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e　had　been　treated　as　one　of　no　consequence；　with　handcuffs　on　hands　and　feet；　to　say　nothing　of　chains。　　When　his　tribe　had　returned　the　three　runaways；　he　was　given　his　freedom。　　And　finally；　the　terrible　white　man　had　fined　him　and　Balesuna　village　ten　thousand　cocoanuts。　　After　that　he　had　sheltered　no　more　runaway　Malaita　men。　　Instead；　he　had　gone　into　the　business　of　catching　them。　　It　was　safer。　　Besides；　he　was　paid　one　case　of　tobacco　per　head。　　But　if　he　ever　got　a　chance　at　that　white　man；　if　he　ever　caught　him　sick　or　stood　at　his　back　when　he　stumbled　and　fell　on　a　bush…　trailwell；　there　would　be　a　head　that　would　fetch　a　price　in　Malaita。

Sheldon　was　pleased　with　what　Seelee　told　him。　　The　seventh　man　of　the　last　batch　of　runaways　had　been　caught　and　was　even　then　at　the　gate。　　He　was　brought　in；　heavy…featured　and　defiant；　his　arms　bound　with　cocoanut　sennit；　the　dry　blood　still　on　his　body　from　the　struggle　with　his　captors。

〃Me　savvee　you　good　fella；　Seelee；〃　Sheldon　said；　as　the　chief　gulped　down　a　quarter…tumbler　of　raw　trade…gin。　　〃Fella　boy　belong　me　you　catch　short　time　little　bit。　　This　fella　boy　strong　fella　too　much。　　I　give　you　fella　one　case　tobaccomy　word；　one　case　tobacco。　　Then；　you　good　fella　along　me；　I　give　you　three　fathom　calico；　one　fella　knife　big　fella　too　much。〃

The　tobacco　and　trade　goods　were　brought　from　the　store…room　by　two　house…boys　and　turned　over　to　the　chief　of　Balesuna　village；　who　accepted　the　additional　reward　with　a　non…committal　grunt　and　went　away　down　the　path　to　his　canoes。　　Under　Sheldon's　directions　the　house…boys　handcuffed　the　prisoner；　by　hands　and　feet；　around　one　of　the　pile　supports　of　the　house。　　At　eleven　o'clock；　when　the　labourers　came　in　from　the　field；　Sheldon　had　them　assembled　in　the　compound　before　the　veranda。　　Every　able　man　was　there；　including　those　who　were　helping　about　the　hospital。　　Even　the　women　and　the　several　pickaninnies　of　the　plantation　were　lined　up　with　the　rest；　two　deepa　horde　of　naked　savages　a　trifle　under　two　hundred　strong。　　In　addition　to　their　ornaments　of　bead　and　shell　and　bone；　their　pierced　ears　and　nostrils　were　burdened　with　safety…pins；　wire　nails；　metal　hair…pins；　rusty　iron　handles　of　cooking　utensils；　and　the　patent　keys　for　opening　corned　beef　tins。　　Some　wore　penknives　clasped　on　their　kinky　locks　for　safety。　　On　the　chest　of　one　a　china　door…knob　was　suspended；　on　the　chest　of　another　the　brass　wheel　of　an　alarm　clock。

Facing　them；　clinging　to　the　railing　of　the　veranda　for　support；　stood　the　sick　white　man。　　Any　one　of　them　could　have　knocked　him　over　with　the　blow　of　a　little　finger。　　Despite　his　firearms；　the　gang　could　have　rushed　him　and　delivered　that　blow；　when　his　head　and　the　plantation　would　have　been　theirs。　　Hatred　and　murder　and　lust　for　revenge　they　possessed　to　overflowing。　　But　one　thing　they　lacked；　the　thing　that　he　possessed；　the　flame　of　mastery　that　would　not　quench；　that　burned　fiercely　as　ever　in　the　disease…　wasted　body；　and　that　was　ever　ready　to　flare　forth　and　scorch　and　singe　them　with　its　ire。

