adventure-第14节

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〃Come　now；　that　is　putting　it　a　bit　too　strongly。〃　　Sheldon　laughed；　but　the　strain　in　his　voice　destroyed　the　effect　of　spontaneity。　　〃You　know　yourself　how　impossible　the　situation　is。〃

〃I　know　nothing　of　the　sort；　sir。　　And　if　it　is　impossible；　well；　haven't　I　achieved　it？〃

〃But　it　cannot　continue。　　Really〃

〃Oh；　yes；　it　can。　　Having　achieved　it；　I　can　go　on　achieving　it。　　I　intend　to　remain　in　the　Solomons；　but　not　on　Berande。　　To…morrow　I　am　going　to　take　the　whale…boat　over　to　Pari…Sulay。　　I　was　talking　with　Captain　Young　about　it。　　He　says　there　are　at　least　four　hundred　acres；　and　every　foot　of　it　good　for　planting。　　Being　an　island；　he　says　I　won't　have　to　bother　about　wild　pigs　destroying　the　young　trees。　　All　I'll　have　to　do　is　to　keep　the　weeds　hoed　until　the　trees　come　into　bearing。　　First；　I'll　buy　the　island；　next；　get　forty　or　fifty　recruits　and　start　clearing　and　planting；　and　at　the　same　time　I'll　run　up　a　bungalow；　and　then　you'll　be　relieved　of　my　embarrassing　presencenow　don't　say　that　it　isn't。〃

〃It　is　embarrassing；〃　he　said　bluntly。　　〃But　you　refuse　to　see　my　point　of　view；　so　there　is　no　use　in　discussing　it。　　Now　please　forget　all　about　it；　and　consider　me　at　your　service　concerning　this　。　。　。　this　project　of　yours。　　I　know　more　about　cocoanut…　planting　than　you　do。　　You　speak　like　a　capitalist。　　I　don't　know　how　much　money　you　have；　but　I　don't　fancy　you　are　rolling　in　wealth；　as　you　Americans　say。　　But　I　do　know　what　it　costs　to　clear　land。　　Suppose　the　government　sells　you　Pari…Sulay　at　a　pound　an　acre；　clearing　will　cost　you　at　least　four　pounds　more；　that　is；　five　pounds　for　four　hundred　acres；　or；　say；　ten　thousand　dollars。　Have　you　that　much？〃

She　was　keenly　interested；　and　he　could　see　that　the　previous　clash　between　them　was　already　forgotten。　　Her　disappointment　was　plain　as　she　confessed：

〃No；　I　haven't　quite　eight　thousand　dollars。〃

〃Then　here's　another　way　of　looking　at　it。　　You'll　need；　as　you　said；　at　least　fifty　boys。　　Not　counting　premiums；　their　wages　are　thirty　dollars　a　year。〃

〃I　pay　my　Tahitians　fifteen　a　month；〃　she　interpolated。

〃They　won't　do　on　straight　plantation　work。　　But　to　return。　　The　wages　of　fifty　boys　each　year　will　come　to　three　hundred　pounds　that　is；　fifteen　hundred　dollars。　　Very　well。　　It　will　be　seven　years　before　your　trees　begin　to　bear。　　Seven　times　fifteen　hundred　is　ten　thousand　five　hundred　dollarsmore　than　you　possess；　and　all　eaten　up　by　the　boys'　wages；　with　nothing　to　pay　for　bungalow；　building；　tools；　quinine；　trips　to　Sydney；　and　so　forth。〃

Sheldon　shook　his　head　gravely。　　〃You'll　have　to　abandon　the　idea。〃

〃But　I　won't　go　to　Sydney；〃　she　cried。　　〃I　simply　won't。　　I'll　buy　in　to　the　extent　of　my　money　as　a　small　partner　in　some　other　plantation。　　Let　me　buy　in　in　Berande！〃

〃Heaven　forbid！〃　he　cried　in　such　genuine　dismay　that　she　broke　into　hearty　laughter。

