adventure(冒险)-第20节
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to…morrow； when you've told the skipper and not hurt his feelings； I am
going to take my men out and give her an overhauling。 We'll scrub her
bottom； too。 Why； there's whiskers on her copper four inches long。 I
saw it when she rolled。 Don't forget； I'm going cruising on the Flibberty
some day； even if I have to run away with her。〃
While at their coffee on the veranda； Satan raised a commotion in the
compound near the beach gate； and Sheldon finally rescued a mauled and
frightened black and dragged him on the porch for interrogation。
〃What fella marster you belong？〃 he demanded。 〃What name you
come along this fella place sun he go down？〃
〃Me b'long Boucher。 Too many boy belong along Port Adams stop
along my fella marster。 Too much walk about。〃
The black drew a scrap of notepaper from under his belt and passed it
over。 Sheldon scanned it hurriedly。
〃It's from Boucher；〃 he explained； 〃the fellow who took Packard's
place。 Packard was the one I told you about who was killed by his
boat's…crew。 He says the Port Adams crowd is outfifty of them； in big
canoesand camping on his beach。 They've killed half a dozen of his
pigs already； and seem to be looking for trouble。 And he's afraid they
may connect with the fifteen runaways from Lunga。〃
〃In which case？〃 she queried。
〃In which case Billy Pape will be compelled to send Boucher's
successor。 It's Pape's station； you know。 I wish I knew what to do。 I
don't like to leave you here alone。〃
〃Take me along then。〃
He smiled and shook his head。
〃Then you'd better take my men along；〃 she advised。 〃They're good
shots； and they're not afraid of anythingexcept Utami； and he's afraid of
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ghosts。〃
The big bell was rung； and fifty black boys carried the whale…boat
down to the water。 The regular boat's…crew manned her； and Matauare
and three other Tahitians； belted with cartridges and armed with rifles； sat
in the stern…sheets where Sheldon stood at the steering…oar。
〃My； I wish I could go with you；〃 Joan said wistfully； as the boat
shoved off。
Sheldon shook his head。
〃I'm as good as a man；〃 she urged。
〃You really are needed here；〃 he replied。
〃There's that Lunga crowd； they might reach the coast right here； and
with both of us absent rush the plantation。 Good…bye。 We'll get back in
the morning some time。 It's only twelve miles。〃
When Joan started to return to the house； she was compelled to pass
among the boat…carriers； who lingered on the beach to chatter in queer；
ape…like fashion about the events of the night。 They made way for her；
but there came to her； as she was in the midst of them； a feeling of her own
helplessness。 There were so many of them。 What was to prevent them
from dragging her down if they so willed？ Then she remembered that
one cry of hers would fetch Noa Noah and her remaining sailors； each one
of whom was worth a dozen blacks in a struggle。 As she opened the gate；
one of the boys stepped up to her。 In the darkness she could not make
him out。
〃What name？〃 she asked sharply。 〃What name belong you？〃
〃Me Aroa；〃 he said。
She remembered him as one of the two sick boys she had nursed at the
hospital。 The other one had died。
〃Me take 'm plenty fella medicine too much；〃 Aroa was saying。
〃Well； and you all right now；〃 she answered。
〃Me want 'm tobacco； plenty fella tobacco； me want 'm calico； me
want 'm porpoise teeth； me want 'm one fella belt。〃
She looked at him humorously； expecting to see a smile； or at least a
grin； on his face。 Instead； his face was expressionless。 Save for a
narrow breech…clout； a pair of ear…plugs； and about his kinky hair a chaplet
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of white cowrie…shells； he was naked。 His body was fresh…oiled and
shiny； and his eyes glistened in the starlight like some wild animal's。 The
rest of the boys had crowded up at his back in a solid wall。 Some one of
them giggled； but the remainder regarded her in morose and intense
silence。
〃Well？〃 she said。 〃What for you want plenty fella things？〃
〃Me take 'm medicine；〃 quoth Aroa。 〃You pay me。〃
And this was a sample of their gratitude； she thought。 It looked as if
Sheldon had been right after all。 Aroa waited stolidly。 A leaping fish
splashed far out on the water。 A tiny wavelet murmured sleepily on the
beach。 The shadow of a flying…fox drifted by in velvet silence overhead。
A light air fanned coolly on her cheek； it was the land…breeze beginning to
blow。
〃You go along quarters；〃 she said； starting to turn on her heel to enter
the gate。
〃You pay me；〃 said the boy。
〃Aroa； you all the same one big fool。 I no pay you。 Now you go。〃
But the black was unmoved。 She felt that he was regarding her
almost insolently as he repeated：
〃I take 'm medicine。 You pay me。 You pay me now。〃
Then it was that she lost her temper and cuffed his ears so soundly as
to drive him back among his fellows。 But they did not break up。 Another
boy stepped forward。
〃You pay me；〃 he said。
His eyes had the querulous； troubled look such as she had noticed in
monkeys； but while he was patently uncomfortable under her scrutiny； his
thick lips were drawn firmly in an effort at sullen determination。
〃What for？〃 she asked。
〃Me Gogoomy；〃 he said。 〃Bawo brother belong me。〃
Bawo； she remembered； was the sick boy who had died。
〃Go on；〃 she commanded。
〃Bawo take 'm medicine。 Bawo finish。 Bawo my brother。 You
pay me。 Father belong me one big fella chief along Port Adams。 You
pay me。〃
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Joan laughed。
〃Gogoomy； you just the same as Aroa； one big fool。 My word； who
pay me for medicine？〃
She dismissed the matter by passing through the gate and closing it。
But Gogoomy pressed up against it and said impudently：
〃Father belong me one big fella chief。 You no bang 'm head belong
me。 My word； you fright too much。〃
〃Me fright？〃 she demanded； while anger tingled all through her。
〃Too much fright bang 'm head belong me；〃 Gogoomy said proudly。
And then she reached for him across the gate and got him。 It was a
sweeping； broad…handed slap； so heavy that he staggered sideways and
nearly fell。 He sprang for the gate as if to force it open； while the crowd
surged forward against the fence。 Joan thought rapidly。 Her revolver
was hanging on the wall of her grass house。 Yet one cry would bring her
sailors； and she knew she was safe。 So she did not cry for help。 Instead；
she whistled for Satan； at the same time calling him by name。 She knew
he was shut up in the living room； but the blacks did not wait to see。
They fled with wild yells through the darkness； followed reluctantly by
Gogoomy； while she entered the bungalow； laughing at first； but finally
vexed to the verge of tears by what had taken place。 She had sat up a
whole night with the boy who had died； and yet his brother demanded to
be paid for his life。
〃Ugh！ the ungrateful beast！〃 she muttered； while she debated whether
or not she would confess the incident to Sheldon。
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CHAPTER XITHE PORT
ADAMS CROWD
〃And so it was all settled easily enough；〃 Sheldon was saying。 He
was on the veranda； drinking coffee。 The whale…boat was being carried
into its shed。 〃Boucher was a bit timid at first to carry off the situation
with a strong hand； but he did very well once we got sta
