adventure(冒险)-第27节
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who has seen one。 They never come down to the coast； though their
scouting parties occasionally eat a coast native who has wandered too far
inland。 Nobody knows anything about them。 They don't even use
tobaccohave never learned its use。 The Austrian expeditionscientists；
you knowgot part way in before it was cut to pieces。 The monument is
up the beach there several miles。 Only one man got back to the coast to
tell the tale。 And now you have all I or any other man knows of the
inside of Guadalcanar。〃
〃But goldhave you heard of gold？〃 Tudor asked impatiently。 〃Do
you know anything about gold？〃
Sheldon smiled； while the two visitors hung eagerly upon his words。
〃You can go two miles up the Balesuna and wash colours from the
gravel。 I've done it often。 There is gold undoubtedly back in the
mountains。〃
Tudor and Von Blix looked triumphantly at each other。
〃Old Wheatsheaf's yarn was true； then；〃 Tudor said； and Von Blix
nodded。 〃And if Malaita turns out as well〃
Tudor broke off and looked at Joan。
〃It was the tale of this old beachcomber that brought us here；〃 he
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explained。 〃Von Blix befriended him and was told the secret。〃 He
turned and addressed Sheldon。 〃I think we shall prove that white men
have been through the heart of Guadalcanar long before the time of the
Austrian expedition。〃
Sheldon shrugged his shoulders。
〃We have never heard of it down here；〃 he said simply。 Then he
addressed Von Blix。 〃As to the boys； you couldn't use them farther than
Binu； and I'll lend you as many as you want as far as that。 How many of
your party are going； and how soon will you start？〃
〃Ten；〃 said Tudor； 〃nine men and myself。〃
〃And you should be able to start day after to…morrow；〃 Von Blix said
to him。 〃The boats should practically be knocked together this afternoon。
To…morrow should see the outfit portioned and packed。 As for the
Martha； Mr。 Sheldon； we'll rush the stuff ashore this afternoon and sail by
sundown。〃
As the two men returned down the path to their boat； Sheldon regarded
Joan quizzically。
〃There's romance for you；〃 he said； 〃and adventuregold…hunting
among the cannibals。〃
〃A title for a book；〃 she cried。 〃Or； better yet； 'Gold…Hunting Among
the Head…Hunters。' My！ wouldn't it sell！〃
〃And now aren't you sorry you became a cocoanut planter？〃 he teased。
〃Think of investing in such an adventure。〃
〃If I did；〃 she retorted； 〃Von Blix wouldn't be finicky about my joining
in the cruise to Malaita。〃
〃I don't doubt but what he would jump at it。〃
〃What do you think of them？〃 she asked。
〃Oh； old Von Blix is all right； a solid sort of chap in his fashion； but
Tudor is fly…awaytoo much on the surface； you know。 If it came to being
wrecked on a desert island； I'd prefer Von Blix。〃
〃I don't quite understand；〃 Joan objected。 〃What have you against
Tudor？〃
〃You remember Browning's 'Last Duchess'？〃
She nodded。
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〃Well； Tudor reminds me of her〃
〃But she was delightful。〃
〃So she was。 But she was a woman。 One expects something
different from a manmore control； you know； more restraint； more
deliberation。 A man must be more solid； more solid and steady… going
and less effervescent。 A man of Tudor's type gets on my nerves。 One
demands more repose from a man。〃
Joan felt that she did not quite agree with his judgment； and； somehow；
Sheldon caught her feeling and was disturbed。 He remembered noting
how her eyes had brightened as she talked with the newcomerconfound
it all； was he getting jealous？ he asked himself。 Why shouldn't her eyes
brighten？ What concern was it of his？
A second boat had been lowered； and the outfit of the shore party was
landed rapidly。 A dozen of the crew put the knocked…down boats
together on the beach。 There were five of these craftlean and narrow；
with flaring sides； and remarkably long。 Each was equipped with three
paddles and several iron…shod poles。
〃You chaps certainly seem to know river…work；〃 Sheldon told one of
the carpenters。
The man spat a mouthful of tobacco…juice into the white sand； and
answered； …
〃We use 'em in Alaska。 They're modelled after the Yukon poling…
boats； and you can bet your life they're crackerjacks。 This creek'll be a
snap alongside some of them Northern streams。 Five hundred pounds in
one of them boats； an' two men can snake it along in a way that'd surprise
you。〃
At sunset the Martha broke out her anchor and got under way； dipping
her flag and saluting with a bomb gun。 The Union Jack ran up and down
the staff； and Sheldon replied with his brass signal… cannon。 The miners
pitched their tents in the compound； and cooked on the beach； while Tudor
dined with Joan and Sheldon。
Their guest seemed to have been everywhere and seen everything and
met everybody； and； encouraged by Joan； his talk was largely upon his
own adventures。 He was an adventurer of adventurers； and by his own
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account had been born into adventure。 Descended from old New
England stock； his father a consul…general； he had been born in Germany；
in which country he had received his early education and his accent。
Then； still a boy； he had rejoined his father in Turkey； and accompanied
him later to Persia； his father having been appointed Minister to that
country。
Tudor had always been a wanderer； and with facile wit and quick vivid
description he leaped from episode and place to episode and place； relating
his experiences seemingly not because they were his； but for the sake of
their bizarreness and uniqueness； for the unusual incident or the laughable
situation。 He had gone through South American revolutions； been a
Rough Rider in Cuba； a scout in South Africa； a war correspondent in the
Russo…Japanese war。 He had mushed dogs in the Klondike； washed gold
from the sands of Nome； and edited a newspaper in San Francisco。 The
President of the United States was his friend。 He was equally at home in
the clubs of London and the Continent； the Grand Hotel at Yokohama； and
the selector's shanties in the Never…Never country。 He had shot big game
in Siam； pearled in the Paumotus； visited Tolstoy； seen the Passion Play；
and crossed the Andes on mule…back； while he was a living directory of
the fever holes of West Africa。
Sheldon leaned back in his chair on the veranda； sipping his coffee and
listening。 In spite of himself he felt touched by the charm of the man
who had led so varied a life。 And yet Sheldon was not comfortable。 It
seemed to him that the man addressed himself particularly to Joan。 His
words and smiles were directed impartially toward both of them； yet
Sheldon was certain； had the two men of them been alone； that the
conversation would have been along different lines。 Tudor had seen the
effect on Joan and deliberately continued the flow of reminiscence； netting
her in the glamour of romance。 Sheldon watched her rapt attention；
listened to her spontaneous laughter； quick questions； and passing
judgments； and felt grow within him the dawning consciousness that he
loved her。
So he was very quiet and almost sad； though at times he was aware of
a distinct irritation against his guest； and he even speculated as to what
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percentage of Tudor's tale was tr