〃There；　I　won't　tease　you。　　Really；　you　know；　I'm　not　accustomed　to　forcing　my　presence　where　it　is　not　desired。　　Yes；　yes；　I　know　you're　just　aching　to　point　out　that　I've　forced　myself　upon　you　ever　since　I　landed；　only　you　are　too　polite　to　say　so。　　Yet　as　you　said　yourself；　it　was　impossible　for　me　to　go　away；　so　I　had　to　stay。　　You　wouldn't　let　me　go　to　Tulagi。　　You　compelled　me　to　force　myself　upon　you。　　But　I　won't　buy　in　as　partner　with　any　one。　　I'll　buy　Pari…Sulay；　but　I'll　put　only　ten　boys　on　it　and　clear　slowly。　Also；　I'll　invest　in　some　old　ketch　and　take　out　a　trading　license。　For　that　matter；　I'll　go　recruiting　on　Malaita。〃

She　looked　for　protest；　and　found　it　in　Sheldon's　clenched　hand　and　in　every　line　of　his　clean…cut　face。

〃Go　ahead　and　say　it；〃　she　challenged。　　〃Please　don't　mind　me。　I'mI'm　getting　used　to　it；　you　know。　　Really　I　am。〃

〃I　wish　I　were　a　woman　so　as　to　tell　you　how　preposterously　insane　and　impossible　it　is；〃　he　blurted　out。

She　surveyed　him　with　deliberation；　and　said：

〃Better　than　that；　you　are　a　man。　　So　there　is　nothing　to　prevent　your　telling　me；　for　I　demand　to　be　considered　as　a　man。　　I　didn't　come　down　here　to　trail　my　woman's　skirts　over　the　Solomons。　Please　forget　that　I　am　accidentally　anything　else　than　a　man　with　a　man's　living　to　make。〃

Inwardly　Sheldon　fumed　and　fretted。　　Was　she　making　game　of　him？　Or　did　there　lurk　in　her　the　insidious　unhealthfulness　of　unwomanliness？　　Or　was　it　merely　a　case　of　blank；　staring；　sentimental；　idiotic　innocence？

〃I　have　told　you；〃　he　began　stiffly；　〃that　recruiting　on　Malaita　is　impossible　for　a　woman；　and　that　is　all　I　care　to　sayor　dare。〃

〃And　I　tell　you；　in　turn；　that　it　is　nothing　of　the　sort。　　I've　sailed　the　Miele　here；　master；　if　you　please；　all　the　way　from　Tahitieven　if　I　did　lose　her；　which　was　the　fault　of　your　Admiralty　charts。　　I　am　a　navigator；　and　that　is　more　than　your　Solomons　captains　are。　　Captain　Young　told　me　all　about　it。　　And　I　am　a　seamana　better　seaman　than　you；　when　it　comes　right　down　to　it；　and　you　know　it。　　I　can　shoot。　　I　am　not　a　fool。　　I　can　take　care　of　myself。　　And　I　shall　most　certainly　buy　a　ketch；　run　her　myself；　and　go　recruiting　on　Malaita。〃

Sheldon　made　a　hopeless　gesture。

〃That's　right；〃　she　rattled　on。　　〃Wash　your　hands　of　me。　　But　as　Von　used　to　say；　'You　just　watch　my　smoke！'〃

〃There's　no　use　in　discussing　it。　　Let　us　have　some　music。〃

He　arose　and　went　over　to　the　big　phonograph；　but　before　the　disc　started；　and　while　he　was　winding　the　machine；　he　heard　her　saying：

〃I　suppose　you've　been　accustomed　to　Jane　Eyres　all　your　life。　That's　why　you　don't　understand　me。　　Come　on；　Satan；　let's　leave　him　to　his　old　music。〃

He　watched　her　morosely　and　without　intention　of　speaking；　till　he　saw　her　take　a　rifle　from　the　stand；　examine　the　magazine；　and　start　for　the　door。

〃Where　are　you　going？〃　he　asked　peremptorily。

〃As　between　man　and　woman；〃　she　answered；　〃it　would　be　too　terriblyerindecent　for　you　to　tell　me　why　I　shouldn't　go　alligatoring。　　Good…night。　　Sleep　well。〃

He　shut　off　the　phonograph　with　a　snap；　started　toward　the　door　after　her；　then　abruptly　flung　himself　into　a　chair。

