adventure-第26节

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！



〃What　I　want　to　know；〃　Oleson　began；　when　they　were　seated；　〃is　IS　she　your　partner　or　ain't　she？　　That's　what　I　want　to　know。〃

〃She　is；〃　Sheldon　assured　him。

〃Well；　who'd　have　believed　it！〃　　Oleson　glanced　appealingly　at　Dr。　Welshmere；　and　back　again　at　Sheldon。　　〃I've　seen　a　few　unlikely　things　in　these　Solomonsrats　two　feet　long；　butterflies　the　Commissioner　hunts　with　a　shot…gun；　ear…ornaments　that　would　shame　the　devil；　and　head…hunting　devils　that　make　the　devil　look　like　an　angel。　　I've　seen　them　and　got　used　to　them；　but　this　young　woman　of　yours〃

〃Miss　Lackland　is　my　partner　and　part…owner　of　Berande；〃　Sheldon　interrupted。

〃So　she　said；〃　the　irate　skipper　dashed　on。　　〃But　she　had　no　papers　to　show　for　it。　　How　was　I　to　know？　　And　then　there　was　that　load　of　ivory　nuts…eight　tons　of　them。〃

〃For　heaven's　sake　begin　at　the〃　Sheldon　tried　to　interrupt。

〃And　then　she's　hired　them　drunken　loafers；　three　of　the　worst　scoundrels　that　ever　disgraced　the　Solomonsfifteen　quid　a　month　eachwhat　d'ye　think　of　that？　　And　sailed　away　with　them；　too！　Phew！You　might　give　me　a　drink。　　The　missionary　won't　mind。　　I've　been　on　his　teetotal　hooker　four　days　now；　and　I'm　perishing。〃

Dr。　Welshmere　nodded　in　reply　to　Sheldon's　look　of　inquiry；　and　Viaburi　was　dispatched　for　the　whisky　and　siphons。

〃It　is　evident；　Captain　Oleson；〃　Sheldon　remarked　to　that　refreshed　mariner；　〃that　Miss　Lackland　has　run　away　with　your　boat。　　Now　please　give　a　plain　statement　of　what　occurred。〃

〃Right　O；　here　goes。　　I'd　just　come　in　on　the　Flibberty。　　She　was　on　board　before　I　dropped　the　hookin　that　whale…boat　of　hers　with　her　gang　of　Tahiti　heathensthat　big　Adamu　Adam　and　the　rest。　'Don't　drop　the　anchor；　Captain　Oleson；'　she　sang　out。　　'I　want　you　to　get　under　way　for　Poonga…Poonga。'　　I　looked　to　see　if　she'd　been　drinking。　　What　was　I　to　think？　　I　was　rounding　up　at　the　time；　alongside　the　shoala　ticklish　placeheadsails　running　down　and　losing　way；　so　I　says；　'Excuse　me；　Miss　Lackland；'　and　yells　for'ard；　'Let　go！'

〃'You　might　have　listened　to　me　and　saved　yourself　trouble；'　says　she；　climbing　over　the　rail　and　squinting　along　for'ard　and　seeing　the　first　shackle　flip　out　and　stop。　　'There's　fifteen　fathom；'　says　she；　'you　may　as　well　turn　your　men　to　and　heave　up。'

〃And　then　we　had　it　out。　　I　didn't　believe　her。　　I　didn't　think　you'd　take　her　on　as　a　partner；　and　I　told　her　as　much　and　wanted　proof。　　She　got　high　and　mighty；　and　I　told　her　I　was　old　enough　to　be　her　grandfather　and　that　I　wouldn't　take　gammon　from　a　chit　like　her。　　And　then　I　ordered　her　off　the　Flibberty。　　'Captain　Oleson；'　she　says；　sweet　as　you　please；　'I've　a　few　minutes　to　spare　on　you；　and　I've　got　some　good　whisky　over　on　the　Emily。　　Come　on　along。　Besides；　I　want　your　advice　about　this　wrecking　business。　Everybody　says　you're　a　crackerjack　sailor…man'that's　what　she　said；　'crackerjack。'　　And　I　went；　in　her　whale…boat；　Adamu　Adam　steering　and　looking　as　solemn　as　a　funeral。

