweep；　stood　a　young　man　garbed　in

the　tropic　white　that　marks　the　European。　The　golden　strain　of　Polynesia

betrayed　itself　in　the　sun…gilt　of　his　fair　skin　and　cast　up　golden　sheens　and

lights　through　the　glimmering　blue　of　his　eyes。　Raoul　he　was；　Alexandre　Raoul；

youngest　son　of　Marie　Raoul；　the　wealthy　quarter…caste；　who　owned　and　managed

half　a　dozen　trading　schooners　similar　to　the　Aorai。　Across　an　eddy　just

outside　the　entrance；　and　in　and　through　and　over　a　boiling　tide…rip；　the　boat

fought　its　way　to　the　mirrored　calm　of　the　lagoon。　Young　Raoul　leaped　out　upon

the　white　sand　and　shook　hands　with　a　tall　native。　The　man's　chest　and

shoulders　were　magnificent；　but　the　stump　of　a　right　arm；　beyond　the　flesh　of

which　the　age…whitened　bone　projected　several　inches；　attested　the　encounter

with　a　shark　that　had　put　an　end　to　his　diving　days　and　made　him　a　fawner　and

an　intriguer　for　small　favors。



〃Have　you　heard；　Alec？〃　were　his　first　words。　〃Mapuhi　has　found　a　pearlsuch

a　pearl。　Never　was　there　one　like　it　ever　fished　up　in　Hikueru；　nor　in　all　the

Paumotus；　nor　in　all　the　world。　　Buy　it　from　him。　He　has　it　now。　And　remember

that　I　told　you　first。　He　is　a　fool　and　you　can　get　it　cheap。　Have　you　any

tobacco？〃



Straight　up　the　beach　to　a　shack　under　a　pandanus　tree　Raoul　headed。　He　was

his　mother's　supercargo；　and　his　business　was　to　comb　all　the　Paumotus　for　the

wealth　of　copra；　shell；　and　pearls　that　they　yielded　up。



He　was　a　young　supercargo；　it　was　his　second　voyage　in　such　capacity；　and　he

suffered　much　secret　worry　from　his　lack　of　experience　in　pricing　pearls。　But

when　Mapuhi　exposed　the　pearl　to　his　sight　he　managed　to　suppress　the　startle

it　gave　him；　and　to　maintain　a　careless；　commercial　expression　on　his　face。

For　the　pearl　had　struck　him　a　blow。　It　was　large　as　a　pigeon　egg；　a　perfect

sphere；　of　a　whiteness　that　reflected　opalescent　lights　from　all　colors　about

it。　It　was　alive。　Never　had　he　seen　anything　like　it。　When　Mapuhi　dropped　it

into　his　hand　he　was　surprised　by　the　weight　of　it。　That　showed　that　it　was　a

good　pearl。　He　examined　it　closely；　through　a　pocket　magnifying　glass。　It　was

without　flaw　or　blemish。　The　purity　of　it　seemed　almost　to　melt　into　the

atmosphere　out　of　his　hand。　In　the　shade　it　was　softly　luminous；　gleaming　like

a　tender　moon。　So　translucently　white　was　it；　that　when　he　dropped　it　into　a

glass　of　water　he　had　difficulty　in　finding　it。　So　straight　and　swiftly　had　it

sunk　to　the　bottom　that　he　knew　its　weight　was　excellent。



〃Well；　what　do　you　want　for　it？〃　he　asked；　with　a　fine　assumption　of

nonchalance。



〃I　want〃　Mapuhi　began；　and　behind　him；　framing　his　own　dark　face；　the　dark

faces　of　two　women　and　a　girl　nodded　concurrence　in　what　he　wanted。　Their

heads　were　bent　forward；　they　were　animated　by　a　suppressed　eagerness；　their

eyes　flashed　avariciously。



〃I　want　a　house；〃　Mapuhi　went　on。　〃It　must　have　a　roof　of　galvanized　iron　and

an　octagon…drop…clock。　It　must　be　six　fathoms　long　with　a　porch　all　around。　A

big　room　must　be　in　the　centre；　with　a　round　table　in　the　middle　of　it　and　the

octagon…drop…clock　on　the　wall。　There　must　be　four　bedrooms；　two　on　each　side

of　the　big　room；　and　in　each　bedroom　must　be　an　iron　bed；　two　chairs；　and　a

washstand。　And　back　of　the　house　must　be　a　kitchen；　a　good　kitchen；　with　pots

and　pans　and　a　stove。　And　you　must　build　the　house　on　my　island；　which　is

Fakarava。〃



〃Is　that　all？〃　Raoul　asked　incredulously。



〃There　must　be　a　sewing　machine；〃　spoke　up　Tefara；　Mapuhi's　wife。



〃Not　forgetting　the　octagon…drop…clock；〃　added　Nauri；　Mapuhi's　mother。



〃Yes；　that　is　all；〃　said　Mapuhi。



Young　Raoul　laughed。　He　laughed　long　and　heartily。　But　while　he　laughed　he

secretly　performed　problems　in　mental　arithmetic。　He　had　never　built　a　house

in　his　life；　and　his　notions　concerning　house　building　were　hazy。　While　he

laughed；　he　calculated　the　cost　of　the　voyage　to　Tahiti　for　materials；　of　the

materials　themselves；　of　the　voyage　back　again　to　Fakarava；　and　the　cost　of

landing　the　materials　and　of　building　the　house。　It　would　come　to　four

thousand　French　dollars；　allowing　a　margin　for　safetyfour　thousand　French

dollars　were　equivalent　to　twenty　thousad　francs。　It　was　impossible。　How　was

he　to　know　the　value　of　such　a　pearl？　Twenty　thousand　francs　was　a　lot　of

moneyand　of　his　mother's　money　at　that。



〃Mapuhi；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　a　big　fool。　Set　a　money　price。〃



