adventure-第28节

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ch　a　long　story　I　don't　know　where　to　begin；　and　I　won't　begin　anyway　till　we're　through　with　this　and　until　you　have　told　me　that　you　are　not　angry　with　me。〃

〃Oguwhat　place　b'long　you？〃　she　went　on　with　her　catechism。

But　Ogu　was　a　bushman；　lacking　knowledge　of　the　almost　universal　beche…de…mer　English；　and　half　a　dozen　of　his　fellows　wrangled　to　explain。

〃There　are　only　two　or　three　more；〃　Joan　said　to　Sheldon；　〃and　then　we're　done。　　But　you　haven't　told　me　that　you　are　not　angry。〃

Sheldon　looked　into　her　clear　eyes　as　she　favoured　him　with　a　direct；　untroubled　gaze　that　threatened；　he　knew　from　experience；　to　turn　teasingly　defiant　on　an　instant's　notice。　　And　as　he　looked　at　her　it　came　to　him　that　he　had　never　half…anticipated　the　gladness　her　return　would　bring　to　him。

〃I　was　angry；〃　he　said　deliberately。　　〃I　am　still　angry；　very　angry〃　he　noted　the　glint　of　defiance　in　her　eyes　and　thrilled　〃but　I　forgave；　and　I　now　forgive　all　over　again。　　Though　I　still　insist〃

〃That　I　should　have　a　guardian；〃　she　interrupted。　　〃But　that　day　will　never　come。　　Thank　goodness　I'm　of　legal　age　and　able　to　transact　business　in　my　own　right。　　And　speaking　of　business；　how　do　you　like　my　forceful　American　methods？〃

〃Mr。　Raff；　from　what　I　hear；　doesn't　take　kindly　to　them；〃　he　temporized；　〃and　you've　certainly　set　the　dry　bones　rattling　for　many　a　day。　　But　what　I　want　to　know　is　if　other　American　women　are　as　successful　in　business　ventures？〃

〃Luck；　'most　all　luck；〃　she　disclaimed　modestly；　though　her　eyes　lighted　with　sudden　pleasure；　and　he　knew　her　boy's　vanity　had　been　touched　by　his　trifle　of　tempered　praise。

〃Luck　be　blowed！〃　broke　out　the　long　mate；　Sparrowhawk；　his　face　shining　with　admiration。　　〃It　was　hard　work；　that's　what　it　was。　We　earned　our　pay。　　She　worked　us　till　we　dropped。　　And　we　were　down　with　fever　half　the　time。　　So　was　she；　for　that　matter；　only　she　wouldn't　stay　down；　and　she　wouldn't　let　us　stay　down。　　My　word；　she's　a　slave…driver'Just　one　more　heave；　Mr。　Sparrowhawk；　and　then　you　can　go　to　bed　for　a　week'；she　to　me；　and　me　staggerin'　'round　like　a　dead　man；　with　bilious…green　lights　flashing　inside　my　head；　an'　my　head　just　bustin'。　　I　was　all　in；　but　I　gave　that　heave　right　Oand　then　it　was；　'Another　heave　now；　Mr。　Sparrowhawk；　just　another　heave。'　　An'　the　Lord　lumme；　the　way　she　made　love　to　old　Kina…Kina！〃

He　shook　his　head　reproachfully；　while　the　laughter　died　down　in　his　throat　to　long…drawn　chuckles。

〃He　was　older　than　Telepasse　and　dirtier；〃　she　assured　Sheldon；　〃and　I　am　sure　much　wickeder。　　But　this　isn't　work。　　Let　us　get　through　with　these　lists。〃

She　turned　to　the　waiting　black　on　the　steps；　…

〃Ogu；　you　finish　along　big　marster　belong　white　man；　you　go　Not…　Not。Here　you；　Tangari；　you　speak　'm　along　that　fella　Ogu。　　He　finish　he　walk　about　Not…Not。　　Have　you　got　that；　Mr。　Munster？〃

〃But　you've　broken　the　recruiting　laws；〃　Sheldon　said；　when　the　new　recruits　had　marched　away　to　the　barracks。　　〃The　licenses　for　the　Flibberty　and　the　Emily　don't　allow　for　one　hundred　and　fifty。　What　did　Burnett　say？〃

