adventure(冒险)-第17节
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the bridge…building gang had started along the beach。 Satan was big and
black； short…haired and muscular； and weighed fully seventy pounds。 He
did not love the blacks。 Tommy Jones had trained him well； tying him up
daily for several hours and telling off one or two black boys at a time to
tease him。 So Satan had it in for the whole black race； and the second
after he landed on the beach the bridge…building gang was stampeding
over the compound fence and swarming up the cocoanut palms。
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〃Good morning；〃 Sheldon called from the veranda。 〃And what do
you think of the nigger…chaser？〃
〃I'm thinking we have a task before us to train him in to the house…
boys；〃 she called back。
〃And to your Tahitians； too。 Look out； Noah！ Run for it！〃
Satan； having satisfied himself that the tree…perches were unassailable；
was charging straight for the big Tahitian。
But Noah stood his ground； though somewhat irresolutely； and Satan；
to every one's surprise； danced and frisked about him with laughing eyes
and wagging tail。
〃Now； that is what I might call a proper dog；〃 was Joan's comment。
〃He is at least wiser than you； Mr。 Sheldon。 He didn't require any
teaching to recognize the difference between a Tahitian and a black boy。
What do you think； Noah？ Why don't he bite you？ He savvee you
Tahitian eh？〃
Noa Noah shook his head and grinned。
〃He no savvee me Tahitian；〃 he explained。 〃He savvee me wear
pants all the same white man。〃
〃You'll have to give him a course in 'Sartor Resartus；'〃 Sheldon
laughed； as he came down and began to make friends with Satan。
It chanced just then that Adamu Adam and Matauare； two of Joan's
sailors； entered the compound from the far side…gate。 They had been
down to the Balesuna making an alligator trap； and； instead of trousers；
were clad in lava…lavas that flapped gracefully about their stalwart limbs。
Satan saw them； and advertised his find by breaking away from Sheldon's
hands and charging。
〃No got pants；〃 Noah announced with a grin that broadened as Adamu
Adam took to flight。
He climbed up the platform that supported the galvanized iron tanks
which held the water collected from the roof。 Foiled here； Satan turned
and charged back on Matauare。
〃Run； Matauare！ Run！〃 Joan called。
But he held his ground and waited the dog。
〃He is the Fearless Onethat is what his name means；〃 Joan explained
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to Sheldon。
The Tahitian watched Satan coolly； and when that sanguine…mouthed
creature lifted into the air in the final leap； the man's hand shot out。 It
was a fair grip on the lower jaw； and Satan described a half circle and was
flung to the rear； turning over in the air and falling heavily on his back。
Three times he leaped； and three times that grip on his jaw flung him to
defeat。 Then he contented himself with trotting at Matauare's heels；
eyeing him and sniffing him suspiciously。
〃It's all right； Satan； it's all right；〃 Sheldon assured him。 〃That good
fella belong along me。〃
But Satan dogged the Tahitian's movements for a full hour before he
made up his mind that the man was an appurtenance of the place。 Then he
turned his attention to the three house…boys； cornering Ornfiri in the
kitchen and rushing him against the hot stove； stripping the lava…lava from
Lalaperu when that excited youth climbed a veranda…post； and following
Viaburi on top the billiard… table； where the battle raged until Joan
managed a rescue。
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CHAPTER IXAS BETWEEN A
MAN AND A WOMAN
It was Satan's inexhaustible energy and good spirits that most
impressed them。 His teeth seemed perpetually to ache with desire； and in
lieu of black legs he husked the cocoanuts that fell from the trees in the
compound； kept the enclosure clear of intruding hens； and made a hostile
acquaintance with every boss…boy who came to report。 He was unable to
forget the torment of his puppyhood； wherein everlasting hatred of the
black had been woven into the fibres of consciousness； and such a terror
did he make himself that Sheldon was forced to shut him up in the living
room when； for any reason； strange natives were permitted in the
compound。 This always hurt Satan's feelings and fanned his wrath； so
that even the house…boys had to watch out for him when he was first
released。
Christian Young sailed away in the Minerva； carrying an invitation
（that would be delivered nobody knew when） to Tommy Jones to drop in
at Berande the next time he was passing。
〃What are your plans when you get to Sydney？〃 Sheldon asked； that
night； at dinner。
〃First I've heard that I'm going to Sydney；〃 Joan retorted。 〃I suppose
you've received information； by bush…telegraph； that that third assistant
understrapper and ex…sailorman at Tulagi is going to deport me as an
undesirable immigrant。〃
〃Oh； no； nothing of the sort； I assure you；〃 Sheldon began with
awkward haste； fearful of having offended； though he knew not how。 〃I
was just wondering； that was all。 You see； with the loss of the schooner
and 。 。 and all the rest 。 。 。 you understand 。 。 I was thinking that ifaif
hang it all； until you could communicate with your friends； my agents at
Sydney could advance you a loan； temporary you see； why I'd be only too
glad and all the rest； you know。 The proper〃
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But his jaw dropped and he regarded her irritably and with
apprehension。
〃What IS the matter？〃 he demanded； with a show of heat。 〃What
HAVE I done now？〃
Joan's eyes were bright with battle； the curve of her lips sharp with
mockery。
〃Certainly not the unexpected；〃 she said quietly。 〃Merely ignored me
in your ordinary； every…day； man…god； superior fashion。 Naturally it
counted for nothing； my telling you that I had no idea of going to Sydney。
Go to Sydney I must； because you； in your superior wisdom； have so
decreed。〃
She paused and looked at him curiously； as though he were some
strange breed of animal。
〃Of course I am grateful for your offer of assistance； but even that is
no salve to wounded pride。 For that matter； it is no more than one white
man should expect from another。 Shipwrecked mariners are always
helped along their way。 Only this particular mariner doesn't need any
help。 Furthermore； this mariner is not going to Sydney； thank you。〃
〃But what do you intend to do？〃
〃Find some spot where I shall escape the indignity of being patronized
and bossed by the superior sex。〃
〃Come now； that is putting it a bit too strongly。〃 Sheldon laughed；
but the strain in his voice destroyed the effect of spontaneity。 〃You know
yourself how impossible the situation is。〃
〃I know nothing of the sort； sir。 And if it is impossible； well； haven't
I achieved it？〃
〃But it cannot continue。 Really〃
〃Oh； yes； it can。 Having achieved it； I can go on achieving it。 I
intend to remain in the Solomons； but not on Berande。 To…morrow I am
going to take the whale…boat over to Pari…Sulay。 I was talking with
Captain Young about it。 He says there are at least four hundred acres；
and every foot of it good for planting。 Being an island； he says I won't
have to bother about wild pigs destroying the young trees。 All I'll have to
do is to keep the weeds hoed until the trees come into