But　Mapuhi　shook　his　head；　and　the　three　heads　behind　him　shook　with　his。



〃I　want　the　house；〃　he　said。　〃It　must　be　six　fathoms　long　with　a　porch　all

around〃



〃Yes；　yes；〃　Raoul　interrupted。　〃I　know　all　about　your　house；　but　it　won't　do。

I'll　give　you　a　thousand　Chili　dollars。〃



The　four　heads　chorused　a　silent　negative。



〃And　a　hundred　Chili　dollars　in　trade。〃



〃I　want　the　house；〃　Mapuhi　began。



〃What　good　will　the　house　do　you？〃　Raoul　demanded。　〃The　first　hurricane　that

comes　along　will　wash　it　away。　You　ought　to　know。



Captain　Raffy　says　it　looks　like　a　hurricane　right　now。〃



〃Not　on　Fakarava；〃　said　Mapuhi。　〃The　land　is　much　higher　there。　　On　this

island；　yes。　Any　hurricane　can　sweep　Hikueru。　I　will　have　the　house　on

Fakarava。　It　must　be　six　fathoms　long　with　a　porch　all　around〃



And　Raoul　listened　again　to　the　tale　of　the　house。　Several　hours　he　spent　in

the　endeavor　to　hammer　the　house　obsession　out　of　Mapuhi's　mind；　but　Mapuhi's

mother　and　wife；　and　Ngakura；　Mapuhi's　daughter；　bolstered　him　in　his　resolve

for　the　house。　　Through　the　open　doorway；　while　he　listened　for　the　twentieth

time　to　the　detailed　description　of　the　house　that　was　wanted；　Raoul　saw　his

schooner's　second　boat　draw　up　on　the　beach。　The　sailors　rested　on　the　oars；

advertising　haste　to　be　gone。　The　first　mate　of　the　Aorai　sprang　ashore；

exchanged　a　word　with　the　one…armed　native；　then　hurried　toward　Raoul。　The　day

grew　suddenly　dark；　as　a　squall　obscured　the　face　of　the　sun。　Across　the

lagoon　Raoul　could　see　approaching　the　ominous　line　of　the　puff　of　wind。



〃Captain　Raffy　says　you've　got　to　get　to　hell　outa　here；〃　was　the　mate's

greeting。　〃If　there's　any　shell；　we've　got　to　run　the　risk　of　picking　it　up

later　onso　he　says。　The　barometer's　dropped　to　twenty…nine…seventy。〃



The　gust　of　wind　struck　the　pandanus　tree　overhead　and　tore　through　the　palms

beyond；　flinging　half　a　dozen　ripe　cocoanuts　with　heavy　thuds　to　the　ground。

Then　came　the　rain　out　of　the　distance；　advancing　with　the　roar　of　a　gale　of

wind　and　causing　the　water　of　the　lagoon　to　smoke　in　driven　windrows。　The

sharp　rattle　of　the　first　drops　was　on　the　leaves　when　Raoul　sprang　to　his

feet。



〃A　thousand　Chili　dollars；　cash　down；　Mapuhi；〃　he　said。　〃And　two　hundred　Chili

dollars　in　trade。〃



〃I　want　a　house〃　the　other　began。



〃Mapuhi！〃　Raoul　yelled；　in　order　to　make　himself　heard。　〃You　are　a　fool！〃



He　flung　out　of　the　house；　and；　side　by　side　with　the　mate；　fought　his　way

down　the　beach　toward　the　boat。　They　could　not　see　the　boat。　The　tropic　rain

sheeted　about　them　so　that　they　could　see　only　the　beach　under　their　feet　and