〃You're　hoping　a　'gator　catches　me；　aren't　you？〃　she　called　from　the　veranda；　and　as　she　went　down　the　steps　her　rippling　laughter　drifted　tantalizingly　back　through　the　wide　doorway。



CHAPTER　XA　MESSAGE　FROM　BOUCHER



The　next　day　Sheldon　was　left　all　alone。　　Joan　had　gone　exploring　Pari…Sulay；　and　was　not　to　be　expected　back　until　the　late　afternoon。　　Sheldon　was　vaguely　oppressed　by　his　loneliness；　and　several　heavy　squalls　during　the　afternoon　brought　him　frequently　on　to　the　veranda；　telescope　in　hand；　to　scan　the　sea　anxiously　for　the　whale…boat。　　Betweenwhiles　he　scowled　over　the　plantation　account…books；　made　rough　estimates；　added　and　balanced；　and　scowled　the　harder。　　The　loss　of　the　Jessie　had　hit　Berande　severely。　　Not　alone　was　his　capital　depleted　by　the　amount　of　her　value；　but　her　earnings　were　no　longer　to　be　reckoned　on；　and　it　was　her　earnings　that　largely　paid　the　running　expenses　of　the　plantation。

〃Poor　old　Hughie；〃　he　muttered　aloud；　once。　　〃I'm　glad　you　didn't　live　to　see　it；　old　man。　　What　a　cropper；　what　a　cropper！〃

Between　squalls　the　Flibberty…Gibbet　ran　in　to　anchorage；　and　her　skipper；　Pete　Oleson　（brother　to　the　Oleson　of　the　Jessie）；　ancient；　grizzled；　wild…eyed；　emaciated　by　fever；　dragged　his　weary　frame　up　the　veranda　steps　and　collapsed　in　a　steamer…chair。　Whisky　and　soda　kept　him　going　while　he　made　report　and　turned　in　his　accounts。

〃You're　rotten　with　fever；〃　Sheldon　said。　　〃Why　don't　you　run　down　to　Sydney　for　a　blow　of　decent　climate？〃

The　old　skipper　shook　his　head。

〃I　can't。　　I've　ben　in　the　islands　too　long。　　I'd　die。　　The　fever　comes　out　worse　down　there。〃

〃Kill　or　cure；〃　Sheldon　counselled。

〃It's　straight　kill　for　me。　　I　tried　it　three　years　ago。　　The　cool　weather　put　me　on　my　back　before　I　landed。　　They　carried　me　ashore　and　into　hospital。　　I　was　unconscious　one　stretch　for　two　weeks。　After　that　the　doctors　sent　me　back　to　the　islandssaid　it　was　the　only　thing　that　would　save　me。　　Well；　I'm　still　alive；　but　I'm　too　soaked　with　fever。　　A　month　in　Australia　would　finish　me。〃

〃But　what　are　you　going　to　do？〃　Sheldon　queried。　　〃You　can't　stay　here　until　you　die。〃

〃That's　all　that's　left　to　me。　　I'd　like　to　go　back　to　the　old　country；　but　I　couldn't　stand　it。　　I'll　last　longer　here；　and　here　I'll　stay　until　I　peg　out；　but　I　wish　to　God　I'd　never　seen　the　Solomons；　that's　all。〃

He　declined　to　sleep　ashore；　took　his　orders；　and　went　back　on　board　the　cutter。　　A　lurid　sunset　was　blotted　out　by　the　heaviest　squall　of　the　day；　and　Sheldon　watched　the　whale…boat　arrive　in　the　thick　of　it。　　As　the　spritsail　was　taken　in　and　the　boat　headed　on　to　the　beach；　he　was　aware　of　a　distinct　hurt　at　sight　of　Joan　at　the　steering…oar；　standing　erect　and　swaying　her　strength　to　it　as　she　resisted　the　pressures　that　tended　to　throw　the　craft　broadside　in　the　surf。　　Her　Tahitians　leaped　out　and　rushed　the　boat　high　up　the　beach；　and　she　led　her　bizarre　following　through　the　gate　of　the　compound。

The　first　drops　of　rain　were　driving　like　hail…stones；　the　tall　cocoanut　palms　were　bending　and　writhing　in　the　grip　of　the　wind；　while　the　thick　cloud…mass　of　the