adventure-第6节

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y　in　proportion。　　He　had　never　seen　islanders　like　them。　They　were　not　black　like　the　Solomon　Islanders；　but　light　brown；　and　their　features　were　larger；　more　regular；　and　even　handsome。

The　womanor　girl；　rather；　he　decidedwalked　along　the　veranda　toward　him。　　The　two　men　waited　at　the　head　of　the　steps；　watching　curiously。　　The　girl　was　angry；　he　could　see　that。　　Her　gray　eyes　were　flashing；　and　her　lips　were　quivering。　　That　she　had　a　temper；　was　his　thought。　　But　the　eyes　were　striking。　　He　decided　that　they　were　not　gray　after　all；　or；　at　least；　not　all　gray。　　They　were　large　and　wide　apart；　and　they　looked　at　him　from　under　level　brows。　　Her　face　was　cameo…like；　so　clear　cut　was　it。　　There　were　other　striking　things　about　herthe　cowboy　Stetson　hat；　the　heavy　braids　of　brown　hair；　and　the　long…barrelled　38　Colt's　revolver　that　hung　in　its　holster　on　her　hip。

〃Pretty　hospitality；　I　must　say；〃　was　her　greeting；　〃letting　strangers　sink　or　swim　in　your　front　yard。〃

〃II　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　stammered；　by　a　supreme　effort　dragging　himself　to　his　feet。

His　legs　wobbled　under　him；　and　with　a　suffocating　sensation　he　began　sinking　to　the　floor。　　He　was　aware　of　a　feeble　gratification　as　he　saw　solicitude　leap　into　her　eyes；　then　blackness　smote　him；　and　at　the　moment　of　smiting　him　his　thought　was　that　at　last；　and　for　the　first　time　in　his　life；　he　had　fainted。

The　ringing　of　the　big　bell　aroused　him。　　He　opened　his　eyes　and　found　that　he　was　on　the　couch　indoors。　　A　glance　at　the　clock　told　him　that　it　was　six；　and　from　the　direction　the　sun's　rays　streamed　into　the　room　he　knew　that　it　was　morning。　　At　first　he　puzzled　over　something　untoward　he　was　sure　had　happened。　　Then　on　the　wall　he　saw　a　Stetson　hat　hanging；　and　beneath　it　a　full　cartridge…belt　and　a　long…barrelled　38　Colt's　revolver。　　The　slender　girth　of　the　belt　told　its　feminine　story；　and　he　remembered　the　whale…boat　of　the　day　before　and　the　gray　eyes　that　flashed　beneath　the　level　brows。　　She　it　must　have　been　who　had　just　rung　the　bell。　　The　cares　of　the　plantation　rushed　upon　him；　and　he　sat　up　in　bed；　clutching　at　the　wall　for　support　as　the　mosquito　screen　lurched　dizzily　around　him。　　He　was　still　sitting　there；　holding　on；　with　eyes　closed；　striving　to　master　his　giddiness；　when　he　heard　her　voice。

〃You'll　lie　right　down　again；　sir；〃　she　said。

It　was　sharply　imperative；　a　voice　used　to　command。　　At　the　same　time　one　hand　pressed　him　back　toward　the　pillow　while　the　other　caught　him　from　behind　and　eased　him　down。

〃You've　been　unconscious　for　twenty…four　hours　now；〃　she　went　on；　〃and　I　have　taken　charge。　　When　I　say　the　word　you'll　get　up；　and　not　until　then。　　Now；　what　medicine　do　you　take？quinine？　　Here　are　ten　grains。　　That's　right。　　You'll　make　a　good　patient。〃

〃My　dear　madame；〃　he　began。

〃You　musn't　speak；〃　she　interrupted；　〃that　is；　in　protest。　Otherwise；　you　can　talk。〃

〃But　the　plantation〃

〃A　dead　man　is　of　no　use　on　a　plantation。　　Don't　you　want　to　know　about　ME？　　My　vanity　is　hurt。　　Here　am　I；　just　through　my　first　shipwreck；　and　here　are　you；　not　the　least　bit　curious；　talking　about　your　miserable　plantation。　　Can't　you　see　that　I　am　just　bursting　to　tell　somebody；　anybody；　about　my　shipwreck？〃

