south sea tales-第18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！





Bertie　slept　that　night　in　the　captain's　cabin；　a　tiny　stateroom　off　the　main

cabin。　The　for'ard　bulkhead　was　decorated　with　a　stand　of　rifles。　Over　the

bunk　were　three　more　rifles。　Under　the　bunk　was　a　big　drawer；　which；　when　he

pulled　it　out；　he　found　filled　with　ammunition；　dynamite；　and　several　boxes　of

detonators。　He　elected　to　take　the　settee　on　the　opposite　side。　　Lying

conspicuously　on　the　small　table；　was　the　Arla's　log。　　Bertie　did　not　know

that　it　had　been　especially　prepared　for　the　occasion　by　Captain　Malu；　and　he

read　therein　how　on　September　21；　two　boat's　crew　had　fallen　overboard　and

been　drowned。　　Bertie　read　between　the　lines　and　knew　better。　He　read　how　the

Arla's　whale　boat　had　been　bushwhacked　at　Su'u　and　had　lost　three　men；　of　how

the　skipper　discovered　the　cook　stewing　human　flesh　on　the　galley　fireflesh

purchased　by　the　boat's　crew　ashore　in　Fui；　of　how　an　accidental　discharge　of

dynamite；　while　signaling；　had　killed　another　boat's　crew；　of　night　attacks；

ports　fled　from　between　the　dawns；　attacks　by　bushmen　in　mangrove　swamps　and

by　fleets　of　salt…water　men　in　the　larger　passages。　One　item　that　occurred

with　monotonous　frequency　was　death　by　dysentery。　He　noticed　with　alarm　that

two　white　men　had　so　diedguests；　like　himself；　on　the　Arla。



〃I　say；　you　know；〃　Bertie　said　next　day　to　Captain　Hansen。　〃I've　been　glancing

through　your　log。〃



The　skipper　displayed　quick　vexation　that　the　log　had　been　left　lying　about。



〃And　all　that　dysentery；　you　know；　that's　all　rot；　just　like　the　accidental

drownings；〃　Bertie　continued。　〃What　does　dysentery　really　stand　for？〃



The　skipper　openly　admired　his　guest's　acumen；　stiffened　himself　to　make

indignant　denial；　then　gracefully　surrendered。



〃You　see；　it's　like　this；　Mr。　Arkwright。　These　islands　have　got　a　bad　enough

name　as　it　is。　It's　getting　harder　every　day　to　sign　on　white　men。　Suppose　a

man　is　killed。　The　company　has　to　pay　through　the　nose　for　another　man　to　take

the　job。　But　if　the　man　merely　dies　of　sickness；　it's　all　right。　The　new　chums

don't　mind　disease。　What　they　draw　the　line　at　is　being　murdered。　I　thought

the　skipper　of　the　Arla　had　died　of　dysentery　when　I　took　his　billet。　Then　it

was　too　late。　I'd　signed　the　contract。〃



〃Besides；〃　said　Mr。　Jacobs；　〃there's　altogether　too　many　accidental　drownings

anyway。　It　don't　look　right。　It's　the　fault　of　the　government。　A　white　man

hasn't　a　chance　to　defend　himself　from　the　niggers。〃



〃Yes；　look　at　the　Princess　and　that　Yankee　mate；〃　the　skipper　took　up　the

tale。　〃She　carried　five　white　men　besides　a　government　agent。　The　captain；　the

agent；　and　the　supercargo　were　ashore　in　the　two　boats。　They　were　killed　to

the　last　man。　　The　mate　and　boson；　with　about　fifteen　of　the　crewSamoans　and

Tonganswere　on　board。　A　crowd　of　niggers　came　off　from　shore。　　First　thing

the　mate　knew；　the　boson　and　the　crew　were　killed　in　the　first　rush。　The　mate

grabbed　three　cartridge　belts　and　two　Winchesters　and　skinned　up　to　the

cross…trees。　He　was　the　sole　survivor；　and　you　can't　blame　him　for　being　mad。

He　pumped　one　rifle　till　it　got　so　hot　he　couldn't　hold　it；　then　he　pumped　the

other。　The　deck　was　black　with　niggers。　He　cleaned　them　out。　　He　dropped　them

as　they　went　over　the　rail；　and　he　dropped　them　as　fast　as　they　picked　up

their　paddles。　Then　they　jumped　into　the　water　and　started　to　swim　for　it；　and

being　mad；　he　got　half　a　dozen　more。　And　what　did　he　get　for　it？〃



〃Seven　years　in　Fiji；〃　snapped　the　mate。



〃The　government　said　he　wasn't　justified　in　shooting　after　they'd　taken　to　the