〃On　the　way　she　told　me　about　the　Martha；　and　how　she'd　bought　her；　and　was　going　to　float　her。　　She　said　she'd　chartered　the　Emily；　and　was　sailing　as　soon　as　I　could　get　the　Flibberty　underway。　　It　struck　me　that　her　gammon　was　reasonable　enough；　and　I　agreed　to　pull　out　for　Berande　right　O；　and　get　your　orders　to　go　along　to　Poonga…Poonga。　　But　she　said　there　wasn't　a　second　to　be　lost　by　any　such　foolishness；　and　that　I　was　to　sail　direct　for　Poonga…　Poonga；　and　that　if　I　couldn't　take　her　word　that　she　was　your　partner；　she'd　get　along　without　me　and　the　Flibberty。　　And　right　there's　where　she　fooled　me。

〃Down　in　the　Emily's　cabin　was　them　three　soaksyou　know　them　Fowler　and　Curtis　and　that　Brahms　chap。　　'Have　a　drink；'　says　she。　I　thought　they　looked　surprised　when　she　unlocked　the　whisky　locker　and　sent　a　nigger　for　the　glasses　and　water…monkey。　　But　she　must　have　tipped　them　off　unbeknownst　to　me；　and　they　knew　just　what　to　do。　　'Excuse　me；'　she　says；　'I'm　going　on　deck　a　minute。'　　Now　that　minute　was　half　an　hour。　　I　hadn't　had　a　drink　in　ten　days。　　I'm　an　old　man　and　the　fever　has　weakened　me。　　Then　I　took　it　on　an　empty　stomach；　too；　and　there　was　them　three　soaks　setting　me　an　example；　they　arguing　for　me　to　take　the　Flibberty　to　Poonga…Poonga；　an'　me　pointing　out　my　duty　to　the　contrary。　　The　trouble　was；　all　the　arguments　were　pointed　with　drinks；　and　me　not　being　a　drinking　man；　so　to　say；　and　weak　from　fever　。　。　。

〃Well；　anyway；　at　the　end　of　the　half…hour　down　she　came　again　and　took　a　good　squint　at　me。　　'That'll　do　nicely；'　I　remember　her　saying；　and　with　that　she　took　the　whisky　bottles　and　hove　them　overside　through　the　companionway。　　'That's　the　last；　she　said　to　the　three　soaks；　'till　the　Martha　floats　and　you're　back　in　Guvutu。　It'll　be　a　long　time　between　drinks。'　　And　then　she　laughed。

〃She　looked　at　me　and　saidnot　to　me；　mind　you；　but　to　the　soaks：　'It's　time　this　worthy　man　went　ashore'me！　worthy　man！　　'Fowler；'　she　saidyou　know；　just　like　a　straight　order；　and　she　didn't　MISTER　himit　was　plain　Fowler'Fowler；'　she　said；　'just　tell　Adamu　Adam　to　man　the　whale…boat；　and　while　he's　taking　Captain　Oleson　ashore　have　your　boat　put　me　on　the　Flibberty。　　The　three　of　you　sail　with　me；　so　pack　your　dunnage。　　And　the　one　of　you　that　shows　up　best　will　take　the　mate's　billet。　　Captain　Oleson　doesn't　carry　a　mate；　you　know。'

〃I　don't　remember　much　after　that。　　All　hands　got　me　over　the　side；　and　it　seems　to　me　I　went　to　sleep；　sitting　in　the　stern…sheets　and　watching　that　Adamu　steer。　　Then　I　saw　the　Flibberty's　mainsail　hoisting；　and　heard　the　clank　of　her　chain　coming　in；　and　I　woke　up。　　'Here；　put　me　on　the　Flibberty；'　I　said　to　Adamu。　　'I　put　you　on　the　beach；'　said　he。　　'Missie　Lackalanna　say　beach　plenty　good　for　you。'　　Well；　I　let　out　a　yell　and　reached　for　the　steering…　sweep。　　I　was　doing　my　best　by　my　owners；　you　see。　　Only　that　Adamu　gives　me　a　shove　down　on　the　bottom…boards；　puts　one　foot　on　me　to　hold　me　down；　and　goes　on　steering。　　And　that's　all。　　The　shock　of　the　whole　thing　brought　on　fever。　　And　now　I've　come　to　find　out　whether　I'm　skipper　of　the　Flibberty；　or　that　chit　of　yours　with　her　pirating；　heathen　boat's…crew。〃

