adventure(冒险)-第4节
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clock。
Facing them； clinging to the railing of the veranda for support； stood
the sick white man。 Any one of them could have knocked him over with
the blow of a little finger。 Despite his firearms； the gang could have
rushed him and delivered that blow； when his head and the plantation
would have been theirs。 Hatred and murder and lust for revenge they
possessed to overflowing。 But one thing they lacked； the thing that he
possessed； the flame of mastery that would not quench； that burned
fiercely as ever in the disease… wasted body； and that was ever ready to
flare forth and scorch and singe them with its ire。
〃Narada！ Billy！〃 Sheldon called sharply。
Two men slunk unwillingly forward and waited。
Sheldon gave the keys of the handcuffs to a house…boy； who went
under the house and loosed the prisoner。
〃You fella Narada； you fella Billy； take um this fella boy along tree
and make fast； hands high up；〃 was Sheldon's command。
While this was being done； slowly； amidst mutterings and restlessness
on the part of the onlookers； one of the house…boys fetched a heavy…
handled； heavy…lashed whip。 Sheldon began a speech。
〃This fella Arunga； me cross along him too much。 I no steal this fella
Arunga。 I no gammon。 I say； 'All right； you come along me Berande；
work three fella year。' He say； 'All right； me come along you work three
fella year。' He come。 He catch plenty good fella kai…kai； ｛2｝ plenty
good fella money。 What name he run away？ Me too much cross along
him。 I knock what name outa him fella。 I pay Seelee； big fella master
along Balesuna； one case tobacco catch that fella Arunga。 All right。
Arunga pay that fella case tobacco。 Six pounds that fella Arunga pay。
Alle same one year more that fella Arunga work Berande。 All right。
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ADVENTURE
Now he catch ten fella whip three times。 You fella Billy catch whip； give
that fella Arunga ten fella three times。 All fella boys look see； all fella
Marys ｛3｝ look see； bime bye； they like run away they think strong fella
too much； no run away。 Billy； strong fella too much ten fella three
times。〃
The house…boy extended the whip to him； but Billy did not take it。
Sheldon waited quietly。 The eyes of all the cannibals were fixed upon
him in doubt and fear and eagerness。 It was the moment of test； whereby
the lone white man was to live or be lost。
〃Ten fella three times； Billy；〃 Sheldon said encouragingly； though
there was a certain metallic rasp in his voice。
Billy scowled； looked up and looked down； but did not move。
〃Billy！〃
Sheldon's voice exploded like a pistol shot。 The savage started
physically。 Grins overspread the grotesque features of the audience； and
there was a sound of tittering。
〃S'pose you like too much lash that fella Arunga； you take him fella
Tulagi；〃 Billy said。 〃One fella government agent make plenty lash。
That um fella law。 Me savvee um fella law。〃
It was the law； and Sheldon knew it。 But he wanted to live this day
and the next day and not to die waiting for the law to operate the next
week or the week after。
〃Too much talk along you！〃 he cried angrily。 〃What name eh？
What name？〃
〃Me savvee law；〃 the savage repeated stubbornly。
〃Astoa！〃
Another man stepped forward in almost a sprightly way and glanced
insolently up。 Sheldon was selecting the worst characters for the lesson。
〃You fella Astoa； you fella Narada； tie up that fella Billy alongside
other fella same fella way。〃
〃Strong fella tie；〃 he cautioned them。
〃You fella Astoa take that fella whip。 Plenty strong big fella too
much ten fella three times。 Savvee！〃
〃No；〃 Astoa grunted。
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Sheldon picked up the rifle that had leaned against the rail； and cocked
it。
〃I know you； Astoa；〃 he said calmly。 〃You work along Queensland
six years。〃
〃Me fella missionary；〃 the black interrupted with deliberate insolence。
〃Queensland you stop jail one fella year。 White fella master damn
fool no hang you。 You too much bad fella。 Queensland you stop jail six
months two fella time。 Two fella time you steal。 All right； you
missionary。 You savvee one fella prayer？〃
〃Yes； me savvee prayer；〃 was the reply。
〃All right； then you pray now； short time little bit。 You say one fella
prayer damn quick； then me kill you。〃
Sheldon held the rifle on him and waited。 The black glanced around
at his fellows； but none moved to aid him。 They were intent upon the
coming spectacle； staring fascinated at the white man with death in his
hands who stood alone on the great veranda。 Sheldon has won； and he
knew it。 Astoa changed his weight irresolutely from one foot to the other。
He looked at the white man； and saw his eyes gleaming level along the
sights。
〃Astoa；〃 Sheldon said； seizing the psychological moment； 〃I count
three fella time。 Then I shoot you fella dead； good…bye； all finish you。〃
And Sheldon knew that when he had counted three he would drop him
in his tracks。 The black knew it； too。 That was why Sheldon did not
have to do it； for when he had counted one； Astoa reached out his hand
and took the whip。 And right well Astoa laid on the whip； angered at his
fellows for not supporting him and venting his anger with every stroke。
From the veranda Sheldon egged him on to strike with strength； till the
two triced savages screamed and howled while the blood oozed down their
backs。 The lesson was being well written in red。
When the last of the gang； including the two howling culprits； had
passed out through the compound gate； Sheldon sank down half… fainting
on his couch。
〃You're a sick man；〃 he groaned。 〃A sick man。〃
〃But you can sleep at ease to…night；〃 he added； half an hour later。
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CHAPTER IIITHE JESSIE
Two days passed； and Sheldon felt that he could not grow any weaker
and live； much less make his four daily rounds of the hospital。 The deaths
were averaging four a day； and there were more new cases than recoveries。
The blacks were in a funk。 Each one； when taken sick； seemed to make
every effort to die。 Once down on their backs they lacked the grit to
make a struggle。 They believed they were going to die； and they did their
best to vindicate that belief。 Even those that were well were sure that it
was only a mater of days when the sickness would catch them and carry
them off。 And yet； believing this with absolute conviction； they
somehow lacked the nerve to rush the frail wraith of a man with the white
skin and escape from the charnel house by the whale…boats。 They chose
the lingering death they were sure awaited them； rather than the immediate
death they were very sure would pounce upon them if they went up
against the master。 That he never slept； they knew。 That he could not
be conjured to death； they were equally surethey had tried it。 And even
the sickness that was sweeping them off could not kill him。
With the whipping in the compound； discipline had improved。 They
cringed under the iron hand of the white man。 They gave their scowls or
malignant looks with averted faces or when his back was turned。 They
saved their mutterings for the barracks at night； where he could not hear。
And there were no more runaways and