〃He　passed　them；　all　of　them；〃　she　answered。　　〃Captain　Munster　will　tell　you　what　he　saidsomething　about　being　blowed；　or　words　to　that　effect。　　Now　I　must　run　and　wash　up。　　Did　the　Sydney　orders　arrive？〃

〃Yours　are　in　your　quarters；〃　Sheldon　said。　　〃Hurry；　for　breakfast　is　waiting。　　Let　me　have　your　hat　and　belt。　　Do；　please；　allow　me。　There's　only　one　hook　for　them；　and　I　know　where　it　is。〃

She　gave　him　a　quick　scrutiny　that　was　almost　woman…like；　then　sighed　with　relief　as　she　unbuckled　the　heavy　belt　and　passed　it　to　him。

〃I　doubt　if　I　ever　want　to　see　another　revolver；〃　she　complained。　〃That　one　has　worn　a　hole　in　me；　I'm　sure。　　I　never　dreamed　I　could　get　so　weary　of　one。〃

Sheldon　watched　her　to　the　foot　of　the　steps；　where　she　turned　and　called　back；　…

〃My！　　I　can't　tell　you　how　good　it　is　to　be　home　again。〃

And　as　his　gaze　continued　to　follow　her　across　the　compound　to　the　tiny　grass　house；　the　realization　came　to　him　crushingly　that　Berande　and　that　little　grass　house　was　the　only　place　in　the　world　she　could　call　〃home。〃


〃And　Burnett　said；　'Well；　I'll　be　damnedI　beg　your　pardon；　Miss　Lackland；　but　you　have　wantonly　broken　the　recruiting　laws　and　you　know　it；'〃　Captain　Munster　narrated；　as　they　sat　over　their　whisky；　waiting　for　Joan　to　come　back。　　〃And　says　she　to　him；　'Mr。　Burnett；　can　you　show　me　any　law　against　taking　the　passengers　off　a　vessel　that's　on　a　reef？'　　'That　is　not　the　point；'　says　he。　　'It's　the　very；　precise；　particular　point；'　says　she　and　you　bear　it　in　mind　and　go　ahead　and　pass　my　recruits。　　You　can　report　me　to　the　Lord　High　Commissioner　if　you　want；　but　I　have　three　vessels　here　waiting　on　your　convenience；　and　if　you　delay　them　much　longer　there'll　be　another　report　go　in　to　the　Lord　High　Commissioner。'

〃'I'll　hold　you　responsible；　Captain　Munster；'　says　he　to　me；　mad　enough　to　eat　scrap…iron。　　'No；　you　won't；'　says　she；　'I'm　the　charterer　of　the　Emily；　and　Captain　Munster　has　acted　under　my　orders。'

〃What　could　Burnett　do？　　He　passed　the　whole　hundred　and　fifty；　though　the　Emily　was　only　licensed　for　forty；　and　the　Flibberty…　Gibbet　for　thirty…five。〃

〃But　I　don't　understand；〃　Sheldon　said。

〃This　is　the　way　she　worked　it。　　When　the　Martha　was　floated；　we　had　to　beach　her　right　away　at　the　head　of　the　bay；　and　whilst　repairs　were　going　on；　a　new　rudder　being　made；　sails　bent；　gear　recovered　from　the　niggers；　and　so　forth；　Miss　Lackland　borrows　Sparrowhawk　to　run　the　Flibberty　along　with　Curtis；　lends　me　Brahms　to　take　Sparrowhawk's　place；　and　starts　both　craft　off　recruiting。　My　word；　the　niggers　came　easy。　　It　was　virgin　ground。　　Since　the　Scottish　Chiefs；　no　recruiter　had　ever　even　tried　to　work　the　coast；　and　we'd　already　put　the　fear　of　God　into　the　niggers'　hearts　till　the　whole　coast　was　quiet　as　lambs。　　When　we　filled　up；　we　came　back　to　see　how　the　Martha　was　progressing。〃

〃And　thinking　we　was　going　home　with　our　recruits；〃　Sparrowhawk　slipped　in。　　〃Lord　lumme；　that　Miss　Lackland　ain't　never　satisfied。　'I'll　take　'em　on　the　Martha；'　says　she；　'and　you　can　go　back　and　fill　up　again。'〃