〃Never　mind；　skipper。　　You　can　take　a　vacation　on　pay。〃　　Sheldon　spoke　with　more　assurance　than　he　felt。　　〃If　Miss　Lackland；　who　is　my　partner；　has　seen　fit　to　take　charge　of　the　Flibberty…Gibbet；　why；　it　is　all　right。　　As　you　will　agree；　there　was　no　time　to　be　lost　if　the　Martha　was　to　be　got　off。　　It　is　a　bad　reef；　and　any　considerable　sea　would　knock　her　bottom　out。　　You　settle　down　here；　skipper；　and　rest　up　and　get　the　fever　out　of　your　bones。　　When　the　Flibberty…Gibbet　comes　back；　you'll　take　charge　again；　of　course。〃

After　Dr。　Welshmere　and　the　Apostle　departed　and　Captain　Oleson　had　turned　in　for　a　sleep　in　a　veranda　hammock；　Sheldon　opened　Joan's　letter。


DEAR　MR。　SHELDON；Please　forgive　me　for　stealing　the　Flibberty…　Gibbet。　　I　simply　had　to。　　The　Martha　means　everything　to　us。　Think　of　it；　only　fifty…five　pounds　for　her；　two　hundred　and　seventy…five　dollars。　　If　I　don't　save　her；　I　know　I　shall　be　able　to　pay　all　expenses　out　of　her　gear；　which　the　natives　will　not　have　carried　off。　　And　if　I　do　save　her；　it　is　the　haul　of　a　life…　time。　　And　if　I　don't　save　her；　I'll　fill　the　Emily　and　the　Flibberty…Gibbet　with　recruits。　　Recruits　are　needed　right　now　on　Berande　more　than　anything　else。

And　please；　please　don't　be　angry　with　me。　　You　said　I　shouldn't　go　recruiting　on　the　Flibberty；　and　I　won't。　　I'll　go　on　the　Emily。

I　bought　two　cows　this　afternoon。　　That　trader　at　Nogi　died　of　fever；　and　I　bought　them　from　his　partner；　Sam　Willis　his　name　is；　who　agrees　to　deliver　themmost　likely　by　the　Minerva　next　time　she　is　down　that　way。　　Berande　has　been　long　enough　on　tinned　milk。

And　Dr。　Welshmere　has　agreed　to　get　me　some　orange　and　lime　trees　from　the　mission　station　at　Ulava。　　He　will　deliver　them　the　next　trip　of　the　Apostle。　　If　the　Sydney　steamer　arrives　before　I　get　back；　plant　the　sweet　corn　she　will　bring　between　the　young　trees　on　the　high　bank　of　the　Balesuna。　　The　current　is　eating　in　against　that　bank；　and　you　should　do　something　to　save　it。

I　have　ordered　some　fig…trees　and　loquats；　too；　from　Sydney。　　Dr。　Welshmere　will　bring　some　mango…seeds。　　They　are　big　trees　and　require　plenty　of　room。

The　Martha　is　registered　110　tons。　　She　is　the　biggest　schooner　in　the　Solomons；　and　the　best。　　I　saw　a　little　of　her　lines　and　guess　the　rest。　　She　will　sail　like　a　witch。　　If　she　hasn't　filled　with　water；　her　engine　will　be　all　right。　　The　reason　she　went　ashore　was　because　it　was　not　working。　　The　engineer　had　disconnected　the　feed…pipes　to　clean　out　the　rust。　　Poor　business；　unless　at　anchor　or　with　plenty　of　sea　room。

Plant　all　the　trees　in　the　compound；　even　if　you　have　to　clean　out　the　palms　later　on。

And　don't　plant　the　sweet　corn　all　at　once。　　Let　a　few　days　elapse　between　plantings。

JOAN　LACKLAND。


He　fingered　the　letter；　lingering　over　it　and　scrutinizing　the　writing　in　a　way　that　was　not　his　wont。　　How　characteristic；　was　his　thought；　as　he　studied　the　boyish　scrawlclear　to　read；　painfully；　clear；　but　none　the　less　boyish。　　The　clearness　of　it　reminded　him　of　her　face；　of　h