adventure-第25节

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〃Oh；　no；　she　hasn't。〃

〃I　beg　pardon？〃　Sheldon　queried。

〃I　said　she　hasn't；　that's　all。〃

〃But　didn't　the　Upolu　sail？　　I　could　have　sworn　I　saw　her　smoke　last　Tuesday　afternoon；　late；　as　she　passed　Savo。〃

〃The　Upolu　sailed　all　right。〃　　Captain　Auckland　sipped　his　whisky　with　provoking　slowness。　　〃Only　Miss　Lackland　wasn't　a　passenger。〃

〃Then　where　is　she？〃

〃At　Guvutu；　last　I　saw　of　her。　　She　was　going　to　Sydney　to　buy　a　schooner；　wasn't　she？〃

〃Yes；　yes。〃

〃That's　what　she　said。　　Well；　she's　bought　one；　though　I　wouldn't　give　her　ten　shillings　for　it　if　a　nor'wester　blows　up；　and　it's　about　time　we　had　one。　　This　has　been　too　long　a　spell　of　good　weather　to　last。〃

〃If　you　came　here　to　excite　my　curiosity；　old　man；〃　Sheldon　said；　〃you've　certainly　succeeded。　　Now　go　ahead　and　tell　me　in　a　straightforward　way　what　has　happened。　　What　schooner？　　Where　is　it？　　How　did　she　happen　to　buy　it？〃

〃First；　the　schooner　Martha；〃　the　skipper　answered；　checking　his　replies　off　on　his　fingers。　　〃Second；　the　Martha　is　on　the　outside　reef　at　Poonga…Poonga；　looted　clean　of　everything　portable；　and　ready　to　go　to　pieces　with　the　first　bit　of　lively　sea。　　And　third；　Miss　Lackland　bought　her　at　auction。　　She　was　knocked　down　to　her　for　fifty…five　quid　by　the　third…assistant…resident…commissioner。　I　ought　to　know。　　I　bid　fifty　myself；　for　Morgan　and　Raff。　　My　word；　weren't　they　hot！　　I　told　them　to　go　to　the　devil；　and　that　it　was　their　fault　for　limiting　me　to　fifty　quid　when　they　thought　the　chance　to　salve　the　Martha　was　worth　more。　　You　see；　they　weren't　expecting　competition。　　Fulcrum　Brothers　had　no　representative　present；　neither　had　Fires；　Philp　Company；　and　the　only　man　to　be　afraid　of　was　Nielsen's　agent；　Squires；　and　him　they　got　drunk　and　sound　asleep　over　in　Guvutu。

〃'Twenty；'　says　I；　for　my　bid。　　'Twenty…five；'　says　the　little　girl。　　'Thirty；'　says　I。　　'Forty；'　says　she。　　'Fifty；'　says　I。　'Fifty…five；'　says　she。　　And　there　I　was　stuck。　　'Hold　on；'　says　I；　'wait　till　I　see　my　owners。'　　'No；　you　don't；'　says　she。　　'It's　customary；'　says　I。　　'Not　anywhere　in　the　world；'　says　she。　　'Then　it's　courtesy　in　the　Solomons；'　says　I。

〃And　d'ye　know；　on　my　faith　I　think　Burnett'd　have　done　it；　only　she　pipes　up；　sweet　and　pert　as　you　please：　　'Mr。　Auctioneer；　will　you　kindly　proceed　with　the　sale　in　the　customary　manner？　　I've　other　business　to　attend　to；　and　I　can't　afford　to　wait　all　night　on　men　who　don't　know　their　own　minds。'　　And　then　she　smiles　at　Burnett；　as　wellyou　know；　one　of　those　fetching　smiles；　and　damme　if　Burnett　doesn't　begin　singing　out：　　'Goin'；　goin'；　goin'last　bidgoin'；　goin'　for　fifty…five　sovereignsgoin'；　goin'；　goneto　you；　Misserwhat　name；　please？'

〃'Joan　Lackland；'　says　she；　with　a　smile　to　me；　and　that's　how　she　bought　the　Martha。〃

Sheldon　experienced　a　sudden　thrill。　　The　Martha！a　finer　schooner　than　the　Malakula；　and；　for　that　matter；　the　finest　in　the　Solomons。　　She　was　just　the　thing　for　recruits；　and　she　was　right　on　the　spot。　　Then　he　realized　that　for　such　a　craft　to　sell　at　auction　for　fifty…five　pounds　meant　that　there　was　small　chance　for　saving　her。

