adventure-第4节

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h；　they　were　equally　surethey　had　tried　it。　　And　even　the　sickness　that　was　sweeping　them　off　could　not　kill　him。

With　the　whipping　in　the　compound；　discipline　had　improved。　　They　cringed　under　the　iron　hand　of　the　white　man。　　They　gave　their　scowls　or　malignant　looks　with　averted　faces　or　when　his　back　was　turned。　　They　saved　their　mutterings　for　the　barracks　at　night；　where　he　could　not　hear。　　And　there　were　no　more　runaways　and　no　more　night…prowlers　on　the　veranda。

Dawn　of　the　third　day　after　the　whipping　brought　the　Jessie's　white　sails　in　sight。　　Eight　miles　away；　it　was　not　till　two　in　the　afternoon　that　the　light　air…fans　enabled　her　to　drop　anchor　a　quarter　of　a　mile　off　the　shore。　　The　sight　of　her　gave　Sheldon　fresh　courage；　and　the　tedious　hours　of　waiting　did　not　irk　him。　He　gave　his　orders　to　the　boss…boys　and　made　his　regular　trips　to　the　hospital。　　Nothing　mattered　now。　　His　troubles　were　at　an　end。　He　could　lie　down　and　take　care　of　himself　and　proceed　to　get　well。　The　Jessie　had　arrived。　　His　partner　was　on　board；　vigorous　and　hearty　from　six　weeks'　recruiting　on　Malaita。　　He　could　take　charge　now；　and　all　would　be　well　with　Berande。

Sheldon　lay　in　the　steamer…chair　and　watched　the　Jessie's　whale…　boat　pull　in　for　the　beach。　　He　wondered　why　only　three　sweeps　were　pulling；　and　he　wondered　still　more　when；　beached；　there　was　so　much　delay　in　getting　out　of　the　boat。　　Then　he　understood。　　The　three　blacks　who　had　been　pulling　started　up　the　beach　with　a　stretcher　on　their　shoulders。　　A　white　man；　whom　he　recognized　as　the　Jessie's　captain；　walked　in　front　and　opened　the　gate；　then　dropped　behind　to　close　it。　　Sheldon　knew　that　it　was　Hughie　Drummond　who　lay　in　the　stretcher；　and　a　mist　came　before　his　eyes。　He　felt　an　overwhelming　desire　to　die。　　The　disappointment　was　too　great。　　In　his　own　state　of　terrible　weakness　he　felt　that　it　was　impossible　to　go　on　with　his　task　of　holding　Berande　plantation　tight…gripped　in　his　fist。　　Then　the　will　of　him　flamed　up　again；　and　he　directed　the　blacks　to　lay　the　stretcher　beside　him　on　the　floor。　　Hughie　Drummond；　whom　he　had　last　seen　in　health；　was　an　emaciated　skeleton。　　His　closed　eyes　were　deep…sunken。　　The　shrivelled　lips　had　fallen　away　from　the　teeth；　and　the　cheek…bones　seemed　bursting　through　the　skin。　　Sheldon　sent　a　house…boy　for　his　thermometer　and　glanced　questioningly　at　the　captain。

〃Black…water　fever；〃　the　captain　said。　　〃He's　been　like　this　for　six　days；　unconscious。　　And　we've　got　dysentery　on　board。　　What's　the　matter　with　you？〃

〃I'm　burying　four　a　day；〃　Sheldon　answered；　as　he　bent　over　from　the　steamer…chair　and　inserted　the　thermometer　under　his　partner's　tongue。

Captain　Oleson　swore　blasphemously；　and　sent　a　house…boy　to　bring　whisky　and　soda。　　Sheldon　glanced　at　the　thermometer。

〃One　hundred　and　seven；〃　he　said。　　〃Poor　Hughie。〃

Captain　Oleson　offered　him　some　whisky。

〃Couldn't　think　of　itperforation；　you　know；〃　Sheldon　said。

He　sent　for　a　boss…boy　and　ordered　a　grave　to　be　dug；　also　some　of　the　packing…cases　to　be　knocked　together　into　a　coffin。　　The　blacks　did　not　get　coffins。　　They　were　buried　as　they　died；　being　carted　on　a　sheet　of　galvanized　iron；　in　their　nakedness；　from　the　hospital　to　the　hole　in　the　ground。　　Having　given　the　orders；　Sheldon　lay　back　in　his　chair　with　closed　eyes。