He　smiled；　it　was　the　first　time　in　weeks。　　And　he　smiled；　not　so　much　at　what　she　said；　as　at　the　way　she　said　itthe　whimsical　expression　of　her　face；　the　laughter　in　her　eyes；　and　the　several　tiny　lines　of　humour　that　drew　in　at　the　corners。　　He　was　curiously　wondering　as　to　what　her　age　was；　as　he　said　aloud：

〃Yes；　tell　me；　please。〃

〃That　I　will　notnot　now；〃　she　retorted；　with　a　toss　of　the　head。　〃I'll　find　somebody　to　tell　my　story　to　who　does　not　have　to　be　asked。　　Also；　I　want　information。　　I　managed　to　find　out　what　time　to　ring　the　bell　to　turn　the　hands　to；　and　that　is　about　all。　　I　don't　understand　the　ridiculous　speech　of　your　people。　　What　time　do　they　knock　off？〃

〃At　elevengo　on　again　at　one。〃

〃That　will　do；　thank　you。　　And　now；　where　do　you　keep　the　key　to　the　provisions？　　I　want　to　feed　my　men。〃

〃Your　men！〃　he　gasped。　　〃On　tinned　goods！　　No；　no。　　Let　them　go　out　and　eat　with　my　boys。〃

Her　eyes　flashed　as　on　the　day　before；　and　he　saw　again　the　imperative　expression　on　her　face。

〃That　I　won't；　my　men　are　MEN。　　I've　been　out　to　your　miserable　barracks　and　watched　them　eat。　　Faugh！　　Potatoes！　　Nothing　but　potatoes！　　No　salt！　　Nothing！　　Only　potatoes！　　I　may　have　been　mistaken；　but　I　thought　I　understood　them　to　say　that　that　was　all　they　ever　got　to　eat。　　Two　meals　a　day　and　every　day　in　the　week？〃

He　nodded。

〃Well；　my　men　wouldn't　stand　that　for　a　single　day；　much　less　a　whole　week。　　Where　is　the　key？〃

〃Hanging　on　that　clothes…hook　under　the　clock。〃

He　gave　it　easily　enough；　but　as　she　was　reaching　down　the　key　she　heard　him　say：

〃Fancy　niggers　and　tinned　provisions。〃

This　time　she　really　was　angry。　　The　blood　was　in　her　cheeks　as　she　turned　on　him。

〃My　men　are　not　niggers。　　The　sooner　you　understand　that　the　better　for　our　acquaintance。　　As　for　the　tinned　goods；　I'll　pay　for　all　they　eat。　　Please　don't　worry　about　that。　　Worry　is　not　good　for　you　in　your　condition。　　And　I　won't　stay　any　longer　than　I　have　to…　…just　long　enough　to　get　you　on　your　feet；　and　not　go　away　with　the　feeling　of　having　deserted　a　white　man。〃

〃You're　American；　aren't　you？〃　he　asked　quietly。

The　question　disconcerted　her　for　the　moment。

〃Yes；〃　she　vouchsafed；　with　a　defiant　look。　　〃Why？〃

〃Nothing。　　I　merely　thought　so。〃

〃Anything　further？〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃Why？〃　he　asked。

〃Oh；　nothing。　　I　thought　you　might　have　something　pleasant　to　say。〃

〃My　name　is　Sheldon；　David　Sheldon；〃　he　said；　with　direct　relevance；　holding　out　a　thin　hand。

Her　hand　started　out　impulsively；　then　checked。　　〃My　name　is　Lackland；　Joan　Lackland。〃　　The　hand　went　out。　　〃And　let　us　be　friends。〃

〃It　could　not　be　otherwise〃　he　began　lamely。

〃And　I　can　feed　my　men　all　the　tinned　goods　I　want？〃　she　rushed　on。

〃Till　the　cows　come　home；〃　he　answered；　attempting　her　own　lightness；　then　adding；　〃that　is；　to　Berande。　　You　see　we　don't　have　any　cows　at　Berande。〃


