第5章
"Telepasse，youoldreprobate，tell"mboysclearoutalongbeach。
Myword，Inogammonalongyou。"
"Menogammon，"saidthechief。"Mewant"mpaywhiteMarybang"mheadb"longGogoomy。"
"I"llcomedownthereandbang"mheadb"longyou，"Sheldonreplied，leaningtowardtherailingasifabouttoleapover。
Anangrymurmurarose，andtheblackssurgedrestlessly。Themuzzlesofmanygunswererisingfromthehips。Joanwaspressingthelightedendofthecigarettetothefuse。ASniderwentoffwiththeroarofabomb-gun，andSheldonheardapaneofwindow-
glasscrashbehindhim。AtthesamemomentJoanflungthedynamite，thefusehissingandspluttering，intothethickoftheblacks。Theyscatteredbackintoogreathastetodoanymoreshooting。Satan，arousedbytheoneshot，wassnarlingandpantingtobeletout。Joanheard，andrantolethimout；andthereatthetragedywasaverted，andthecomedybegan。
Riflesandspearsweredroppedorflungasideinawildscramblefortheprotectionofthecocoanutpalms。Satanmultipliedhimself。Neverhadhebeenfreetotearandrendsuchaquantityofblackfleshbefore，andhebitandsnappedandrushedtheflyinglegstillthelastpairwereabovehishead。AllweretreedexceptTelepasse，whowastoooldandfat，andhelayproneandwithoutmovementwherehehadfallen；whileSatan，withtoogreatahearttoworryanenemythatdidnotmove，dashedfranticallyfromtreetotree，barkingandspringingatthosewhoclungonlowestdown。
"Ifancyyouneedalessonortwoininsertingfuses，"Sheldonremarkeddryly。
Joan"seyeswerescornful。
"Therewasnodetonatoronit，"shesaid。"Besides，thedetonatorisnotyetmanufacturedthatwillexplodethatcharge。It"sonlyabottleofchlorodyne。"
Sheputherfingersintohermouth，andSheldonwincedashesawherblow，likeaboy，asharp，imperiouswhistle——thecallshealwaysusedforhersailors，andthatalwaysmadehimwince。
"They"regoneuptheBalesuna，shootingfish，"heexplained。"ButtherecomesOlesonwithhisboat"s-crew。He"sanoldwar-horsewhenhegetsstarted。Seehimbangingtheboys。Theydon"tpullfastenoughforhim。"
"Andnowwhat"stobedone？"sheasked。"You"vetreedyourgame，butyoucan"tkeepittreed。"
"No；butIcanteachthemalesson。"
Sheldonwalkedovertothebigbell。
"Itisallright，"herepliedtohergestureofprotest。"Myboysarepracticallyallbushmen，whilethesechapsaresalt-watermen，andthere"snolovelostbetweenthem。Youwatchthefun。"
Herangageneralcall，andbythetimethetwohundredlabourerstroopedintothecompoundSatanwasoncemorepennedintheliving-
room，complainingtohighheavenathisabominabletreatment。Theplantationhandsweredancingwar-dancesaroundthebaseofeverytreeandfillingtheairwithabuseandvituperationoftheirhereditaryenemies。TheskipperoftheFlibberty-Gibbetarrivedinthethickofit，inthefirstthroesofoncomingfever，staggeringashewalked，andshiveringsoseverelythathecouldscarcelyholdtheriflehecarried。Hisfacewasghastlyblue，histeethclickedandchattered，andtheviolentsunshinethroughwhichhewalkedcouldnotwarmhim。
"I"lls-s-sitdown，andk-k-keepaguardon"em，"hechattered。
"D-d-dashitall，Ialwaysg-getf-feverwhenthere"sanyexcitement。W-w-wh-whatareyougoingtodo？"
"Gatherupthegunsfirstofall。"
UnderSheldon"sdirectionthehouse-boysandgang-bossescollectedthescatteredarmsandpiledtheminaheapontheveranda。Themodernrifles，stolenfromLunga，Sheldonsetaside；theSnidershesmashedintofragments；thepileofspears，clubs，andtomahawkshepresentedtoJoan。
"Areallyuniqueadditiontoyourcollection，"hesmiled；"pickeduprightonthebattlefield。"
Downonthebeachhebuiltabonfireoutofthecontentsofthecanoes，hisblackssmashing，breaking，andlootingeverythingtheylaidhandson。Thecanoesthemselves，splinteredandbroken，filledwithsandandcoral-boulders，weretowedouttotenfathomsofwaterandsunk。
