第3章
Then，too，shewassomany-sided。Herknowledgeofliteratureandartsurprisedhim，whiledeepdownwasthefeelingthatagirlwhoknewsuchthingshadnorighttoknowhowtorigtackles，heaveupanchors，andsailschoonersaroundtheSouthSeas。Suchthingsinherbrainwerelikesomanyoathsonherlips。WhileforsuchagirltoinsistthatshewasgoingonarecruitingcruisearoundMalaitawaspositiveself-sacrilege。
Healwaysperturbedlyharkedbacktoherfeminineness。Shecouldplaythepianofarbetterthanhissistersathome，andwithfarfinerappreciation——thepianothatpoorHughiehadsoheroicallylabouredovertokeepincondition。Andwhenshestrummedtheguitarandsangliquid，velvetyHawaiianhulas，hesatentranced。
Thenshewasallwoman，andthemagicofsexkidnappedtheirritationsofthedayandmadehimforgetthebigrevolver，theBaden-Powell，andalltherest。Butwhatright，thenextthoughtinhisbrainwouldwhisper，hadsuchagirltoswaggeraroundlikeamanandexultthatadventurewasnotdead？Womanthatadventuredwereadventuresses，andtheconnotationwasnotnice。Besides，hewasnotenamouredofadventure。Notsincehewasaboyhaditappealedtohim——thoughitwouldhavedrivenhimhardtoexplainwhathadbroughthimfromEnglandtotheSolomonsifithadnotbeenadventure。
Sheldoncertainlywasnothappy。Theunconventionalstateofaffairswastoomuchforhisconservativedispositionandtraining。
Berande，inhabitedbyonelonewhiteman，wasnoplaceforJoanLackland。Yetherackedhisbrainforawayout，andeventalkeditoverwithher。Inthefirstplace，thesteamerfromAustraliawasnotdueforthreeweeks。
"Onethingisevident:youdon"twantmehere，"shesaid。"I"llmanthewhale-boatto-morrowandgoovertoTulagi。"
"ButasItoldyoubefore，thatisimpossible，"hecried。"Thereisnoonethere。TheResidentCommissionerisawayinAustralia。
Themisonlyonewhiteman，athirdassistantunderstrapperandex-
sailor——acommonsailor。HeisinchargeofthegovernmentoftheSolomons，tosaynothingofahundredorsoniggers——prisoners。
Besides，heissuchafoolthathewouldfineyoufivepoundsfornothavingenteredatTulagi，whichistheportofentry，youknow。
Heisnotaniceman，and，Irepeat，itisimpossible。"
"ThereisGuvutu，"shesuggested。
Heshookhishead。
"There"snothingtherebutfeverandfivewhitemenwhoaredrinkingthemselvestodeath。Icouldn"tpermitit。"
"Ohthankyou，"shesaidquietly。"IguessI"llstartto-day——
Viaburi!YougoalongNoaNoah，speak"mcomealongme。"
NoaNoahwasherheadsailor，whohadbeenboatswainoftheMiele。
"Whereareyougoing？"Sheldonaskedinsurprise——"Vlaburi!Youstop。"
"ToGuvutu——immediately，"washerreply。
"ButIwon"tpermitit。"
"ThatiswhyIamgoing。Yousaiditoncebefore，anditissomethingIcannotbrook。"
"What？"Hewasbewilderedbyhersuddenanger。"IfIhaveoffendedinanyway——"
"Viaburi，youfetch"monefellaNoaNoahalongme，"shecommanded。
Theblackboystartedtoobey。
"Viaburi!YounostopIbreak"mheadbelongyou。Andnow，MissLackland，Iinsist——youmustexplain。WhathaveIsaidordonetomeritthis？"
"Youhavepresumed，youhavedared——"
Shechokedandswallowed，andcouldnotgoon。
Sheldonlookedthepictureofdespair。
"Iconfessmyheadisgoingaroundwithitall，"hesaid。"Ifyoucouldonlybeexplicit。"
"AsexplicitasyouwerewhenyoutoldmethatyouwouldnotpermitmetogotoGuvutu？"
"Butwhat"swrongwiththat？"
"Butyouhavenoright——nomanhastheright——totellmewhathewillpermitornotpermit。I"mtoooldtohaveaguardian，nordidIsailallthewaytotheSolomonstofindone。"
"Agentlemaniseverywoman"sguardian。"
"Well，I"mnoteverywoman——that"sall。WillyoukindlyallowmetosendyourboyforNoaNoah？Iwishhimtolaunchthewhale-
boat。OrshallIgomyselfforhim？"
Bothwerenowontheirfeet，shewithflushedcheeksandangryeyes，he，puzzled，vexed，andalarmed。Theblackboystoodlikeastatue——aplum-blackstatue——takingnointerestinthetransactionsoftheseincomprehensiblewhites，butdreamingwithcalmeyesofacertainbushvillagehighonthejungleslopesofMalaita，withbluesmokecurlingupfromthegrasshousesagainstthegraybackgroundofanoncomingmountain-squall。
"Butyouwon"tdoanythingsofoolish——"hebegan。
"Thereyougoagain，"shecried。