〃It's　ben　fair　hell；　sir；〃　Captain　Oleson　began；　then　broke　off　to　help　himself　to　more　whisky。　　〃It's　ben　fair　hell；　Mr。　Sheldon；　I　tell　you。　　Contrary　winds　and　calms。　　We've　ben　driftin'　all　about　the　shop　for　ten　days。　　There's　ten　thousand　sharks　following　us　for　the　tucker　we've　ben　throwin'　over　to　them。　　They　was　snappin'　at　the　oars　when　we　started　to　come　ashore。　　I　wisht　to　God　a　nor'wester'd　come　along　an'　blow　the　Solomons　clean　to　hell。〃

〃We　got　it　from　the　waterwater　from　Owga　creek。　　Filled　my　casks　with　it。　　How　was　we　to　know？　　I've　filled　there　before　an'　it　was　all　right。　　We　had　sixty　recruits…full　up；　and　my　crew　of　fifteen。　We've　ben　buryin'　them　day　an'　night。　　The　beggars　won't　live；　damn　them！　　They　die　out　of　spite。　　Only　three　of　my　crew　left　on　its　legs。　　Five　more　down。　　Seven　dead。　　Oh；　hell！　　What's　the　good　of　talkin'？〃

〃How　many　recruits　left？〃　Sheldon　asked。

〃Lost　half。　　Thirty　left。　　Twenty　down；　and　ten　tottering　around。〃

Sheldon　sighed。

〃That　means　another　addition　to　the　hospital。　　We've　got　to　get　them　ashore　somehow。Viaburi！　　Hey；　you；　Viaburi；　ring　big　fella　bell　strong　fella　too　much。〃

The　hands；　called　in　from　the　fields　at　that　unwonted　hour；　were　split　into　detachments。　　Some　were　sent　into　the　woods　to　cut　timber　for　house…beams；　others　to　cutting　cane…grass　for　thatching；　and　forty　of　them　lifted　a　whale…boat　above　their　heads　and　carried　it　down　to　the　sea。　　Sheldon　had　gritted　his　teeth；　pulled　his　collapsing　soul　together；　and　taken　Berande　plantation　into　his　fist　once　more。

〃Have　you　seen　the　barometer？〃　Captain　Oleson　asked；　pausing　at　the　bottom　of　the　steps　on　his　way　to　oversee　the　disembarkation　of　the　sick。

〃No；〃　Sheldon　answered。　　〃Is　it　down？〃

〃It's　going　down。〃

〃Then　you'd　better　sleep　aboard　to…night；〃　was　Sheldon's　judgment。　〃Never　mind　the　funeral。　　I'll　see　to　poor　Hughie。〃

〃A　nigger　was　kicking　the　bucket　when　I　dropped　anchor。〃

The　captain　made　the　statement　as　a　simple　fact；　but　obviously　waited　for　a　suggestion。　　The　other　felt　a　sudden　wave　of　irritation　rush　through　him。

〃Dump　him　over；〃　he　cried。　　〃Great　God；　man！　don't　you　think　I've　got　enough　graves　ashore？〃

〃I　just　wanted　to　know；　that　was　all；〃　the　captain　answered；　in　no　wise　offended。

Sheldon　regretted　his　childishness。

〃Oh；　Captain　Oleson；〃　he　called。　　〃If　you　can　see　your　way　to　it；　come　ashore　to…morrow　and　lend　me　a　hand。　　If　you　can't；　send　the　mate。〃

〃Right　O。　　I'll　come　myself。　　Mr。　Johnson's　dead；　sir。　　I　forgot　to　tell　youthree　days　ago。〃