"Tenfathomswillbedeepenoughforthemtoworkin，"Sheldonsaid，astheywalkedbacktothecompound。
HereaSaturnaliahadbrokenloose。Thewar-songsanddancesweremoreunrestrained，and，fromabuse，theplantationblackshadturnedtopeltingtheirhelplessfoeswithpiecesofwood，handfulsofpebbles，andchunksofcoral-rock。Andtheseventy-fivelustycannibalsclungstoicallytotheirtree-perches，enduringtherainofmissilesandsnarlingdownpromisesofvengeance。
"There"llbewarsforfortyyearsonMalaitaonaccountofthis，"
Sheldonlaughed。"ButIalwaysfancyoldTelepassewillneveragainattempttorushaplantation。"
"Eh，youoldscoundrel，"headded，turningtotheoldchief，whosatgibberinginimpotentrageatthefootofthesteps。"Nowheadbelongyoubang"mtoo。Comeon，MissLackland，bang"mjustonce。
Itwillbethecrowningindignity。"
"Ugh，he"stoodirty。I"drathergivehimabath。Here，you，AdamuAdam，givethisdevil-devilawash。Soapandwater!Fillthatwash-tub。Ornfiri，runandfetch"mscrub-brush。"
TheTahitians，backfromtheirfishingandgrinningatthebedlamofthecompound，enteredintothejoke。
"Tambo!Tambo!"shriekedthecannibalsfromthetrees，appalledatsoawfuladesecration，astheysawtheirchieftumbledintothetubandthesacreddirtrubbedandsousedfromhisbody。
Joan，whohadgoneintothebungalow，tosseddownastripofwhitecalico，inwhicholdTelepassewaspromptlywrapped，andhestoodforth，resplendentandpurified，withalhestillspatandstrangledfromthesoap-sudswithwhichNoaNoahhadgargledhisthroat。
Thehouse-boysweredirectedtofetchhandcuffs，and，onebyone，theLungarunawayswerehaleddownoutoftheirtreesandmadefast。Sheldonironedtheminpairs，andranasteelchainthroughthelinksoftheirons。Gogoomywasgivenalectureforhismutinousconductandlockedupfortheafternoon。ThenSheldonrewardedtheplantationhandswithanafternoon"sholiday，and，whentheyhadwithdrawnfromthecompound，permittedthePortAdamsmentodescendfromthetrees。AndallafternoonheandJoanloafedinthecooloftheverandaandwatchedthemdivingdownandemptyingtheirsunkencanoesofthesandandrocks。Itwastwilightwhentheyembarkedandpaddledawaywithafewbrokenpaddles。Abreezehadsprungup，andtheFlibberty-GibbethadalreadysailedforLungatoreturntherunaways。
CHAPTERXII——MR。MORGANANDMR。RAFF
Sheldonwasbackintheplantationsuperintendingthebuildingofabridge，whentheschoonerMalakularanincloseanddroppedanchor。
Joanwatchedthetakinginofsailandtheswingingoutoftheboatwithasailor"sinterest，andherselfmetthetwomenwhocameashore。Whileoneofthehouse-boysrantofetchSheldon，shehadthevisitorsservedwithwhiskyandsoda，andsatandtalkedwiththem。
Theyseemedawkwardandconstrainedinherpresence，andshecaughtfirstoneandthentheotherlookingatherwithsecretcuriosity。
Shefeltthattheywereweighingher，appraisingher，andforthefirsttimetheanomalouspositionsheoccupiedonBerandesanksharplyhometoher。Ontheotherhand，theypuzzledher。Theywereneithertradersnorsailorsofanytypeshehadknown。Nordidtheytalklikegentlemen，despitethefactthattherewasnothingoffensiveintheirbearingandthattheveneerofordinarysocialnicetywastheirs。Undoubtedly，theyweremenofaffairs——
businessmenofasort；butwhataffairsshouldtheyhaveintheSolomons，andwhatbusinessonBerande？Theelderone，Morgan，wasahugeman，bronzedandmoustached，withadeepbassvoiceandanalmostgutturalspeech，andtheother，Raff，wasslightandeffeminate，withnervoushandsandwatery，washed-outgrayeyes，whospokewithafaintindefinableaccentthatwashauntinglyreminiscentoftheCockney，andthatwasyetnotCockneyofanybrandshehadeverencountered。Whatevertheywere，theywereself-mademen，sheconcluded；andshefelttheimpulsetoshudderatthoughtoffallingintotheirhandsinabusinessway。There，theywouldbemerciless。