"Ididn"tmeanitthatway，andyouknowIdidn"t。"Hewasspeakingslowlyandgravely。"Andthatotherthing，thatnotpermitting——itisonlyamannerofspeaking。OfcourseIamnotyourguardian。YouknowyoucangotoGuvutuifyouwantto"——"ortothedevil，"hewasalmosttemptedtoadd。"Only，Ishoulddeeplyregretit，thatisall。AndIamverysorrythatIshouldhavesaidanythingthathurtyou。Remember，IamanEnglishman。"
Joansmiledandsatdownagain。
"PerhapsIhavebeenhasty，"sheadmitted。"Yousee，Iamintolerantofrestraint。IfyouonlyknewhowIhavebeencompelledtofightformyfreedom。Itisasorepointwithme，thisbeingtoldwhatIamtodoornotdobyyouself-constitutedlordsofcreation-ViaburiIYoustopalongkitchen。Nobring"mNoaNoah——Andnow，Mr。Sheldon，whatamItodo？Youdon"twantmehere，andtheredoesn"tseemtobeanyplaceformetogo。"
"Thatisunfair。Yourbeingwreckedherehasbeenagodsendtome。
Iwasverylonelyandverysick。IreallyamnotcertainwhetherornotIshouldhavepulledthroughhadyounothappenedalong。
Butthatisnotthepoint。Personally，purelyselfishlypersonally，Ishouldbesorrytoseeyougo。ButIamnotconsideringmyself。Iamconsideringyou。It——itishardlytheproperthing，youknow。IfIweremarried——ifthereweresomewomanofyourownracehere——butasitis——"
Shethrewupherhandsinmockdespair。
"Icannotfollowyou，"shesaid。"InonebreathyoutellmeImustgo，andinthenextbreathyoutellmethereisnoplacetogoandthatyouwillnotpermitmetogo。Whatisapoorgirltodo？"
"That"sthetrouble，"hesaidhelplessly。
"Andthesituationannoysyou。"
"Onlyforyoursake。"
"Thenletmesaveyourfeelingsbytellingyouthatitdoesnotannoymeatall——exceptfortherowyouaremakingaboutit。I
neverallowwhatcan"tbechangedtoannoyme。Thereisnouseinfightingtheinevitable。Hereisthesituation。Youarehere。I
amhere。Ican"tgoelsewhere，byyourownaccount。Youcertainlycan"tgoelsewhereandleavemeherealonewithawholeplantationandtwohundredwoollycannibalsonmyhands。Thereforeyoustay，andIstay。Itisverysimple。Also，itisadventure。Andfurthermore，youneedn"tworryforyourself。Iamnotmatrimoniallyinclined。IcametotheSolomonsforaplantation，notahusband。"
Sheldonflushed，butremainedsilent。
"Iknowwhatyouarethinking，"shelaughedgaily。"ThatifIwereamanyou"dwringmyneckforme。AndIdeserveit，too。I"msosorry。Ioughtnottokeeponhurtingyourfeelings。"
"I"mafraidIratherinviteit，"hesaid，relievedbythesignsofthetempestsubsiding。
"Ihaveit，"sheannounced。"Lendmeagangofyourboysforto-
day。I"llbuildagrasshouseformyselfoverinthefarcornerofthecompound——onpiles，ofcourse。Icanmoveinto-night。I"llbecomfortableandsafe。TheTahitianscankeepananchorwatchjustasaboardship。AndthenI"llstudycocoanutplanting。Inreturn，I"llrunthekitchenendofyourhouseholdandgiveyousomedecentfoodtoeat。Andfinally，Iwon"tlistentoanyofyourprotests。Iknowallthatyouaregoingtosayandoffer——
yourgivingthebungalowuptomeandbuildingagrasshouseforyourself。AndIwon"thaveit。Youmayaswellconsidereverythingsettled。Ontheotherhand，ifyoudon"tagree，Iwillgoacrosstheriver，beyondyourjurisdiction，andbuildavillageformyselfandmysailors，whomIshallsendinthewhale-boattoGuvutuforprovisions。AndnowIwantyoutoteachmebilliards。"
CHAPTERVII——AHARD-BITTENGANG
Joantookholdofthehouseholdwithnouncertaingrip，revolutionizingthingstillSheldonhardlyrecognizedtheplace。
Forthefirsttimethebungalowwascleanandorderly。Nolongerthehouse-boysloafedanddidaslittleastheycould；whilethecookcomplainedthat"headbelonghimwalkabouttoomuch，"fromthestrenuouscourseincookerywhichsheputhimthrough。NordidSheldonescapebeingroundlylecturedforhislazinessineatingnothingbuttinnedprovisions。Shecalledhimamuddlerandaslouch，andotherinvidiousnames，forhisslacknessandhisdisregardofhealthfulfood。