〃Narada！　　Billy！〃　Sheldon　called　sharply。

Two　men　slunk　unwillingly　forward　and　waited。

Sheldon　gave　the　keys　of　the　handcuffs　to　a　house…boy；　who　went　under　the　house　and　loosed　the　prisoner。

〃You　fella　Narada；　you　fella　Billy；　take　um　this　fella　boy　along　tree　and　make　fast；　hands　high　up；〃　was　Sheldon's　command。

While　this　was　being　done；　slowly；　amidst　mutterings　and　restlessness　on　the　part　of　the　onlookers；　one　of　the　house…boys　fetched　a　heavy…handled；　heavy…lashed　whip。　　Sheldon　began　a　speech。

〃This　fella　Arunga；　me　cross　along　him　too　much。　　I　no　steal　this　fella　Arunga。　　I　no　gammon。　　I　say；　'All　right；　you　come　along　me　Berande；　work　three　fella　year。'　　He　say；　'All　right；　me　come　along　you　work　three　fella　year。'　　He　come。　　He　catch　plenty　good　fella　kai…kai；　｛2｝　plenty　good　fella　money。　　What　name　he　run　away？　　Me　too　much　cross　along　him。　　I　knock　what　name　outa　him　fella。　　I　pay　Seelee；　big　fella　master　along　Balesuna；　one　case　tobacco　catch　that　fella　Arunga。　　All　right。　　Arunga　pay　that　fella　case　tobacco。　Six　pounds　that　fella　Arunga　pay。　　Alle　same　one　year　more　that　fella　Arunga　work　Berande。　　All　right。　　Now　he　catch　ten　fella　whip　three　times。　　You　fella　Billy　catch　whip；　give　that　fella　Arunga　ten　fella　three　times。　　All　fella　boys　look　see；　all　fella　Marys　｛3｝　look　see；　bime　bye；　they　like　run　away　they　think　strong　fella　too　much；　no　run　away。　　Billy；　strong　fella　too　much　ten　fella　three　times。〃

The　house…boy　extended　the　whip　to　him；　but　Billy　did　not　take　it。　Sheldon　waited　quietly。　　The　eyes　of　all　the　cannibals　were　fixed　upon　him　in　doubt　and　fear　and　eagerness。　　It　was　the　moment　of　test；　whereby　the　lone　white　man　was　to　live　or　be　lost。

　〃Ten　fella　three　times；　Billy；〃　Sheldon　said　encouragingly；　though　there　was　a　certain　metallic　rasp　in　his　voice。

Billy　scowled；　looked　up　and　looked　down；　but　did　not　move。

〃Billy！〃

Sheldon's　voice　exploded　like　a　pistol　shot。　　The　savage　started　physically。　　Grins　overspread　the　grotesque　features　of　the　audience；　and　there　was　a　sound　of　tittering。

〃S'pose　you　like　too　much　lash　that　fella　Arunga；　you　take　him　fella　Tulagi；〃　Billy　said。　　〃One　fella　government　agent　make　plenty　lash。　　That　um　fella　law。　　Me　savvee　um　fella　law。〃

It　was　the　law；　and　Sheldon　knew　it。　　But　he　wanted　to　live　this　day　and　the　next　day　and　not　to　die　waiting　for　the　law　to　operate　the　next　week　or　the　week　after。

〃Too　much　talk　along　you！〃　he　cried　angrily。　　〃What　name　eh？　　What　name？〃

〃Me　savvee　law；〃　the　savage　repeated　stubbornly。

〃Astoa！〃

Another　man　stepped　forward　in　almost　a　sprightly　way　and　glanced　insolently　up。　　Sheldon　was　selecting　the　worst　characters　for　the　lesson。

〃You　fella　Astoa；　you　fella　Narada；　tie　up　that　fella　Billy　alongside　other　fella　same　fella　way。〃

〃Strong　fella　tie；〃　he　cautioned　them。

〃You　fella　Astoa　take　that　fella　whip。　　Plenty　strong　big　fella　too　much　ten　fella　three　times。　　Savvee！〃