ShewatchedSheldoncloselywhenhearrived，anddivinedthathewasnotparticularlydelightedtoseethem。Butseethemhemust，andsopressingwastheneedthat，afteralittleperfunctorygeneralconversation，heledthetwomenintothestuffyoffice。
Laterintheafternoon，sheaskedLalaperuwheretheyhadgone。
"Myword，"quothLalaperu；"plentywalkabout，plentylook"m。
Look"mtree；look"mgroundbelongtree；look"mallfellabridge；
look"mcopra-house；look"mgrass-land；look"mriver；look"mwhale-boat——myword，plentybigfellalook"mtoomuch。"
"Whatfellamanthemtwofella？"shequeried。
"Bigfellamarsteralongwhiteman，"wastheextentofhisdescription。
ButJoandecidedthattheyweremenofimportanceintheSolomons，andthattheirexaminationoftheplantationandofitsaccountswasofsinistersignificance。
Atdinnernowordwasdroppedthatgaveahintoftheirerrand。
Theconversationwasongeneraltopics；butJoancouldnothelpnoticingthetroubled，absentexpressionthatoccasionallycameintoSheldon"seyes。Aftercoffee，sheleftthem；andatmidnight，fromacrossthecompound，shecouldhearthelowmurmuroftheirvoicesandseeglowingthefieryendsoftheircigars。Upearlyherself，shefoundtheyhadalreadydepartedonanothertrampovertheplantation。
"Whatyouthink？"sheaskedViaburi。
"Sheldonmarsterhegoalongfinishshorttimelittlebit，"wastheanswer。
"Whatyouthink？"sheaskedOrnfiri。
"SheldonmarsterbigfellawalkaboutalongSydney。Yes，met"inkso。HefinishalongBerande。"
Alldaytheexaminationoftheplantationandthediscussionwenton；andalldaytheskipperoftheMalakulasenturgentmessagesashoreforthetwomentohasten。Itwasnotuntilsunsetthattheywentdowntotheboat，andeventhenafinaltalkofnearlyanhourtookplaceonthebeach。Sheldonwascombatingsomething——
thatshecouldplainlysee；andthathistwovisitorswerenotgivinginshecouldalsoplainlysee。
"Whatname？"sheaskedlightly，whenSheldonsatdowntodinner。
Helookedatherandsmiled，butitwasaverywanandwistfulsmile。
"Myword，"shewenton。"Onebigfellatalk。Sunhegodown——
talk-talk；sunhecomeup——talk-talk；allthetimetalk-talk。Whatnamethatfellatalk-talk？
"Oh，nothingmuch。"Heshruggedhisshoulders。"TheyweretryingtobuyBerande，thatwasall。"
Shelookedathimchallengingly。
"Itmusthavebeenmorethanthat。Itwasyouwhowantedtosell。"
"Indeed，no，MissLackland；IassureyouthatIamfarfromdesiringtosell。"
"Don"tletusfenceaboutit，"sheurged。"Letitbestraighttalkbetweenus。You"reintrouble。I"mnotafool。Tellme。
Besides，Imaybeabletohelp，to——tosuggestsomething。"
Inthepausethatfollowed，heseemedtodebate，notsomuchwhetherhewouldtellher，ashowtobegintotellher。
"I"mAmerican，yousee，"shepersisted，"andourAmericanheritageisalargeparcelofbusinesssense。Idon"tlikeitmyself，butI
knowI"vegotit——atleastmorethanyouhave。Letustalkitoverandfindawayout。Howmuchdoyouowe？"
"Athousandpounds，andafewtriflesover——smallbills，youknow。
Then，too，thirtyoftheboysfinishtheirtimenextweek，andtheirbalanceswillaveragetenpoundseach。Butwhatistheneedofbotheringyourheadwithit？Really，youknow——"
"WhatisBerandeworth？——rightnow？"
"WhateverMorganandRaffarewillingtopayforit。"Aglanceatherhurtexpressiondecidedhim。"HughieandIhavesunkeightthousandpoundsinit，andourtime。Itisagoodproperty，andworthmorethanthat。Butithasthreeyearstorunbeforeitsreturnsbegintocomein。ThatiswhyHughieandIengagedintradingandrecruiting。TheJessieandourstationscameveryneartopayingtherunningexpensesofBerande。"