Shesentherwhale-boatdownthecoasttwentymilesforlimesandoranges，andwantedtoknowscathinglywhysaidfruitshadnotlongsincebeenplantedatBerande，whilehewasbeneathcontemptbecausetherewasnokitchengarden。Mummyapples，whichhehadregardedasweeds，underherguidanceappearedasappetizingbreakfastfruit，and，atdinner，weremetamorphosedintopuddingsthatelicitedhisunqualifiedadmiration。Bananas，foragedfromthebush，wereserved，cookedandraw，adozendifferentways，eachoneofwhichhedeclaredwasbetterthananyother。Sheorhersailorsdynamitedfishdaily，whiletheBalesunanativeswerepaidtobaccoforbringinginoystersfromthemangroveswamps。Herachievementswithcocoanutswerearevelation。Shetaughtthecookhowtomakeyeastfromthemilk，that，inturn，raisedlightandairybread。Fromthetip-topheartofthetreesheconcoctedadelicioussalad。Fromthemilkandthemeatofthenutshemadevarioussaucesanddressings，sweetandsour，thatwereserved，accordingtopreparation，withdishesthatrangedfromfishtopudding。ShetaughtSheldonthesuperiorityofcocoanutcreamovercondensedcream，foruseincoffee。Fromtheoldandsproutingnutsshetookthesolid，spongycentresandturnedthemintosalads。Herforteseemedtobesalads，andsheastonishedhimwiththedeliciousnessofasaladmadefromyoungbambooshoots。Wildtomatoes，whichhadgonetoseedorbeenremorselesslyhoedoutfromthebeginningofBerande，wereforagedforsalads，soups，andsauces。Thechickens，whichhadalwaysgoneintothebushandhiddentheireggs，weregivenlaying-bins，andJoanwentoutherselftoshootwildduckandwildpigeonsforthetable。
"NotthatIliketodothissortofwork，"sheexplained，inreferencetothecookery；"butbecauseIcan"tgetawayfromDad"straining。"
Amongotherthings，sheburnedthepestilentialhospital，quarrelledwithSheldonoverthedead，and，inanger，setherownmentoworkbuildinganew，andwhatshecalledadecent，hospital。
Sherobbedthewindowsoftheirlawnandmuslincurtains，replacingthemwithgaudycalicofromthetrade-store，andmadeherselfseveralgowns。Whenshewroteoutalistofgoodsandclothingforherself，tobesentdowntoSydneybythefirststeamer，Sheldonwonderedhowlongshehadmadeuphermindtostay。
Shewascertainlyunlikeanywomanhehadeverknownordreamedof。
Sofarashewasconcernedshewasnotawomanatall。Sheneitherlanguishednorblandished。Nofemininelureswerewastedonhim。
Hemighthavebeenherbrother，orshehisbrother，forallsexhadtodowiththestrangesituation。Anymerepolitegallantryonhispartwasignoredorsnubbed，andhehadveryearlygivenupofferinghishandtoheringettingintoaboatorclimbingoveralog，andhehadtoacknowledgetohimselfthatshewaseminentlyfittedtotakecareofherself。Despitehiswarningsaboutcrocodilesandsharks，shepersistedinswimmingindeepwateroffthebeach；norcouldhepersuadeher，whenshewasintheboat，toletoneofthesailorsthrowthedynamitewhenshootingfish。Shearguedthatshewasatleastalittlebitmoreintelligentthanthey，andthat，therefore，therewaslessliabilityofanaccidentifshedidtheshooting。Shewastohimthemostmasculineandatthesametimethemostfemininewomanhehadevermet。
Asourceofcontinualtroublebetweenthemwasthedisagreementovermethodsofhandlingtheblackboys。Sheruledbysternkindness，rarelyrewarding，neverpunishing，andhehadtoconfessthatherownsailorsworshippedher，whilethehouse-boyswereherslaves，anddidthreetimesasmuchworkforherashehadevergotoutofthem。Shequicklysawtheunrestofthecontractlabourers，andwasnotblindtothedanger，alwaysimminent，thatbothsheandSheldonran。Neitherofthemeverventuredoutwithoutarevolver，andthesailorswhostoodthenightwatchesbyJoan"sgrasshousewerearmedwithrifles。ButJoaninsistedthatthisreignofterrorhadbeencausedbythereignoffearpractisedbythewhitemen。ShehadbeenbroughtupwiththegentleHawaiians，whoneverwereill-treatednorroughlyhandled，andshegeneralizedthattheSolomonIslanders，underkindtreatment，wouldgrowgentle。
Oneeveningaterrificuproararoseinthebarracks，andSheldon，aidedbyJoan"ssailors，succeededinrescuingtwowomenwhomtheblackswerebeatingtodeath。Tosavethemfromthevengeanceoftheblacks，theywereguardedinthecook-houseforthenight。
Theywerethetwowomenwhodidthecookingforthelabourers，andtheiroffencehadconsistedofoneofthemtakingabathinthebigcauldroninwhichthepotatoeswereboiled。Theblackswerenotoutragedfromthestandpointofcleanliness；theyoftentookbathsinthecauldronsthemselves。Thetroublelayinthatthebatherhadbeenalow，degraded，wretchedfemale；fortotheSolomonIslanderallfemalesarelow，degraded，andwretched。