〃But　how　did　it　happen？〃　he　asked。　　〃Weren't　they　rather　quick　in　selling　the　Martha？〃

〃Had　to。　　You　know　the　reef　at　Poonga…Poonga。　　She's　not　worth　tuppence　on　it　if　any　kind　of　a　sea　kicks　up；　and　it's　ripe　for　a　nor'wester　any　moment　now。　　The　crowd　abandoned　her　completely。　Didn't　even　dream　of　auctioning　her。　　Morgan　and　Raff　persuaded　them　to　put　her　up。　　They're　a　co…operative　crowd；　you　know；　an　organized　business　corporation；　fore　and　aft；　all　hands　and　the　cook。　　They　held　a　meeting　and　voted　to　sell。〃

〃But　why　didn't　they　stand　by　and　try　to　save　her？〃

〃Stand　by！　　You　know　Malaita。　　And　you　know　Poonga…Poonga。　　That's　where　they　cut　off　the　Scottish　Chiefs　and　killed　all　hands。　　There　was　nothing　to　do　but　take　to　the　boats。　　The　Martha　missed　stays　going　in；　and　inside　five　minutes　she　was　on　the　reef　and　in　possession。　　The　niggers　swarmed　over　her；　and　they　just　threw　the　crew　into　the　boats。　　I　talked　with　some　of　the　men。　　They　swear　there　were　two　hundred　war　canoes　around　her　inside　half　an　hour；　and　five　thousand　bushmen　on　the　beach。　　Said　you　couldn't　see　Malaita　for　the　smoke　of　the　signal　fires。　　Anyway；　they　cleared　out　for　Tulagi。〃

〃But　why　didn't　they　fight？〃　Sheldon　asked。

〃It　was　funny　they　didn't；　but　they　got　separated。　　You　see；　two…　thirds　of　them　were　in　the　boats；　without　weapons；　running　anchors　and　never　dreaming　the　natives　would　attack。　　They　found　out　their　mistake　too　late。　　The　natives　had　charge。　　That's　the　trouble　of　new　chums　on　the　coast。　　It　would　never　have　happened　with　you　or　me　or　any　old…timer。〃

〃But　what　is　Miss　Lackland　intending　to　do？〃　Captain　Auckland　grinned。

〃She's　going　to　try　to　get　the　Martha　off；　I　should　say。　　Or　else　why　did　she　pay　fifty…five　quid　for　her？　　And　if　she　fails；　she'll　try　to　get　her　money　back　by　saving　the　gearspars；　you　know；　and　patent　steering…gear；　and　winches；　and　such　things。　　At　least　that's　what　I'd　do　if　I　was　in　her　place。　　When　I　sailed；　the　little　girl　had　chartered　the　Emily'I'm　going　recruiting；'　says　Munsterhe's　the　skipper　and　owner　now。　　'And　how　much　will　you　net　on　the　cruise？'　asks　she。　　'Oh；　fifty　quid；'　says　he。　　'Good；'　says　she；　'you　bring　your　Emily　along　with　me　and　you'll　get　seventy…five。'　　You　know　that　big　ship's　anchor　and　chain　piled　up　behind　the　coal…sheds？　　She　was　just　buying　that　when　I　left。　She's　certainly　a　hustler；　that　little　girl　of　yours。〃

〃She　is　my　partner；〃　Sheldon　corrected。

〃Well；　she's　a　good　one；　that's　all；　and　a　cool　one。　　My　word！　a　white　woman　on　Malaita；　and　at　Poonga…Poonga　of　all　places！　　Oh；　I　forgot　to　tell　youshe　palavered　Burnett　into　lending　her　eight　rifles　for　her　men；　and　three　cases　of　dynamite。　　You'd　laugh　to　see　the　way　she　makes　that　Guvutu　gang　stand　around。　　And　to　see　them　being　polite　and　trying　to　give　advice！　　Lord；　Lord；　man；　that　little　girl's　a　wonder；　a　marvel；　aaa　catastrophe。　　That's　what　she　is；　a　catastrophe。　　She's　gone　through　Guvutu　and　Tulagi　like　a　hurricane；　every　last　swine　of　them　in　love　with　herexcept　Raff。　He's　sore　over　the　auction；　and　he　sprang　his　recruiting　contract　with　Munster　on　her。　　And　what　does　she　do　but　thank　him；　and　read　it　over；　and　point　out　that　while　Munster　was　pledged　to　deliver　all　recruits　to　Morgan　and　Raff；　there　was　no　clause　in　the　document　forbidding　him　from　chartering　the　Emily。