"AndMorganandRaffofferedyouwhat？"
"Athousandpoundsclear，afterpayingallbills。"
"Thethieves!"shecried。
"No，they"regoodbusinessmen，thatisall。Astheytoldme，athingisworthnomorethanoneiswillingtopayortoreceive。"
"AndhowmuchdoyouneedtocarryonBerandeforthreeyears？"
Joanhurriedon。
"Twohundredboysatsixpoundsayearmeansthirty-sixhundredpounds——that"sthemainitem。"
"My，howcheaplabourdoesmountup!Thirty-sixhundredpounds，eighteenthousanddollars，justforalotofcannibals!Yettheplaceisgoodsecurity。YoucouldgodowntoSydneyandraisethemoney。"
Heshookhishead。
"Youcan"tgetthemtolookatplantationsdownthere。They"vebeentakenintoooften。ButIdohatetogivetheplaceup——moreforHughie"ssake，Iswear，thanmyown。Hewasboundupinit。
Yousee，hewasapersistentchap，andhatedtoacknowledgedefeat。
It——itmakesmeuncomfortabletothinkofitmyself。Wewererunningslowlybehind，butwiththeJessiewehopedtomuddlethroughinsomefashion。"
"Youweremuddlers，thepairofyou，withoutdoubt。Butyouneedn"tselltoMorganandRaff。IshallgodowntoSydneyonthenextsteamer，andI"llcomebackinasecond-handschooner。I
shouldbeabletobuyoneforfiveorsixthousanddollars——"
Hehelduphishandinprotest，butshewaveditaside。
"Imaymanagetofreightacargobackaswell。Atanyrate，theschoonerwilltakeovertheJessie"sbusiness。Youcanmakeyourarrangementsaccordingly，andhaveplentyofworkforherwhenI
getback。I"mgoingtobecomeapartnerinBerandetotheextentofmybagofsovereigns——I"vegotoverfifteenhundredofthem，youknow。We"lldrawupanagreementrightnow——thatis，withyourpermission，andIknowyouwon"trefuseit。"
Helookedatherwithgood-naturedamusement。
"YouknowIsailedhereallthewayfromTahitiinordertobecomeaplanter，"sheinsisted。"Youknowwhatmyplanswere。NowI"vechangedthem，that"sall。I"dratherbeapartownerofBerandeandgetmyreturnsinthreeyears，thanbreakgroundonPari-Sulayandwaitsevenyears。"
"Andthis——er——thisschooner……"Sheldonchangedhismindandstopped。
"Yes，goon。"
"Youwon"tbeangry？"hequeried。
"No，no；thisisbusiness。Goon。"
"You——er——youwouldrunheryourself？——bethecaptain，inshort？——
andgorecruitingonMalaita？"
"Certainly。Wewouldsavethecostofaskipper。Underanagreementyouwouldbecreditedwithamanager"ssalary，andIwithacaptain"s。It"squitesimple。Besides，ifyouwon"tletmebeyourpartner，IshallbuyPari-Sulay，getamuchsmallervessel，andrunhermyself。Sowhatisthedifference？"
"Thedifference？——why，allthedifferenceintheworld。InthecaseofPari-Sulayyouwouldbeonanindependentventure。YoucouldturncannibalforallIcouldinterfereinthematter。ButonBerande，youwouldbemypartner，andthenIwouldberesponsible。AndofcourseIcouldn"tpermityou，asmypartner，tobeskipperofarecruiter。Itellyou，thethingiswhatI
wouldnotpermitanysisterorwifeofmine——"
"ButI"mnotgoingtobeyourwife，thankgoodness——onlyyourpartner。"
"Besides，it"sallridiculous，"heheldonsteadily。"Thinkofthesituation。Amanandawoman，bothyoung，partnersonanisolatedplantation。Why，theonlypracticalwayoutwouldbethatI"dhavetomarryyou——"
"Minewasabusinessproposition，notamarriageproposal，"sheinterrupted，coldlyangry。"Iwonderifsomewhereinthisworldthereisonemanwhocouldacceptmeforacomrade。"
"Butyouareawomanjustthesame，"hebegan，"andtherearecertainconventions，certaindecencies——"
Shesprangupandstampedherfoot。
"DoyouknowwhatI"dliketosay？"shedemanded。
"Yes，"hesmiled，"you"dliketosay，"Damnpetticoats!""