〃No；〃　Astoa　grunted。

Sheldon　picked　up　the　rifle　that　had　leaned　against　the　rail；　and　cocked　it。

〃I　know　you；　Astoa；〃　he　said　calmly。　　〃You　work　along　Queensland　six　years。〃

〃Me　fella　missionary；〃　the　black　interrupted　with　deliberate　insolence。

〃Queensland　you　stop　jail　one　fella　year。　　White　fella　master　damn　fool　no　hang　you。　　You　too　much　bad　fella。　　Queensland　you　stop　jail　six　months　two　fella　time。　　Two　fella　time　you　steal。　　All　right；　you　missionary。　　You　savvee　one　fella　prayer？〃

〃Yes；　me　savvee　prayer；〃　was　the　reply。

〃All　right；　then　you　pray　now；　short　time　little　bit。　　You　say　one　fella　prayer　damn　quick；　then　me　kill　you。〃

Sheldon　held　the　rifle　on　him　and　waited。　　The　black　glanced　around　at　his　fellows；　but　none　moved　to　aid　him。　　They　were　intent　upon　the　coming　spectacle；　staring　fascinated　at　the　white　man　with　death　in　his　hands　who　stood　alone　on　the　great　veranda。　　Sheldon　has　won；　and　he　knew　it。　　Astoa　changed　his　weight　irresolutely　from　one　foot　to　the　other。　　He　looked　at　the　white　man；　and　saw　his　eyes　gleaming　level　along　the　sights。

〃Astoa；〃　Sheldon　said；　seizing　the　psychological　moment；　〃I　count　three　fella　time。　　Then　I　shoot　you　fella　dead；　good…bye；　all　finish　you。〃

And　Sheldon　knew　that　when　he　had　counted　three　he　would　drop　him　in　his　tracks。　　The　black　knew　it；　too。　　That　was　why　Sheldon　did　not　have　to　do　it；　for　when　he　had　counted　one；　Astoa　reached　out　his　hand　and　took　the　whip。　　And　right　well　Astoa　laid　on　the　whip；　angered　at　his　fellows　for　not　supporting　him　and　venting　his　anger　with　every　stroke。　　From　the　veranda　Sheldon　egged　him　on　to　strike　with　strength；　till　the　two　triced　savages　screamed　and　howled　while　the　blood　oozed　down　their　backs。　　The　lesson　was　being　well　written　in　red。

When　the　last　of　the　gang；　including　the　two　howling　culprits；　had　passed　out　through　the　compound　gate；　Sheldon　sank　down　half…　fainting　on　his　couch。

〃You're　a　sick　man；〃　he　groaned。　　〃A　sick　man。〃

〃But　you　can　sleep　at　ease　to…night；〃　he　added；　half　an　hour　later。



CHAPTER　IIITHE　JESSIE



Two　days　passed；　and　Sheldon　felt　that　he　could　not　grow　any　weaker　and　live；　much　less　make　his　four　daily　rounds　of　the　hospital。　The　deaths　were　averaging　four　a　day；　and　there　were　more　new　cases　than　recoveries。　　The　blacks　were　in　a　funk。　　Each　one；　when　taken　sick；　seemed　to　make　every　effort　to　die。　　Once　down　on　their　backs　they　lacked　the　grit　to　make　a　struggle。　　They　believed　they　were　going　to　die；　and　they　did　their　best　to　vindicate　that　belief。　Even　those　that　were　well　were　sure　that　it　was　only　a　mater　of　days　when　the　sickness　would　catch　them　and　carry　them　off。　　And　yet；　believing　this　with　absolute　conviction；　they　somehow　lacked　the　nerve　to　rush　the　frail　wraith　of　a　man　with　the　white　skin　and　escape　from　the　charnel　house　by　the　whale…boats。　　They　chose　the　lingering　death　they　were　sure　awaited　them；　rather　than　the　immediate　death　they　were　very　sure　would　pounce　upon　them　if　they　went　up　against　the　master。　　That　he　never　slept；　they　knew。　　That　he　could　not　be　conjured　to　death；　they　were　equally　surethey　had　tried　it。　　And　even　the　sickness　that　was　sweeping　them　off　could