adventure(冒险)-第25节
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after she had left the room。
But that was the trouble。 She was not a man； and where would she
go； and what would happen to her？
He got to his feet； lighted a cigarette； and her Stetson hat； hanging on
the wall over her revolver…belt； caught his eye。 That was the devil of it；
too。 He did not want her to go。 After all； she had not grown up yet。
That was why her logic hurt。 It was only the logic of youth； but it could
hurt damnably at times。 At any rate； he would resolve upon one thing：
never again would he lose his temper with her。 She was a child； he must
remember that。 He sighed heavily。 But why in reasonableness had such a
child been incorporated in such a woman's form？
And as he continued to stare at her hat and think； the hurt he had
received passed away； and he found himself cudgelling his brains for some
way out of the muddlefor some method by which she could remain on
Berande。 A chaperone！ Why not？ He could send to Sydney on the
first steamer for one。 He could …
Her trilling laughter smote upon his reverie； and he stepped to the
screen…door； through which he could see her running down the path to the
beach。 At her heels ran two of her sailors； Papehara and Mahameme； in
scarlet lava…lavas； with naked sheath…knives gleaming in their belts。 It
was another sample of her wilfulness。 Despite entreaties and commands；
and warnings of the danger from sharks； she persisted in swimming at any
and all times； and by special preference； it seemed to him； immediately
after eating。
He watched her take the water； diving cleanly； like a boy； from the end
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of the little pier； and he watched her strike out with single overhand stroke；
her henchmen swimming a dozen feet on either side。 He did not have
much faith in their ability to beat off a hungry man…eater； though he did
believe； implicitly； that their lives would go bravely before hers in case of
an attack。
Straight out they swam； their heads growing smaller and smaller。
There was a slight； restless heave to the sea； and soon the three heads were
disappearing behind it with greater frequency。 He strained his eyes to
keep them in sight； and finally fetched the telescope on to the veranda。 A
squall was making over from the direction of Florida； but then； she and her
men laughed at squalls and the white choppy sea at such times。 She
certainly could swim； he had long since concluded。 That came of her
training in Hawaii。 But sharks were sharks； and he had known of more
than one good swimmer drowned in a tide…rip。
The squall blackened the sky； beat the ocean white where he had last
seen the three heads； and then blotted out sea and sky and everything with
its deluge of rain。 It passed on； and Berande emerged in the bright
sunshine as the three swimmers emerged from the sea。 Sheldon slipped
inside with the telescope； and through the screen…door watched her run up
the path； shaking down her hair as she ran； to the fresh…water shower
under the house。
On the veranda that afternoon he broached the proposition of a
chaperone as delicately as he could； explaining the necessity at Berande
for such a body； a housekeeper to run the boys and the storeroom； and
perform divers other useful functions。 When he had finished； he waited
anxiously for what Joan would say。
〃Then you don't like the way I've been managing the house？〃 was her
first objection。 And next； brushing his attempted explanations aside；
〃One of two things would happen。 Either I should cancel our partnership
agreement and go away； leaving you to get another chaperone to
chaperone your chaperone； or else I'd take the old hen out in the whale…
boat and drown her。 Do you imagine for one moment that I sailed my
schooner down here to this raw edge of the earth in order to put myself
under a chaperone？〃
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〃But really 。 。 。 er 。 。 。 you know a chaperone is a necessary evil；〃 he
objected。
〃We've got along very nicely so far without one。 Did I have one on
the Miele？ And yet I was the only woman on board。 There are only
three things I am afraid ofbumble…bees； scarlet fever； and chaperones。
Ugh！ the clucking； evil…minded monsters； finding wrong in everything；
seeing sin in the most innocent actions； and suggesting sinyes； causing
sinby their diseased imaginings。〃
〃Phew！〃 Sheldon leaned back from the table in mock fear。
〃You needn't worry about your bread and butter；〃 he ventured。 〃If
you fail at planting； you would be sure to succeed as a writer novels with
a purpose； you know。〃
〃I didn't think there were persons in the Solomons who needed such
books；〃 she retaliated。 〃But you are certainly oneyou and your
custodians of virtue。〃
He winced； but Joan rattled on with the platitudinous originality of
youth。
〃As if anything good were worth while when it has to be guarded and
put in leg…irons and handcuffs in order to keep it good。 Your desire for a
chaperone as much as implies that I am that sort of creature。 I prefer to
be good because it is good to be good； rather than because I can't be bad
because some argus…eyed old frump won't let me have a chance to be bad。〃
〃But itit is not that；〃 he put in。 〃It is what others will think。〃
〃Let them think； the nasty…minded wretches！ It is because men like
you are afraid of the nasty…minded that you allow their opinions to rule
you。〃
〃I am afraid you are a female Shelley；〃 he replied； 〃and as such； you
really drive me to become your partner in order to protect you。〃
〃If you take me as a partner in order to protect me 。 。 。 I 。 。 。 I shan't be
your partner； that's all。 You'll drive me into buying Pari…Sulay yet。〃
〃All the more reason〃 he attempted。
〃Do you know what I'll do？〃 she demanded。 〃I'll find some man in
the Solomons who won't want to protect me。〃
Sheldon could not conceal the shock her words gave him。
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〃You don't mean that； you know；〃 he pleaded。
〃I do； I really do。 I am sick and tired of this protection dodge。 Don't
forget for a moment that I am perfectly able to take care of myself。
Besides； I have eight of the best protectors in the world… …my sailors。〃
〃You should have lived a thousand years ago；〃 he laughed； 〃or a
thousand years hence。 You are very primitive； and equally super… modern。
The twentieth century is no place for you。〃
〃But the Solomon Islands are。 You were living like a savage when I
came along and found youeating nothing but tinned meat and scones that
would have ruined the digestion of a camel。 Anyway； I've remedied that；
and since we are to be partners； it will stay remedied。 You won't die of
malnutrition； be sure of that。〃
〃If we enter into partnership；〃 he announced； 〃it must be thoroughly
understood that you are not allowed to run the schooner。 You can go down
to Sydney and buy her； but a skipper we must have 〃
〃At so much additional expense； and most likely a whisky…drinking；
irresponsible； and incapable man to boot。 Besides； I'd have the business
more at heart than any man we could hire。 As for capability； I tell you I
can sail all around the average broken captain or promoted able seaman
you find in the South Seas。 And you know I am a navigator。〃
〃But being my partner；〃 he said coolly； 〃makes you none the less a
lady。〃
〃Thank you for telling me that my contemplated conduct is
unladylike。〃
She arose； tears of anger and mort