Shenoddedherheadruefully。
"That"swhatIwantedtosay，butitsoundsdifferentonyourlips。
Itsoundsasthoughyoumeantityourself，andthatyoumeantitbecauseofme。"
"Well，Iamgoingtobed。Butdo，please，thinkovermyproposition，andletmeknowinthemorning。There"snouseinmydiscussingitnow。Youmakemesoangry。Youarecowardly，youknow，andveryegotistic。Youareafraidofwhatotherfoolswillsay。Nomatterhowhonestyourmotives，ifotherscriticizedyouractionsyourfeelingswouldbehurt。Andyouthinkmoreaboutyourownwretchedfeelingsthanyoudoaboutmine。Andthen，beingacoward——allmenareatheartcowards——youdisguiseyourcowardicebycallingitchivalry。IthankheaventhatIwasnotbornaman。
Good-night。Dothinkitover。Anddon"tbefoolish。WhatBerandeneedsisgoodAmericanhustle。Youdon"tknowwhatthatis。Youareamuddler。Besides，youareenervated。I"mfreshtotheclimate。Letmebeyourpartner，andyou"llseemerattlethedrybonesoftheSolomons。Confess，I"verattledyoursalready。"
"Ishouldsayso，"heanswered。"Really，youknow，youhave。I
neverreceivedsuchadressing-downinmylife。IfanyonehadevertoldmethatI"dbeapartyeventothepresentsituation……Yes，Iconfess，youhaverattledmydrybonesprettyconsiderably。"
"Butthatisnothingtotherattlingtheyaregoingtoget，"sheassuredhim，asheroseandtookherhand。"Good-night。Anddo，dogivemearationaldecisioninthemorning。"
CHAPTERXIII——THELOGICOFYOUTH
"IwishIknewwhetheryouaremerelyheadstrong，orwhetheryoureallyintendtobeaSolomonplanter，"Sheldonsaidinthemorning，atbreakfast。
"Iwishyouweremoreadaptable，"Joanretorted。"YouhavemorepreconceivednotionsthananymanIevermet。Whyinthenameofcommonsense，inthenameof……fairplay，can"tyougetitintoyourheadthatIamdifferentfromthewomenyouhaveknown，andtreatmeaccordingly？YousurelyoughttoknowIamdifferent。I
sailedmyownschoonerhere——skipper，ifyouplease。Icameheretomakemyliving。Youknowthat；I"vetoldyouoftenenough。ItwasDad"splan，andI"mcarryingitout，justasyouaretryingtocarryoutyourHughie"splan。Dadstartedtosailandsailuntilhecouldfindtheproperislandsforplanting。Hedied，andI
sailedandsaileduntilIarrivedhere。Well，"——sheshruggedhershoulders——"theschoonerisatthebottomofthesea。Ican"tsailanyfarther，thereforeIremainhere。AndaplanterIshallcertainlybe。"
"Yousee——"hebegan。
"Ihaven"tgottothepoint，"sheinterrupted。"LookingbackonmyconductfromthemomentIfirstsetfootonyourbeach，IcanseenofalsepretencethatIhavemadeaboutmyselformyintentions。
Iwasmynaturalselftoyoufromthefirst。Itoldyoumyplans；
andyetyousitthereandcalmlytellmethatyoudon"tknowwhetherIreallyintendtobecomeaplanter，orwhetheritisallobstinacyandpretence。Nowletmeassureyou，forthelasttime，thatIreallyandtrulyshallbecomeaplanter，thankstoyou，orinspiteofyou。Doyouwantmeforapartner？"
"ButdoyourealizethatIwouldbelookeduponasthemostfoolishjackanapesintheSouthSeasifItookayounggirllikeyouinwithmehereonBerande？"heasked。
"No；decidedlynot。Butthereyouareagain，worryingaboutwhatidiotsandthegenerallyevil-mindedwillthinkofyou。Ishouldhavethoughtyouhadlearnedself-relianceonBerande，insteadofneedingtoleanuponthemoralsupportofeverywhisky-guzzlingworthlessSouthSeavagabond。"
Hesmiled，andsaid，-