Sheldon　watched　the　Jessie's　captain　go　down　the　path；　with　waving　arms　and　loud　curses　calling　upon　God　to　sink　the　Solomons。　　Next；　Sheldon　noted　the　Jessie　rolling　lazily　on　the　glassy　swell；　and　beyond；　in　the　north…west；　high　over　Florida　Island；　an　alpine　chain　of　dark…massed　clouds。　　Then　he　turned　to　his　partner；　calling　for　boys　to　carry　him　into　the　house。　　But　Hughie　Drummond　had　reached　the　end。　　His　breathing　was　imperceptible。　　By　mere　touch；　Sheldon　could　ascertain　that　the　dying　man's　temperature　was　going　down。　　It　must　have　been　going　down　when　the　thermometer　registered　one　hundred　and　seven。　　He　had　burned　out。　　Sheldon　knelt　beside　him；　the　house…boys　grouped　around；　their　white　singlets　and　loin…cloths　peculiarly　at　variance　with　their　dark　skins　and　savage　countenances；　their　huge　ear…plugs　and　carved　and　glistening　nose…rings。　　Sheldon　tottered　to　his　feet　at　last；　and　half…fell　into　the　steamer…chair。　　Oppressive　as　the　heat　had　been；　it　was　now　even　more　oppressive。　　It　was　difficult　to　breathe。　　He　panted　for　air。　　The　faces　and　naked　arms　of　the　house…boys　were　beaded　with　sweat。

〃Marster；〃　one　of　them　ventured；　〃big　fella　wind　he　come；　strong　fella　too　much。〃

Sheldon　nodded　his　head　but　did　not　look。　　Much　as　he　had　loved　Hughie　Drummond；　his　death；　and　the　funeral　it　entailed；　seemed　an　intolerable　burden　to　add　to　what　he　was　already　sinking　under。　　He　had　a　feelingnay；　it　was　a　certitudethat　all　he　had　to　do　was　to　shut　his　eyes　and　let　go；　and　that　he　would　die；　sink　into　immensity　of　rest。　　He　knew　it；　it　was　very　simple。　　All　he　had　to　do　was　close　his　eyes　and　let　go；　for　he　had　reached　the　stage　where　he　lived　by　will　alone。　　His　weary　body　seemed　torn　by　the　oncoming　pangs　of　dissolution。　　He　was　a　fool　to　hang　on。　　He　had　died　a　score　of　deaths　already；　and　what　was　the　use　of　prolonging　it　to　two…score　deaths　before　he　really　died。　　Not　only　was　he　not　afraid　to　die；　but　he　desired　to　die。　　His　weary　flesh　and　weary　spirit　desired　it；　and　why　should　the　flame　of　him　not　go　utterly　out？

But　his　mind　that　could　will　life　or　death；　still　pulsed　on。　　He　saw　the　two　whale…boats　land　on　the　beach；　and　the　sick；　on　stretchers　or　pick…a…back；　groaning　and　wailing；　go　by　in　lugubrious　procession。　　He　saw　the　wind　making　on　the　clouded　horizon；　and　thought　of　the　sick　in　the　hospital。　　Here　was　something　waiting　his　hand　to　be　done；　and　it　was　not　in　his　nature　to　lie　down　and　sleep；　or　die；　when　any　task　remained　undone。

The　boss…boys　were　called　and　given　their　orders　to　rope　down　the　hospital　with　its　two　additions。　　He　remembered　the　spare　anchor…　chain；　new　and　black…painted；　that　hung　under　the　house　suspended　from　the　floor…beams；　and　ordered　it　to　be　used　on　the　hospital　as　well。　　Other　boys　brought　the　coffin；　a　grotesque　patchwork　of　packing…cases；　and　under　his　directions　they　laid　Hughie　Drummond　in　it。　　Half　a　dozen　boys　carried　it　down　the　beach；　while　he　rode　on　the　back　of　another；　his　arms　around　the　black's　neck；　one　hand　clutching　a　prayer…book。

While　he　read　the　service；　the　blacks　gazed　apprehensively　at　the　dark　line　on　the　water；　above　which　rolled　and　tumbled　the　racing　clouds。　　The　first　breath　of　the　wind；　faint　and　silken；　tonic　with　life；　fanned　through　his　dry…baked　body　as　he　finished　reading。　Then　came　the　second　breath　of　the　wind；　an　angry