〃But　I　told　her　it　couldn't　be　done；〃　Munster　went　on。　　〃I　told　her　the　Martha　hadn't　a　license　for　recruiting。　　'Oh；'　she　said；　'it　can't　be　done；　eh？'　and　she　stood　and　thought　a　few　minutes。〃

〃And　I'd　seen　her　think　before；〃　cried　Sparrowhawk；　〃and　I　knew　at　wunst　that　the　thing　was　as　good　as　done。〃

Munster　lighted　his　cigarette　and　resumed。

〃'You　see　that　spit；'　she　says　to　me；　'with　the　little　ripple　breaking　around　it？　　There's　a　current　sets　right　across　it　and　on　it。　　And　you　see　them　bafflin'　little　cat's…paws？　　It's　good　weather　and　a　falling　tide。　　You　just　start　to　beat　out；　the　two　of　you；　and　all　you　have　to　do　is　miss　stays　in　the　same　baffling　puff　and　the　current　will　set　you　nicely　aground。'〃

〃'That　little　wash　of　sea　won't　more　than　start　a　sheet　or　two　of　copper；'　says　she；　when　Munster　kicked；〃　Sparrowhawk　explained。　〃Oh；　she's　no　green　un；　that　girl。〃

〃'Then　I'll　rescue　your　recruits　and　sail　awaysimple；　ain't　it？'　says　she；〃　Munster　continued。　　〃'You　hang　up　one　tide；'　says　she；　'the　next　is　the　big　high　water。　　Then　you　kedge　off　and　go　after　more　recruits。　　There's　no　law　against　recruiting　when　you're　empty。'　　'But　there　is　against　starving　'em；'　I　said；　'you　know　yourself　there　ain't　any　kai…kai　to　speak　of　aboard　of　us；　and　there　ain't　a　crumb　on　the　Martha。'〃

〃We'd　all　been　pretty　well　on　native　kai…kai；　as　it　was；〃　said　Sparrowhawk。

〃'Don't　let　the　kai…kai　worry　you；　Captain　Munster；'　says　she；　'if　I　can　find　grub　for　eighty…four　mouths　on　the　Martha；　the　two　of　you　can　do　as　much　by　your　two　vessels。　　Now　go　ahead　and　get　aground　before　a　steady　breeze　comes　up　and　spoils　the　manoeuvre。　I'll　send　my　boats　the　moment　you　strike。　　And　now；　good…day；　gentlemen。'〃

〃And　we　went　and　did　it；〃　Sparrowhawk　said　solemnly；　and　then　emitted　a　series　of　chuckling　noises。　　〃We　laid　over；　starboard　tack；　and　I　pinched　the　Emily　against　the　spit。　　'Go　about；'　Captain　Munster　yells　at　me；　'go　about；　or　you'll　have　me　aground！'　He　yelled　other　things；　much　worse。　　But　I　didn't　mind。　　I　missed　stays；　pretty　as　you　please；　and　the　Flibberty　drifted　down　on　him　and　fouled　him；　and　we　went　ashore　together　in　as　nice　a　mess　as　you　ever　want　to　see。　　Miss　Lackland　transferred　the　recruits；　and　the　trick　was　done。〃

〃But　where　was　she　during　the　nor'wester？〃　Sheldon　asked。

〃At　Langa…Langa。　　Ran　up　there　as　it　was　coming　on；　and　laid　there　the　whole　week　and　traded　for　grub　with　the　niggers。　　When　we　got　to　Tulagi；　there　she　was　waiting　for　us　and　scrapping　with　Burnett。　I　tell　you；　Mr。　Sheldon；　she's　a　wonder；　that　girl；　a　perfect　wonder。〃

Munster　refilled　his　glass；　and　while　Sheldon　glanced　across　at　Joan's　house；　anxious　for　her　coming；　Sparrowhawk　took　up　the　tale。

〃Gritty！　　She's　the　grittiest　thing；　man　or　woman；　that　ever　blew　into　the　Solomons。　　You　should　have　seen　Poonga…Poonga　the　morning　we　arrivedSniders　popping　on　the　beach　and　in　the　mangroves；　war…　drums　booming　in　the　bush；　and　signal…smokes　raising　everywhere。　'It's　all　up；'　says　Captain　Munster。〃

〃Yes