"Yes，thatistheworstofit。Youareunanswerable。Yoursisthelogicofyouth，andnomancananswerthat。Thefactsoflifecan，buttheyhavenoplaceinthelogicofyouth。Youthmusttrytoliveaccordingtoitslogic。Thatistheonlywaytolearnbetter。"
"Thereisnoharmintrying？"sheinterjected。
"Butthereis。Thatistheverypoint。Thefactsalwayssmashyouth"slogic，andtheyusuallysmashyouth"sheart，too。It"slikeplatonicfriendshipsand……andallsuchthings；theyareallrightintheory，buttheywon"tworkinpractice。Iusedtobelieveinsuchthingsonce。ThatiswhyIamhereintheSolomonsatpresent。"
Joanwasimpatient。Hesawthatshecouldnotunderstand。Lifewastooclearlysimpletoher。Itwasonlytheyouthwhowasarguingwithhim，theyouthwithyouth"spure-mindedandinvinciblereasoning。Herswasonlytheboy"ssoulinawoman"sbody。Helookedatherflushed，eagerface，atthegreatropesofhaircoiledonthesmallhead，attheroundedlinesofthefigureshowingplainlythroughthehome-madegown，andattheeyes——boy"seyes，undercool，levelbrows——andhewonderedwhyabeingthatwassomuchbeautifulwomanshouldbenowomanatall。Whyinthedeucewasshenotcarroty-haired，orcross-eyed，orhare-lipped？
"SupposewedobecomepartnersonBerande，"hesaid，atthesametimeexperiencingafeelingoffrightattheprospectthatwastangledwithacontradictoryfeelingofcharm，"eitherI"llfallinlovewithyou，oryouwithme。Propinquityisdangerous，youknow。
Infact，itispropinquitythatusuallygivesthefacertothelogicofyouth。"
"IfyouthinkIcametotheSolomonstogetmarried——"shebeganwrathfully。"Well，therearebettermeninHawaii，that"sall。
Really，youknow，thewayyouharponthatonestringwouldleadanunprejudicedlistenertoconcludethatyouareprurient-minded——"
Shestopped，appalled。Hisfacehadgoneredandwhitewithsuchabruptnessastostartleher。Hewaspatentlyveryangry。Shesippedthelastofhercoffee，andarose，saying，-
"I"llwaituntilyouareinabettertemperbeforetakingupthediscussionagain。Thatiswhat"sthematterwithyou。Yougetangrytooeasily。Willyoucomeswimming？Thetideisjustright。"
"IfshewereamanI"dbundleherofftheplantationrootandcrop，whale-boat，Tahitiansailors，sovereigns，andall，"hemutteredtohimselfaftershehadlefttheroom。
Butthatwasthetrouble。Shewasnotaman，andwherewouldshego，andwhatwouldhappentoher？
Hegottohisfeet，lightedacigarette，andherStetsonhat，hangingonthewalloverherrevolver-belt，caughthiseye。Thatwasthedevilofit，too。Hedidnotwanthertogo。Afterall，shehadnotgrownupyet。Thatwaswhyherlogichurt。Itwasonlythelogicofyouth，butitcouldhurtdamnablyattimes。Atanyrate，hewouldresolveupononething:neveragainwouldhelosehistemperwithher。Shewasachild；hemustrememberthat。
Hesighedheavily。Butwhyinreasonablenesshadsuchachildbeenincorporatedinsuchawoman"sform？
Andashecontinuedtostareatherhatandthink，thehurthehadreceivedpassedaway，andhefoundhimselfcudgellinghisbrainsforsomewayoutofthemuddle——forsomemethodbywhichshecouldremainonBerande。Achaperone!Whynot？HecouldsendtoSydneyonthefirststeamerforone。Hecould-
Hertrillinglaughtersmoteuponhisreverie，andhesteppedtothescreen-door，throughwhichhecouldseeherrunningdownthepathtothebeach。Atherheelsrantwoofhersailors，PapeharaandMahameme，inscarletlava-lavas，withnakedsheath-knivesgleamingintheirbelts。Itwasanothersampleofherwilfulness。Despiteentreatiesandcommands，andwarningsofthedangerfromsharks，shepersistedinswimmingatanyandalltimes，andbyspecialpreference，itseemedtohim，immediatelyaftereating。