Nextmorning，JoanandSheldon，atbreakfast，werearousedbyaswellingmurmurofangryvoices。ThefirstruleofBerandehadbeenbroken。Thecompoundhadbeenenteredwithoutpermissionorcommand，andallthetwohundredlabourers，withtheexceptionoftheboss-boys，wereguiltyoftheoffence。Theycrowdedup，threateningandshouting，closeunderthefrontveranda。Sheldonleanedovertheverandarailing，lookingdownuponthem，whileJoanstoodslightlyback。Whentheuproarwasstilled，twobrothersstoodforth。Theywerelargemen，splendidlymuscled，andwithfacesunusuallyferocious，evenforSolomonIslanders。OnewasCarin-Jama，otherwiseTheSilent；andtheotherwasBellin-Jama，TheBoaster。BothhadservedontheQueenslandplantationsintheolddays，andtheywereknownasevilcharacterswhereverwhitemenmetandgammed。
"Wefellaboywewant"mthemdamtwoblackfellaMary，"saidBellin-Jama。
"WhatyoudoalongblackfellaMary？"Sheldonasked。
"Kill"m，"saidBellin-Jama。
"Whatnameyoufellaboytalkalongme？"Sheldondemanded，withashowofrisinganger。"Bigbellhering。Younobelongalonghere。Youbelongalongfield。Bimeby，bigfellabellhering，youstopalongkai-kai，youcometalkalongmeabouttwofellaMary。Nowallyouboygetalongoutofhere。"
ThegangwaitedtoseewhatBellin-Jamawoulddo，andBellin-Jamastoodstill。
"Menogo，"hesaid。
"Youwatchout，Bellin-Jama，"Sheldonsaidsharply，"orIsendyoualongTulagionebigfellalashing。Myword，youcatch"mstrongfella。"
Bellin-Jamaglaredupbelligerently。
"Youwant"mfight，"hesaid，puttinguphisfistsinapproved，returned-Queenslanderstyle。
Now，intheSolomons，wherewhitesarefewandblacksaremany，andwherethewhitesdotheruling，suchanoffertofightisthedeadliestinsult。Blacksarenotsupposedtodaresohighlyastooffertofightawhiteman。Atthebest，alltheycanlookforistobebeatenbythewhiteman。
AmurmurofadmirationatBellin-Jama"sbraverywentupfromthelisteningblacks。ButBellin-Jama"svoicewasstillringingintheair，andthemurmuringwasjustbeginning，whenSheldonclearedtherail，leapingstraightdownward。Fromthetopoftherailingtothegrounditwasfifteenfeet，andBellin-Jamawasdirectlybeneath。Sheldon"sflyingbodystruckhimandcrushedhimtoearth。Noblowswereneededtobestruck。Theblackhadbeenknockedhelpless。Joan，startledbytheunexpectedleap，sawCarin-Jama，TheSilent，reachoutandseizeSheldonbythethroatashewashalf-waytohisfeet，whilethefive-scoreblackssurgedforwardforthekilling。Herrevolverwasout，andCarin-Jamaletgohisgrip，reelingbackwardwithabulletinhisshoulder。Inthatfleetinginstantofactionshehadthoughttoshoothiminthearm，which，atthatshortdistance，mightreasonablyhavebeenachieved。Butthewaveofsavagesleapingforwardhadchangedhershottotheshoulder。Itwasamomentwhennottheslightestchancecouldbetaken。
Theinstanthisthroatwasreleased，Sheldonstruckoutwithhisfist，andCarin-Jamajoinedhisbrotherontheground。Themutinywasquelled，andfiveminutesmoresawthebrothersbeingcarriedtothehospital，andthemutineers，marshalledbythegang-bosses，onthewaytothefields。
WhenSheldoncameupontheveranda，hefoundJoancollapsedonthesteamer-chairandintears。Thesightunnervedhimastherowjustovercouldnotpossiblyhavedone。Awomanintearswastohimanembarrassingsituation；andwhenthatwomanwasJoanLackland，fromwhomhehadgrowntoexpectanythingunexpected，hewasreallyfrightened。Heglanceddownatherhelplessly，andmoistenedhislips。
"Iwanttothankyou，"hebegan。"Thereisn"tadoubtbutwhatyousavedmylife，andImustsay——"
Sheabruptlyremovedherhands，showingawrathfulandtear-stainedface。
"Youbrute!Youcoward!"shecried。"Youhavemademeshootaman，andInevershotamaninmylifebefore。"
"It"sonlyaflesh-wound，andheisn"tgoingtodie，"Sheldonmanagedtointerpolate。
"Whatofthat？Ishothimjustthesame。Therewasnoneedforyoutojumpdowntherethatway。Itwasbrutalandcowardly。"
"Oh，nowIsay——"hebegansoothingly。
"Goaway。Don"tyouseeIhateyou!hateyou!Oh，won"tyougoaway!"