water；〃　the　skipper　explained。



〃And　that's　why　they　die　of　dysentery　nowadays；〃　the　mate　added。



〃Just　fancy；〃　said　Bertie；　as　he　felt　a　longing　for　the　cruise　to　be　over。



Later　on　in　the　day　he　interviewed　the　black　who　had　been　pointed　out　to　him

as　a　cannibal。　This　fellow's　name　was　Sumasai。　He　had　spent　three　years　on　a

Queensland　plantation。　He　had　been　to　Samoa；　and　Fiji；　and　Sydney；　and　as　a

boat's　crew　had　been　on　recruiting　schooners　through　New　Britain；　New　Ireland；

New　Guinea；　and　the　Admiralties。　Also；　he　was　a　wag；　and　he　had　taken　a　line

on　his　skipper's　conduct。　Yes；　he　had　eaten　many　men。　How　many？　He　could　not

remember　the　tally。　Yes；　white　men；　too；　they　were　very　good；　unless　they　were

sick。　He　had　once　eaten　a　sick　one。



〃My　word！〃　he　cried；　at　the　recollection。　〃Me　sick　plenty　along　him。　'my　belly

walk　about　too　much。〃



Bertie　shuddered；　and　asked　about　heads。　Yes；　Sumasai　had　several　hidden

ashore；　in　good　condition；　sun…dried；　and　smoke…cured。　One　was　of　the　captain

of　a　schooner。　It　had　long　whiskers。　He　would　sell　it　for　two　quid。　Black

men's　heads　he　would　sell　for　one　quid。　He　had　some　pickaninny　heads；　in　poor

condition；　that　he　would　let　go　for　ten　bob。



Five　minutes　afterward；　Bertie　found　himself　sitting　on　the　companionway…slide

alongside　a　black　with　a　horrible　skin　disease。　He　sheered　off；　and　on　inquiry

was　told　that　it　was　leprosy。　He　hurried　below　and　washed　himself　with

antiseptic　soap。　He　took　many　antiseptic　washes　in　the　course　of　the　day；　for

every　native　on　board　was　afflicted　with　malignant　ulcers　of　one　sort　or

another。



As　the　Arla　drew　in　to　an　anchorage　in　the　midst　of　mangrove　swamps；　a　double

row　of　barbed　wire　was　stretched　around　above　her　rail。　That　looked　like

business；　and　when　Bertie　saw　the　shore　canoes　alongside；　armed　with　spears；

bows　and　arrows；　and　Sniders；　he　wished　more　earnestly　than　ever　that　the

cruise　was　over。



That　evening　the　natives　were　slow　in　leaving　the　ship　at　sundown。　A　number　of

them　checked　the　mate　when　he　ordered　them　ashore。　〃Never　mind；　I'll　fix

them；〃　said　Captain　Hansen；　diving　below。



When　he　cam　back；　he　showed　Bertie　a　stick　of　dynamite　attached　to　a　fish

hook。　Now　it　happens　that　a　paper…wrapped　bottle　of　chlorodyne　with　a　piece　of

harmless　fuse　projecting　can　fool　anybody。　It　fooled　Bertie；　and　it　fooled　the

natives。　When　Captain　Hansen　lighted　the　fuse　and　hooked　the　fish　hook　into

the　tail　end　of　a　native's　loin　cloth；　that　native　was　smitten　with　so　an

ardent　a　desire　for　the　shore　that　he　forgot　to　shed　the　loin　cloth。　He

started　for'ard；　the　fuse　sizzling　and　spluttering　at　his　rear；　the　natives　in

his　path　taking　headers　over　the　barbed　wire　at　every　jump。　Bertie　was

horror…stricken。　　So　was　Captain　Hansen。　He　had　forgotten　his　twenty…five

recruits；　on　each　of　which　he　had　paid　thirty　shillings　advance。　　They　went

over　the　side　along　with　the　shore…dwelling　folk　and　followed　by　him　who

trailed　the　sizzling　chlorodyne　bottle。



Bertie　did　not　see　the　bottle　go　off；　but　the　mate　opportunely　discharging　a

stick　of　real　dynamite　aft　where　it　would　harm　nobody；　Bertie　would　have　sworn

in　any　admiralty　court　to　a　nigger　blown　to　flinders。　The　flight　of　the

twenty…five　recruits　had　actually　cost　the　Arla　forty　pounds；　and；　since　they

had　taken　to　the　bush；　there　was　no　hope　of　recovering　them。　The　skipper　and

his　mate　proceeded　to　drown　their　sorrow　in　cold　tea。



The　cold　tea　was　in　whiskey　bottles；　so　Bertie　did　not　know　it　was　cold　tea

they　were　mopping　up。　All　he　knew　was　that　the　two　men　got　very　drunk　and

argued　eloquently　and　at　length　as　to　whether　the　exploded　nigger　should　be