Hewatchedhertakethewater，divingcleanly，likeaboy，fromtheendofthelittlepier；andhewatchedherstrikeoutwithsingleoverhandstroke，herhenchmenswimmingadozenfeetoneitherside。
Hedidnothavemuchfaithintheirabilitytobeatoffahungryman-eater，thoughhedidbelieve，implicitly，thattheirliveswouldgobravelybeforehersincaseofanattack。
Straightouttheyswam，theirheadsgrowingsmallerandsmaller。
Therewasaslight，restlessheavetothesea，andsoonthethreeheadsweredisappearingbehinditwithgreaterfrequency。Hestrainedhiseyestokeeptheminsight，andfinallyfetchedthetelescopeontotheveranda。AsquallwasmakingoverfromthedirectionofFlorida；butthen，sheandhermenlaughedatsquallsandthewhitechoppyseaatsuchtimes。Shecertainlycouldswim，hehadlongsinceconcluded。ThatcameofhertraininginHawaii。
Butsharksweresharks，andhehadknownofmorethanonegoodswimmerdrownedinatide-rip。
Thesquallblackenedthesky，beattheoceanwhitewherehehadlastseenthethreeheads，andthenblottedoutseaandskyandeverythingwithitsdelugeofrain。Itpassedon，andBerandeemergedinthebrightsunshineasthethreeswimmersemergedfromthesea。Sheldonslippedinsidewiththetelescope，andthroughthescreen-doorwatchedherrunupthepath，shakingdownherhairassheran，tothefresh-watershowerunderthehouse。
Ontheverandathatafternoonhebroachedthepropositionofachaperoneasdelicatelyashecould，explainingthenecessityatBerandeforsuchabody，ahousekeepertoruntheboysandthestoreroom，andperformdiversotherusefulfunctions。Whenhehadfinished，hewaitedanxiouslyforwhatJoanwouldsay。
"Thenyoudon"tlikethewayI"vebeenmanagingthehouse？"washerfirstobjection。Andnext，brushinghisattemptedexplanationsaside，"Oneoftwothingswouldhappen。EitherIshouldcancelourpartnershipagreementandgoaway，leavingyoutogetanotherchaperonetochaperoneyourchaperone；orelseI"dtaketheoldhenoutinthewhale-boatanddrownher。DoyouimagineforonemomentthatIsailedmyschoonerdownheretothisrawedgeoftheearthinordertoputmyselfunderachaperone？"
"Butreally……er……youknowachaperoneisanecessaryevil，"heobjected。
"We"vegotalongverynicelysofarwithoutone。DidIhaveoneontheMiele？AndyetIwastheonlywomanonboard。ThereareonlythreethingsIamafraidof——bumble-bees，scarletfever，andchaperones。Ugh!theclucking，evil-mindedmonsters，findingwrongineverything，seeingsininthemostinnocentactions，andsuggestingsin——yes，causingsin——bytheirdiseasedimaginings。"
"Phew!"Sheldonleanedbackfromthetableinmockfear。
"Youneedn"tworryaboutyourbreadandbutter，"heventured。"Ifyoufailatplanting，youwouldbesuretosucceedasawriter——
novelswithapurpose，youknow。"
"Ididn"tthinktherewerepersonsintheSolomonswhoneededsuchbooks，"sheretaliated。"Butyouarecertainlyone——youandyourcustodiansofvirtue。"
Hewinced，butJoanrattledonwiththeplatitudinousoriginalityofyouth。
"Asifanythinggoodwereworthwhilewhenithastobeguardedandputinleg-ironsandhandcuffsinordertokeepitgood。YourdesireforachaperoneasmuchasimpliesthatIamthatsortofcreature。Iprefertobegoodbecauseitisgoodtobegood，ratherthanbecauseIcan"tbebadbecausesomeargus-eyedoldfrumpwon"tletmehaveachancetobebad。"
"Butit——itisnotthat，"heputin。"Itiswhatotherswillthink。"