Sheldonwaswhitewithanger。
"Thenwhyinthenameofcommonsensedidyoushoot？"hedemanded。
"Be-be-becauseyouwereawhiteman，"shesobbed。"AndDadwouldneverhaveleftanywhitemaninthelurch。Butitwasyourfault。
Youhadnorighttogetyourselfinsuchaposition。Besides，itwasn"tnecessary。"
"IamafraidIdon"tunderstand，"hesaidshortly，turningaway。
"Wewilltalkitoverlateron。"
"LookhowIgetonwiththeboys，"shesaid，whilehepausedinthedoorway，stifflypolite，tolisten。"There"sthosetwosickboysI
amnursing。Theywilldoanythingformewhentheygetwell，andI
won"thavetokeeptheminfearoftheirlifeallthetime。Itisnotnecessary，Itellyou，allthisharshnessandbrutality。Whatiftheyarecannibals？Theyarehumanbeings，justlikeyouandme，andtheyareamenabletoreason。Thatiswhatdistinguishesallofusfromtheloweranimals。"
Henoddedandwentout。
"IsupposeI"vebeenunforgivablyfoolish，"washergreeting，whenhereturnedseveralhourslaterfromaroundoftheplantation。
"I"vebeentothehospital，andthemanisgettingalongallright。
Itisnotaserioushurt。"
Sheldonfeltunaccountablypleasedandhappyatthechangedaspectofhermood。
"Yousee，youdon"tunderstandthesituation，"hebegan。"Inthefirstplace，theblackshavetoberuledsternly。Kindnessisallverywell，butyoucan"trulethembykindnessonly。IacceptallthatyousayabouttheHawaiiansandtheTahitians。Yousaythattheycanbehandledthatway，andIbelieveyou。Ihavehadnoexperiencewiththem。Butyouhavehadnoexperiencewiththeblacks，andIaskyoutobelieveme。Theyaredifferentfromyournatives。YouareusedtoPolynesians。TheseboysareMelanesians。
They"reblacks。They"reniggers——lookattheirkinkyhair。Andthey"reawholelotlowerthantheAfricanniggers。Really，youknow，thereisavastdifference。"
"Theypossessnogratitude，nosympathy，nokindliness。Ifyouarekindtothem，theythinkyouareafool。Ifyouaregentlewiththemtheythinkyouareafraid。Andwhentheythinkyouareafraid，watchout，fortheywillgetyou。Justtoshowyou，letmestatetheoneinvariableprocessinablackman"sbrainwhen，onhisnativeheath，heencountersastranger。Hisfirstthoughtisoneoffear。Willthestrangerkillhim？Hisnextthought，seeingthatheisnotkilled，is:Canhekillthestranger？TherewasPackard，aColonialtrader，sometwelvemilesdownthecoast。Heboastedthatheruledbykindnessandneverstruckablow。Theresultwasthathedidnotruleatall。Heusedtocomedowninhiswhale-boattovisitHughieandme。Whenhisboat"screwdecidedtogohome，hehadtocuthisvisitshorttoaccompanythem。IrememberoneSundayafternoonwhenPackardhadacceptedourinvitationtostoptodinner。Thesoupwasjustserved，whenHughiesawaniggerpeeringinthroughthedoor。Hewentouttohim，foritwasaviolationofBerandecustom。Anyniggerhastosendinwordbythehouse-boys，andtokeepoutsidethecompound。
Thisman，whowasoneofPackard"sboat"s-crew，wasontheveranda。
Andheknewbetter，too。"Whatname？"saidHughie。"Youtell"mwhitemancloseupwefellaboat"s-crewgoalong。Henocomenow，wefellaboynowait。Wego。"AndjustthenHughiefetchedhimacloutthatknockedhimcleandownthestairsandofftheveranda。"
"Butitwasneedlesslycruel，"Joanobjected。"Youwouldn"ttreatawhitemanthatway。"
"Andthat"sjustthepoint。Hewasn"tawhiteman。Hewasalowblacknigger，andhewasdeliberatelyinsulting，notalonehisownwhitemaster，buteverywhitemasterintheSolomons。Heinsultedme。HeinsultedHughie。HeinsultedBerande。"
"Ofcourse，accordingtoyourlights，toyourformulaoftheruleofthestrong——"
"Yes，"Sheldoninterrupted，"butitwasaccordingtotheformulaoftheruleoftheweakthatPackardruled。Andwhatwastheresult？
Iamstillalive。Packardisdead。Hewasunswervinglykindandgentletohisboys，andhisboyswaitedtillonedayhewasdownwithfever。HisheadisoveronMalaitanow。Theycarriedawaytwowhale-boatsaswell，filledwiththelootofthestore。ThentherewasCaptainMackenzieoftheketchMinota。Hebelievedinkindness。Healsocontendedthatbetterconfidencewasestablishedbycarryingnoweapons。OnhissecondtriptoMalaita，recruiting，heranintoBina，whichisnearLangaLanga。Therifleswithwhichtheboat"s-crewshouldhavebeenarmed，werelockedupinhiscabin。Whenthewhale-boatwentashoreafterrecruits，heparadedaroundthedeckwithoutevenarevolveronhim。Hewastomahawked。