the　spiteful　little　waves　from　the　lagoon　that　snapped　and　bit　at　the　sand。　A

figure　appeared　through　the　deluge。　It　was　Huru…Huru；　the　man　with　the　one

arm。



〃Did　you　get　the　pearl？〃　he　yelled　in　Raoul's　ear。



〃Mapuhi　is　a　fool！〃　was　the　answering　yell；　and　the　next　moment　they　were　lost

to　each　other　in　the　descending　water。



Half　an　hour　later；　Huru…Huru；　watching　from　the　seaward　side　of　the　atoll；

saw　the　two　boats　hoisted　in　and　the　Aorai　pointing　her　nose　out　to　sea。　And

near　her；　just　come　in　from　the　sea　on　the　wings　of　the　squall；　he　saw　another

schooner　hove　to　and　dropping　a　boat　into　the　water。　He　knew　her。　It　was　the

OROHENA；　owned　by　Toriki；　the　half…caste　trader；　who　served　as　his　own

supercargo　and　who　doubtlessly　was　even　then　in　the　stern　sheets　of　the　boat。

Huru…Huru　chuckled。　He　knew　that　Mapuhi　owed　Toriki　for　trade　goods　advanced

the　year　before。



The　squall　had　passed。　The　hot　sun　was　blazing　down；　and　the　lagoon　was　once

more　a　mirror。　But　the　air　was　sticky　like　mucilage；　and　the　weight　of　it

seemed　to　burden　the　lungs　and　make　breathing　difficult。



〃Have　you　heard　the　news；　Toriki？〃　Huru…Huru　asked。　〃Mapuhi　has　found　a　pearl。

Never　was　there　a　pearl　like　it　ever　fished　up　in　Hikueru；　nor　anywhere　in　the

Paumotus；　nor　anywhere　in　all　the　world。　Mapuhi　is　a　fool。　Besides；　he　owes

you　money。　Remember　that　I　told　you　first。　Have　you　any　tobacco？〃



And　to　the　grass　shack　of　Mapuhi　went　Toriki。　He　was　a　masterful　man；　withal　a

fairly　stupid　one。　Carelessly　he　glanced　at　the　wonderful　pearlglanced　for　a

moment　only；　and　carelessly　he　dropped　it　into　his　pocket。



〃You　are　lucky；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　a　nice　pearl。　I　will　give　you　credit　on　the

books。〃



〃I　want　a　house；〃　Mapuhi　began；　in　consternation。　〃It　must　be　six　fathoms〃



〃Six　fathoms　your　grandmother！〃　was　the　trader's　retort。　〃You　want　to　pay　up

your　debts；　that's　what　you　want。　You　owed　me　twelve　hundred　dollars　Chili。

Very　well；　you　owe　them　no　longer。　The　amount　is　squared。　Besides；　I　will　give

you　credit　for　two　hundred　Chili。　If；　when　I　get　to　Tahiti；　the　pearl　sells

well；　I　will　give　you　credit　for　another　hundredthat　will　make　three

hundred。　But　mind；　only　if　the　pearl　sells　well。　I　may　even　lose　money　on　it。〃



Mapuhi　folded　his　arms　in　sorrow　and　sat　with　bowed　head。　He　had　been　robbed

of　his　pearl。　In　place　of　the　house；　he　had　paid　a　debt。　There　was　nothing　to

show　for　the　pearl。



〃You　are　a　fool；〃　said　Tefara。



〃You　are　a　fool；〃　said　Nauri；　his　mother。　〃Why　did　you　let　the　pearl　into　his

hand？〃



〃What　was　I　to　do？