reported　as　a　case　of　dysentery　or　as　an　accidental　drowning。　When　they　snored

off　to　sleep；　he　was　the　only　white　man　left；　and　he　kept　a　perilous　watch

till　dawn；　in　fear　of　an　attack　from　shore　and　an　uprising　of　the　crew。



Three　more　days　the　Arla　spent　on　the　coast；　and　three　more　nights　the　skipper

and　the　mate　drank　overfondly　of　cold　tea；　leaving　Bertie　to　keep　the　watch。

They　knew　he　could　be　depended　upon；　while　he　was　equally　certain　that　if　he

lived；　he　would　report　their　drunken　conduct　to　Captain　Malu。　Then　the　Arla

dropped　anchor　at　Reminge　Plantation；　on　Guadalcanar；　and　Bertie　landed　on　the

beach　with　a　sigh　of　relief　and　shook　hands　with　the　manager。　'mr。　Harriwell

was　ready　for　him。



〃Now　you　mustn't　be　alarmed　if　some　of　our　fellows　seem　downcast；〃　Mr。

Harriwell　said；　having　drawn　him　aside　in　confidence。　〃There's　been　talk　of　an

outbreak；　and　two　or　three　suspicious　signs　I'm　willing　to　admit；　but

personally　I　think　it's　all　poppycock。〃



〃Howhow　many　blacks　have　you　on　the　plantation？〃　Bertie　asked；　with　a

sinking　heart。



〃We're　working　four　hundred　just　now；〃　replied　Mr。　Harriwell；　cheerfully；　but

the　three　of　us；　with　you；　of　course；　and　the　skipper　and　mate　of　the　Arla；

can　handle　them　all　right。〃



Bertie　turned　to　meet　one　McTavish；　the　storekeeper；　who　scarcely　acknowledged

the　introduction；　such　was　his　eagerness　to　present　his　resignation。



〃It　being　that　I'm　a　married　man；　Mr。　Harriwell；　I　can't　very　well　afford　to

remain　on　longer。　Trouble　is　working　up；　as　plain　as　the　nose　on　your　face。

The　niggers　are　going　to　break　out；　and　there'll　be　another　Hohono　horror

here。〃



〃What's　a　Hohono　horror？〃　Bertie　asked；　after　the　storekeeper　had　been

persuaded　to　remain　until　the　end　of　the　month。



〃Oh；　he　means　Hohono　Plantation；　on　Ysabel；〃　said　the　manager。　　〃The　niggers

killed　the　five　white　men　ashore；　captured　the　schooner；　killed　the　captain

and　mate；　and　escaped　in　a　body　to　Malaita。　But　I　always　said　they　were

careless　on　Hohono。　They　won't　catch　us　napping　here。　Come　along；　Mr。

Arkwright；　and　see　our　view　from　the　veranda。〃



Bertie　was　too　busy　wondering　how　he　could　get　away　to　Tulagi　to　the

Commissioner's　house；　to　see　much　of　the　view。　He　was　still　wondering；　when　a

rifle　exploded　very　near　to　him；　behind　his　back。　At　the　same　moment　his　arm

was　nearly　dislocated；　so　eagerly　did　Mr。　Harriwell　drag　him　indoors。



〃I　say；　old　man；　that　was　a　close　shave；〃　said　the　manager；　pawing　him　over　to

see　if　he　had　been　hit。　〃I　can't　tell　you　how　sorry　I　am。　But　it　was　broad

daylight；　and　I　never　dreamed。〃



Bertie　was　beginning　to　turn　pale。



〃They　got　the　other　manager　that　way；〃　McTavish　vouchsafed。　〃And　a　dashed　fine

chap　he　was。　Blew　his　brains　out　all　over　the　veranda。　You　noticed　that　dark

stain　there　between　the　steps　and　the　door？〃



Bertie　was　ripe　for　the　cocktail　which　Mr。　Harriwell　pitched　in　and　compounded

for　him；　but　before　he　could　drink　it；　a　man　in　riding　trousers　and　puttees

entered。



〃What's　the　matter　now？〃　the　manager　asked；　after　one　look　at　the　newcomer's

face。　〃Is　the　river　up　again？〃



〃River　be　blowedit's　the　niggers。　Stepped　out　of　the　cane　grass；　not　a　dozen

feet　away；　and　whopped　at　me。　It　was　a　Snider；　and　he　shot　from　the　hip。　Now

what　I　want　to　know　is　where'd　he　get　that　Snider？Oh；　I　beg　pardon。　Glad　to

know　you；　Mr。　Arkwright。〃



〃Mr。　Brown　is　my　assistant；〃　explained　Mr。　Harriwell。　〃And　now　let's　have　that

drink。〃



〃But　where'd　he　get　that　Snider？〃　Mr。　Brown　insisted。　〃I　always　objected　to

keeping　those　guns　on　the　premises。〃



〃They're　still　there；〃　Mr。　Harriwell