HisheadremainsinMalaita。Itwassuicide。SowasPackard"sfinishsuicide。"
"Igrantthatprecautionisnecessaryindealingwiththem，"Joanagreed；"butIbelievethatmoresatisfactoryresultscanbeobtainedbytreatingthemwithdiscreetkindnessandgentleness。"
"AndthereIagreewithYOU，butyoumustunderstandonething。
Berande，barnone，isbyfartheworstplantationintheSolomonssofarasthelabourisconcerned。Andhowitcametobesoprovesyourpoint。ThepreviousownersofBerandewerenotdiscreetlykind。Theywereapairofunadulteratedbrutes。Onewasadown-
eastYankee，asIbelievetheyarecalled，andtheotherwasaguzzlingGerman。Theywereslave-drivers。Tobeginwith，theyboughttheirlabourfromJohnnyBe-blowed，themostnotoriousrecruiterintheSolomons。Heisworkingoutatenyears"sentenceinFijinow，forthewantonkillingofablackboy。DuringhislastdaysherehehadmadehimselfsoobnoxiousthatthenativesonMalaitawouldhavenothingtodowithhim。Theonlywayhecouldgetrecruitswasbyhurryingtothespotwheneveramurderorseriesofmurdersoccurred。Themurdererswereusuallyonlytoowillingtosignonandgetawaytoescapevengeance。Downheretheycallsuchescapes，"pier-headjumps。"Thereissuddenlyaroarfromthebeach，andaniggerrunsdowntothewaterpursuedbycloudsofspearsandarrows。Ofcourse，JohnnyBe-blowed"swhale-
boatislyingreadytopickhimup。InhislastdaysJohnnygotnothingbutpier-headjumps。
"AndthefirstownersofBerandeboughthisrecruits——ahard-bittengangofmurderers。Theywereallfive-yearboys。Yousee，therecruiterhastheadvantageoveraboywhenhemakesapier-headjump。Hecouldsignhimonfortenyearsdidthelawpermit。
Well，that"sthegangofmurdererswe"vegotonourhandsnow。Ofcoursesomearedead，somehavebeenkilled，andthereareothersservingsentencesatTulagi。Verylittleclearingdidthosefirstownersdo，andlessplanting。Itwaswarallthetime。Theyhadonemanagerkilled。Oneofthepartnershadhisshoulderslashednearlyoffbyacane-knife。Theotherwasspearedontwodifferentoccasions。Bothwerebullies，whereforetherewasastreakofcowardiceinthem，andintheendtheyhadtogiveup。Theywerechasedaway——literallychasedaway——bytheirownniggers。AndalongcamepoorHughieandme，twonewchums，totakeholdofthathard-bittengang。Wedidnotknowthesituation，andwehadboughtBerande，andtherewasnothingtodobuthangonandmuddlethroughsomehow。
"Atfirstwemadethemistakeofindiscreetkindness。Wetriedtorulebypersuasionandfairtreatment。Theniggersconcludedthatwewereafraid。Iblushtothinkofwhatfoolswewereinthosefirstdays。Wewereimposedon，andthreatenedandinsulted；andweputupwithit，hopingoursquare-dealingwouldsoonmendthings。Insteadofwhicheverythingwentfrombadtoworse。ThencamethedaywhenHughiereprimandedoneoftheboysandwasnearlykilledbythegang。Theonlythingthatsavedhimwasthenumberontopofhim，whichenabledmetoreachthespotintime。
"Thenbegantheruleofthestronghand。Itwaseitherthatorquit，andwehadsunkaboutallourmoneyintotheventure，andwecouldnotquit。Andbesides，ourpridewasinvolved。Wehadstartedouttodosomething，andweweresomadethatwejusthadtogoonwithit。Ithasbeenahardfight，forwewere，andaretothisday，consideredtheworstplantationintheSolomonsfromthestandpointoflabour。Doyouknow，wehavebeenunabletogetwhitemenin。We"veofferedthemanagershiptohalfadozen。I
won"tsaytheywereafraid，fortheywerenot。Buttheydidnotconsiderithealthy——atleastthatisthewayitwasputbythelastonewhodeclinedouroffer。SoHughieandIdidthemanagingourselves。"
"Andwhenhediedyouwerepreparedtogoonallalone!"Joancried，withshiningeyes。