She　fixed　him　coldly　with　her　eyes。

〃Is　that　a　joke？〃　she　demanded。

〃I　really　don't　knowII　thought　it　was；　but　then；　you　see；　I'm　sick。〃

〃You're　English；　aren't　you？〃　was　her　next　query。

〃Now　that's　too　much；　even　for　a　sick　man；〃　he　cried。　　〃You　know　well　enough　that　I　am。〃

〃Oh；〃　she　said　absently；　〃then　you　are？〃

He　frowned；　tightened　his　lips；　then　burst　into　laughter；　in　which　she　joined。

〃It's　my　own　fault；〃　he　confessed。　　〃I　shouldn't　have　baited　you。　I'll　be　careful　in　the　future。〃

〃In　the　meantime　go　on　laughing；　and　I'll　see　about　breakfast。　　Is　there　anything　you　would　fancy？〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃It　will　do　you　good　to　eat　something。　　Your　fever　has　burned　out；　and　you　are　merely　weak。　　Wait　a　moment。〃

She　hurried　out　of　the　room　in　the　direction　of　the　kitchen；　tripped　at　the　door　in　a　pair　of　sandals　several　sizes　too　large　for　her　feet；　and　disappeared　in　rosy　confusion。

〃By　Jove；　those　are　my　sandals；〃　he　thought　to　himself。　　〃The　girl　hasn't　a　thing　to　wear　except　what　she　landed　on　the　beach　in；　and　she　certainly　landed　in　sea…boots。〃



CHAPTER　VSHE　WOULD　A　PLANTER　BE



Sheldon　mended　rapidly。　　The　fever　had　burned　out；　and　there　was　nothing　for　him　to　do　but　gather　strength。　　Joan　had　taken　the　cook　in　hand；　and　for　the　first　time；　as　Sheldon　remarked；　the　chop　at　Berande　was　white　man's　chop。　　With　her　own　hands　Joan　prepared　the　sick　man's　food；　and　between　that　and　the　cheer　she　brought　him；　he　was　able；　after　two　days；　to　totter　feebly　out　upon　the　veranda。　The　situation　struck　him　as　strange；　and　stranger　still　was　the　fact　that　it　did　not　seem　strange　to　the　girl　at　all。　　She　had　settled　down　and　taken　charge　of　the　household　as　a　matter　of　course；　as　if　he　were　her　father；　or　brother；　or　as　if　she　were　a　man　like　himself。

〃It　is　just　too　delightful　for　anything；〃　she　assured　him。　　〃It　is　like　a　page　out　of　some　romance。　　Here　I　come　along　out　of　the　sea　and　find　a　sick　man　all　alone　with　two　hundred　slaves〃

〃Recruits；〃　he　corrected。　　〃Contract　labourers。　　They　serve　only　three　years；　and　they　are　free　agents　when　they　enter　upon　their　contracts。〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　she　hurried　on。　　〃A　sick　man　alone　with　two　hundred　recruits　on　a　cannibal　islandthey　are　cannibals；　aren't　they？　　Or　is　it　all　talk？〃

〃Talk！〃　he　said；　with　a　smile。　　〃It's　a　trifle　more　than　that。　Most　of　my　boys　are　from　the　bush；　and　every　bushman　is　a　cannibal。〃

〃But　not　after　they　become　recruits？　　Surely；　the　boys　you　have　here　wouldn't　be　guilty。〃

〃They'd　eat　you　if　the　chance　afforded。〃

〃Are　you　just　saying　so；　on　theory；　or　do　you　really　know？〃　she　asked。

〃I　know。〃

〃Why？　　What　makes　you　think　so？　　Your　own　men　here？〃

〃Yes；　my　own　men　here；　the　very　house…boys；　the　cook　that　at　the　present　moment　is　making　such　delicious　rolls；　thanks　to　you。　　Not　more　than　three　months　ago　eleven　of　them　sneaked　a　whale…boat　and　ran　for　Malaita。　　Nine　of　them　belonged　to　Malaita。　　Two　were　bushmen　from　San　Cristoval。　　They　were　foolsthe　two　from　San　Cristoval；　I　mean；　so　would　any　two　Malaita　men　be　wh