〃'There's　your　contract；'　says　she；　passing　it　back。　　'And　a　very　good　contract　it　is。　　The　next　time　you　draw　one　up；　insert　a　clause　that　will　fit　emergencies　like　the　present　one。'　　And；　Lord；　Lord；　she　had　him；　too。

〃But　there's　the　breeze；　and　I'm　off。　　Good…bye；　old　man。　　Hope　the　little　girl　succeeds。　　The　Martha's　a　whacking　fine　boat；　and　she'd　take　the　place　of　the　Jessie。〃



CHAPTER　XVII〃YOUR〃　MISS　LACKLAND



The　next　morning　Sheldon　came　in　from　the　plantation　to　breakfast；　to　find　the　mission　ketch；　Apostle；　at　anchor；　her　crew　swimming　two　mares　and　a　filly　ashore。　　Sheldon　recognized　the　animals　as　belonging　to　the　Resident　Commissioner；　and　he　immediately　wondered　if　Joan　had　bought　them。　　She　was　certainly　living　up　to　her　threat　of　rattling　the　dry　bones　of　the　Solomons；　and　he　was　prepared　for　anything。

〃Miss　Lackland　sent　them；〃　said　Welshmere；　the　missionary　doctor；　stepping　ashore　and　shaking　hands　with　him。　　〃There's　also　a　box　of　saddles　on　board。　　And　this　letter　from　her。　　And　the　skipper　of　the　Flibberty…Gibbet。〃

The　next　moment；　and　before　he　could　greet　him；　Oleson　stepped　from　the　boat　and　began。

〃She's　stolen　the　Flibberty；　Mr。　Sheldon。　　Run　clean　away　with　her。　She's　a　wild　one。　　She　gave　me　the　fever。　　Brought　it　on　by　shock。　And　got　me　drunk；　as　wellrotten　drunk。〃

Dr。　Welshmere　laughed　heartily。

〃Nevertheless；　she　is　not　an　unmitigated　evil；　your　Miss　Lackland。　She's　sworn　three　men　off　their　drink；　or；　to　the　same　purpose；　shut　off　their　whisky。　　You　know　themBrahms；　Curtis；　and　Fowler。　She　shipped　them　on　the　Flibberty…Gibbet　along　with　her。〃

〃She's　the　skipper　of　the　Flibberty　now；〃　Oleson　broke　in。　　〃And　she'll　wreck　her　as　sure　as　God　didn't　make　the　Solomons。〃

Dr。　Welshmere　tried　to　look　shocked；　but　laughed　again。

〃She　has　quite　a　way　with　her；〃　he　said。　　〃I　tried　to　back　out　of　bringing　the　horses　over。　　Said　I　couldn't　charge　freight；　that　the　Apostle　was　under　a　yacht　license；　that　I　was　going　around　by　Savo　and　the　upper　end　of　Guadalcanar。　　But　it　was　no　use。　　'Bother　the　charge；'　said　she。　　'You　take　the　horses　like　a　good　man；　and　when　I　float　the　Martha　I'll　return　the　service　some　day。'〃

〃And　'bother　your　orders；'　said　she　to　me；〃　Oleson　cried。　　〃'I'm　your　boss　now；'　said　she；　'and　you　take　your　orders　from　me。'　'Look　at　that　load　of　ivory　nuts；'　I　said。　　'Bother　them；'　said　she；　'I'm　playin'　for　something　bigger　than　ivory　nuts。　　We'll　dump　them　overside　as　soon　as　we　get　under　way。'〃

Sheldon　put　his　hands　to　his　ears。

〃I　don't　know　what　has　happened；　and　you　are　trying　to　tell　me　the　tale　backwards。　　Come　up　to　the　house　and　get　in　the　shade　and　begin　at　the　beginning。〃

〃What　I　want　to　know；〃　Oleson　began；　when　they　were　seate