"IthoughtI"dmuddlethrough。Andnow，MissLackland，pleasebecharitablewhenIseemharsh，andrememberthatthesituationisunparalleleddownhere。We"vegotabadcrowd，andwe"remakingthemwork。You"vebeenovertheplantationandyououghttoknow。
AndIassureyouthattherearenobetterthree-and-four-years-oldtreesonanyotherplantationintheSolomons。Wehaveworkedsteadilytochangemattersforthebetter。We"vebeenslowlygettinginnewlabour。ThatiswhyweboughttheJessie。Wewantedtoselectourownlabour。Inanotheryearthetimewillbeupformostoftheoriginalgang。Yousee，theywererecruitedduringthefirstyearofBerande，andtheircontractsexpireondifferentmonths。Naturally，theyhavecontaminatedthenewboystoacertainextent；butthatcansoonberemedied，andthenBerandewillbearespectableplantation。"
Joannoddedbutremainedsilent。Shewastoooccupiedinglimpsingthevisionoftheonelonewhitemanasshehadfirstseenhim，helplessfromfever，acollapsedwraithinasteamer-chair，who，uptothelastheart-beat，bysomestrangealchemyofrace，waspledgedtomastery。
"Itisapity，"shesaid。"Butthewhitemanhastorule，I
suppose。"
"Idon"tlikeit，"Sheldonassuredher。"TosavemylifeIcan"timaginehowIevercamehere。ButhereIam，andIcan"trunaway。"
"Blinddestinyofrace，"shesaid，faintlysmiling。"Wewhiteshavebeenlandrobbersandsearobbersfromremotesttime。Itisinourblood，Iguess，andwecan"tgetawayfromit。"
"Ineverthoughtaboutitsoabstractly，"heconfessed。"I"vebeentoobusypuzzlingoverwhyIcamehere。"
CHAPTERVIII——LOCALCOLOUR
Atsunsetasmallketchfannedintoanchorage，andalittlelatertheskippercameashore。Hewasasoft-spoken，gentle-voicedyoungfellowoftwenty，buthewonJoan"sadmirationinadvancewhenSheldontoldherthatherantheketchallalonewithablackcrewfromMalaita。AndRomanceluredandbeckonedbeforeJoan"seyeswhenshelearnedhewasChristianYoung，aNorfolkIslander，butadirectdescendantofJohnYoung，oneoftheoriginalBountymutineers。TheblendedTahitianandEnglishbloodshowedinhissofteyesandtawnyskin；buttheEnglishhardnessseemedtohavedisappeared。Yetthehardnesswasthere，anditwaswhatenabledhimtorunhisketchsingle-handedandtowringalivelihoodoutofthefightingSolomons。
Joan"sunexpectedpresenceembarrassedhim，untilsheherselfputhimathiseasebyafrank，comradelymannerthatoffendedSheldon"ssenseofthefitnessofthingsfeminine。NewsfromtheworldYounghadnot，buthewasfilledwithnewsoftheSolomons。
FifteenboyshadstolenriflesandrunawayintothebushfromLungaplantation，whichwasfarthereastontheGuadalcanarcoast。
Andfromthebushtheyhadsentwordthattheywerecomingbacktowipeoutthethreewhitemenincharge，whiletwoofthethreewhitemen，inturn，werehuntingthemthroughthebush。Therewasastrongpossibility，Youngvolunteered，thatiftheywerenotcaughttheymightcirclearoundandtapthecoastatBerandeinordertostealorcaptureawhale-boat。
"IforgottotellyouthatyourtraderatUgihasbeenmurdered，"
hesaidtoSheldon。"FivebigcanoescamedownfromPortAdams。
Theylandedinthenight-time，andcaughtOscarasleep。Whattheydidn"tstealtheyburned。TheFlibberty-GibbetgotthenewsatMboliPass，andrandowntoUgi。IwasatMboliwhenthenewscame。"
"IthinkI"llhavetoabandonUgi，"Sheldonremarked。
"It"sthesecondtraderyou"velostthereinayear，"Youngconcurred。"Tomakeitsafethereoughttobetwowhitemenatleast。ThoseMalaitacanoesarealwaysraidingdownthatway，andyouknowwhatthatPortAdamslotis。I"vegotadogforyou。
TommyJonessentitupfromNealIsland。Hesaidhe"dpromisedittoyou。It"safirst-classnigger-chaser。Hadn"tbeenonboardtwominuteswhenhehadmywholeboat"s-crewintherigging。TommycallshimSatan。"
"I"vewonderedseveraltimeswhyyouhadnodogshere，"Joansaid。
"Thetroubleistokeepthem。They"realwayseatenbythecrocodiles。"
"JackHanleywaskilledatMarovoLagoontwomonthsago，"Youngannouncedinhismildvoice。"ThenewsjustcamedownontheApostle。"
"WhereisMarovoLagoon？"Joanasked。
"NewGeorgia，acoupleofhundredmilestothewestward，"Sheldonanswered。"Bougainvilleliesjustbeyond。"
