adventure(冒险)-第21节
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with a strong hand； but he did very well once we got started。 We made a
play at holding a court； and Telepasse； the old scoundrel； accepted the
findings。 He's a Port Adams chief； a filthy beggar。 We fined him ten
times the value of the pigs； and made him move on with his mob。 Oh；
they're a sweet lot； I must say； at least sixty of them； in five big canoes；
and out for trouble。 They've got a dozen Sniders that ought to be
confiscated。〃
〃Why didn't you？〃 Joan asked。 〃And have a row on my hands with
the Commissioner？ He's terribly touchy about his black wards； as he
calls them。 Well； we started them along their way； though they went in
on the beach to kai…kai several miles back。 They ought to pass here some
time to…day。〃
Two hours later the canoes arrived。 No one saw them come。 The
house…boys were busy in the kitchen at their own breakfast。 The
plantation hands were similarly occupied in their quarters。 Satan lay
sound asleep on his back under the billiard table； in his sleep brushing at
the flies that pestered him。 Joan was rummaging in the store…room； and
Sheldon was taking his siesta in a hammock on the veranda。 He awoke
gently。 In some occult； subtle way a warning that all was not well had
penetrated his sleep and aroused him。 Without moving； he glanced down
and saw the ground beneath covered with armed savages。 They were the
same ones he had parted with that morning； though he noted an accession
in numbers。 There were men he had not seen before。
He slipped from the hammock and with deliberate slowness sauntered
to the railing； where he yawned sleepily and looked down on them。 It
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came to him curiously that it was his destiny ever to stand on this high
place； looking down on unending hordes of black trouble that required
control； bullying； and cajolery。 But while he glanced carelessly over
them； he was keenly taking stock。 The new men were all armed with
modern rifles。 Ah； he had thought so。 There were fifteen of them；
undoubtedly the Lunga runaways。 In addition； a dozen old Sniders were
in the hands of the original crowd。 The rest were armed with spears；
clubs； bows and arrows； and long…handled tomahawks。 Beyond； drawn
up on the beach； he could see the big war…canoes； with high and
fantastically carved bows and sterns； ornamented with scrolls and bands of
white cowrie shells。 These were the men who had killed his trader； Oscar；
at Ugi。
〃What name you walk about this place？〃 he demanded。
At the same time he stole a glance seaward to where the Flibberty…
Gibbet reflected herself in the glassy calm of the sea。 Not a soul was
visible under her awnings； and he saw the whale…boat was missing from
alongside。 The Tahitians had evidently gone shooting fish up the
Balesuna。 He was all alone in his high place above this trouble； while his
world slumbered peacefully under the breathless tropic noon。
Nobody replied； and he repeated his demand； more of mastery in his
voice this time； and a hint of growing anger。 The blacks moved uneasily；
like a herd of cattle； at the sound of his voice。 But not one spoke。 All
eyes； however； were staring at him in certitude of expectancy。 Something
was about to happen； and they were waiting for it； waiting with the
unanimous； unstable mob…mind for the one of them who would make the
first action that would precipitate all of them into a common action。
Sheldon looked for this one； for such was the one to fear。 Directly
beneath him he caught sight of the muzzle of a rifle； barely projecting
between two black bodies； that was slowly elevating toward him。 It was
held at the hip by a man in the second row。
〃What name you？〃 Sheldon suddenly shouted； pointing directly at the
man who held the gun； who startled and lowered the muzzle。
Sheldon still held the whip hand； and he intended to keep it。
〃Clear out； all you fella boys；〃 he ordered。 〃Clear out and walk along
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salt water。 Savvee！〃
〃Me talk；〃 spoke up a fat and filthy savage whose hairy chest was
caked with the unwashed dirt of years。
〃Oh； is that you； Telepasse？〃 the white man queried genially。 〃You
tell 'm boys clear out； and you stop and talk along me。〃
〃Him good fella boy；〃 was the reply。 〃Him stop along。〃
〃Well； what do you want？〃 Sheldon asked； striving to hide under
assumed carelessness the weakness of concession。
〃That fella boy belong along me。〃 The old chief pointed out
Gogoomy； whom Sheldon recognized。
〃White Mary belong you too much no good；〃 Telepasse went on。
〃Bang 'm head belong Gogoomy。 Gogoomy all the same chief。 Bimeby
me finish； Gogoomy big fella chief。 White Mary bang 'm head。 No
good。 You pay me plenty tobacco； plenty powder； plenty calico。〃
〃You old scoundrel；〃 was Sheldon's comment。 An hour before； he
had been chuckling over Joan's recital of the episode； and here； an hour
later； was Telepasse himself come to collect damages。
〃Gogoomy；〃 Sheldon ordered； 〃what name you walk about here？
You get along quarters plenty quick。〃
〃Me stop；〃 was the defiant answer。
〃White Mary b'long you bang 'm head；〃 old Telepasse began again。
〃My word； plenty big fella trouble you no pay。〃
〃You talk along boys；〃 Sheldon said； with increasing irritation。 〃You
tell 'm get to hell along beach。 Then I talk with you。〃
Sheldon felt a slight vibration of the veranda； and knew that Joan had
come out and was standing by his side。 But he did not dare glance at her。
There were too many rifles down below there； and rifles had a way of
going off from the hip。
Again the veranda vibrated with her moving weight； and he knew that
Joan had gone into the house。 A minute later she was back beside him。
He had never seen her smoke； and it struck him as peculiar that she should
be smoking now。 Then he guessed the reason。 With a quick glance； he
noted the hand at her side； and in it the familiar； paper…wrapped dynamite。
He noted； also； the end of fuse； split properly； into which had been inserted
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the head of a wax match。
〃Telepasse； you old reprobate； tell 'm boys clear out along beach。 My
word； I no gammon along you。〃
〃Me no gammon；〃 said the chief。 〃Me want 'm pay white Mary bang
'm head b'long Gogoomy。〃
〃I'll come down there and bang 'm head b'long you；〃 Sheldon replied；
leaning toward the railing as if about to leap over。
An angry murmur arose； and the blacks surged restlessly。 The
muzzles of many guns were rising from the hips。 Joan was pressing the
lighted end of the cigarette to the fuse。 A Snider went off with the roar of
a bomb…gun； and Sheldon heard a pane of window… glass crash behind him。
At the same moment Joan flung the dynamite； the fuse hissing and
spluttering； into the thick of the blacks。 They scattered back in too great
haste to do any more shooting。 Satan； aroused by the one shot； was
snarling and panting to be let out。 Joan heard； and ran to let him out； and
thereat the tragedy was averted； and the comedy began。
Rifles and spears were dropped or flung aside in a wild scramble for
the protection of the cocoanut palms。 Satan multiplied himself。 Never
had he been free to tear and rend such a quantity of black flesh before； and
he bit and snapped and rushed the flying legs till the last pair were above
his head。 All were