"Hisownhouse-boysdidit，"Youngwenton；"buttheywereputuptoitbytheMarovonatives。HisSantaCruzboat"s-crewescapedinthewhale-boattoChoiseul，andMather，intheLily，sailedovertoMarovo。Heburnedavillage，andgotHanley"sheadback。Hefounditinoneofthehouses，wheretheniggershaditdrying。Andthat"sallthenewsI"vegot，exceptthatthere"salotofnewLee-
EnfieldslooseontheeasternendofYsabel。Nobodyknowshowthenativesgotthem。Thegovernmentoughttoinvestigate。And——ohyes，awarvessel"sinthegroup，theCambrian。SheburnedthreevillagesatBina——onaccountoftheMinota，youknow——andshelledthebush。ThenshewenttoSiotostraightenoutthingsthere。"
Theconversationbecamegeneral，andjustbeforeYounglefttogoonboardJoanasked，-
"Howcanyoumanageallalone，Mr。Young？"
Hislarge，almostgirlisheyesrestedonherforamomentbeforehereplied，andthenitwasinthesoftestandgentlestofvoices。
"Oh，Igetalongprettywellwiththem。Ofcourse，thereisabitoftroubleonceinawhile，butthatmustbeexpected。Youmustneverletthemthinkyouareafraid。I"vebeenafraidplentyoftimes，buttheyneverknewit。"
"Youwouldthinkhewouldn"tstrikeamosquitothatwasbitinghim，"SheldonsaidwhenYounghadgoneonboard。"AlltheNorfolkIslandersthathavedescendedfromtheBountycrowdarethatway。
ButlookatYoung。Onlythreeyearsago，whenhefirstgottheMinerva，hewaslyinginSuu，onMalaita。TherearealotofreturnedQueenslandersthere——aroughcrowd。Theyplannedtogethishead。Thesonoftheirchief，oldOne-EyedBilly，hadrecruitedonLungaanddiedofdysentery。Thatmeantthatawhiteman"sheadwasowingtoSuu——anywhiteman，itdidn"tmatterwhosolongastheygotthehead。AndYoungwasonlyalad，andtheymadesuretogethiseasily。Theydecoyedhiswhale-boatashorewithapromiseofrecruits，andkilledallhands。Atthesameinstant，theSuugangthatwasonboardtheMinervajumpedYoung。Hewasjustpreparingadynamitestickforfish，andhelighteditandtosseditinamongstthem。Onecan"tgethimtotalkaboutit，butthefusewasshort，thesurvivorsleapedoverboard，whileheslippedhisanchorandgotaway。They"vegotonehundredfathomsofshellmoneyonhisheadnow，whichisworthonehundredpoundssterling。YethegoesintoSuuregularly。Hewasthereashorttimeago，returningthirtyboysfromCapeMarsh——that"stheFulcrumBrothers"plantation。"
"Atanyrate，hisnewsto-nighthasgivenmeabetterinsightintothelifedownhere，"Joansaid。"Anditiscolourfullife，tosaytheleast。TheSolomonsoughttobeprintedredonthecharts——andyellow，too，forthediseases。"
"TheSolomonsarenotalwayslikethis，"Sheldonanswered。"Ofcourse，Berandeistheworstplantation，andeverythingitgetsistheworst。Idoubtifevertherewasaworserunofsicknessthanwewerejustgettingoverwhenyouarrived。Justasluckwouldhaveit，theJessiecaughtthecontagionaswell。Berandehasbeenveryunfortunate。Alltheold-timersshaketheirheadsatit。
TheysayithaswhatyouAmericanscallahoodooonit。"
"Berandewillsucceed，"Joansaidstoutly。"Iliketolaughatsuperstition。You"llpullthroughandcomeoutthebigendofthehorn。Theillluckcan"tlastforever。Iamafraid，though，theSolomonsisnotawhiteman"sclimate。"
"Itwillbe，though。Giveusfiftyyears，andwhenallthebushisclearedoffbacktothemountains，feverwillbestampedout；
everythingwillbefarhealthier。Therewillbecitiesandtownshere，forthere"sanimmenseamountofgoodlandgoingtowaste。"
"Butitwillneverbecomeawhiteman"sclimate，inspiteofallthat，"Joanreiterated。"Thewhitemanwillalwaysbeunabletoperformthemanuallabour。"
"Thatistrue。"
"Itwillmeanslavery，"shedashedon。
"Yes，likeallthetropics。Theblack，thebrown，andtheyellowwillhavetodothework，managedbythewhitemen。Theblacklabouristoowasteful，however，andintimeChineseorIndiancoolieswillbeimported。Theplantersarealreadyconsideringthematter。I，forone，amheartilysickofblacklabour。"
"Thentheblackswilldieoff？"
Sheldonshruggedhisshoulders，andretorted，-