"Letthemthink，thenasty-mindedwretches!Itisbecausemenlikeyouareafraidofthenasty-mindedthatyouallowtheiropinionstoruleyou。"
"IamafraidyouareafemaleShelley，"hereplied；"andassuch，youreallydrivemetobecomeyourpartnerinordertoprotectyou。"
"Ifyoutakemeasapartnerinordertoprotectme……I……I
shan"tbeyourpartner，that"sall。You"lldrivemeintobuyingPari-Sulayyet。"
"Allthemorereason——"heattempted。
"DoyouknowwhatI"lldo？"shedemanded。"I"llfindsomemanintheSolomonswhowon"twanttoprotectme。"
Sheldoncouldnotconcealtheshockherwordsgavehim。
"Youdon"tmeanthat，youknow，"hepleaded。
"Ido；Ireallydo。Iamsickandtiredofthisprotectiondodge。
Don"tforgetforamomentthatIamperfectlyabletotakecareofmyself。Besides，Ihaveeightofthebestprotectorsintheworld——
mysailors。"
"Youshouldhavelivedathousandyearsago，"helaughed，"orathousandyearshence。Youareveryprimitive，andequallysuper-
modern。Thetwentiethcenturyisnoplaceforyou。"
"ButtheSolomonIslandsare。YouwerelivinglikeasavagewhenI
camealongandfoundyou——eatingnothingbuttinnedmeatandsconesthatwouldhaveruinedthedigestionofacamel。Anyway，I"veremediedthat；andsincewearetobepartners，itwillstayremedied。Youwon"tdieofmalnutrition，besureofthat。"
"Ifweenterintopartnership，"heannounced，"itmustbethoroughlyunderstoodthatyouarenotallowedtoruntheschooner。
YoucangodowntoSydneyandbuyher，butaskipperwemusthave——
"
"Atsomuchadditionalexpense，andmostlikelyawhisky-drinking，irresponsible，andincapablemantoboot。Besides，I"dhavethebusinessmoreatheartthananymanwecouldhire。Asforcapability，ItellyouIcansailallaroundtheaveragebrokencaptainorpromotedableseamanyoufindintheSouthSeas。AndyouknowIamanavigator。"
"Butbeingmypartner，"hesaidcoolly，"makesyounonethelessalady。"
"Thankyoufortellingmethatmycontemplatedconductisunladylike。"
Shearose，tearsofangerandmortificationinhereyes，andwentovertothephonograph。
"Iwonderifallmenareasridiculousasyou？"shesaid。
Heshruggedhisshouldersandsmiled。Discussionwasuseless——hehadlearnedthat；andhewasresolvedtokeephistemper。Andbeforethedaywasoutshecapitulated。ShewastogotoSydneyonthefirststeamer，purchasetheschooner，andsailbackwithanislandskipperonboard。AndthensheinveigledSheldonintoagreeingthatshecouldtakeoccasionalcruisesintheislands，thoughhewasadamantwhenitcametoarecruitingtriponMalaita。
Thatwastheonethingbarred。
Andafteritwasallover，andaterseandbusiness-likeagreement(byherurging)drawnupandsigned，Sheldonpacedupanddownforafullhour，meditatinguponhowmanydifferentkindsofafoolhehadmadeofhimself。Itwasanimpossiblesituation，andyetnomoreimpossiblethanthepreviousone，andnomoreimpossiblethantheonethatwouldhaveobtainedhadshegoneoffonherownandboughtPari-Sulay。Hehadneverseenamoreindependentwomanwhostoodmoreinneedofaprotectorthanthisboy-mindedgirlwhohadlandedonhisbeachwitheightpicturesquesavages，along-
barrelledrevolver，abagofgold，andagaudymerchandiseofimaginedromanceandadventure。
Hehadneverreadofanythingtocomparewithit。Thefictionists，asusual，wereexceededbyfact。Thewholethingwastoopreposteroustobetrue。Hegnawedhismoustacheandsmokedcigaretteaftercigarette。Satan，backfromaprowlaroundthecompound，ranuptohimandtouchedhishandwithacold，dampnose。Sheldoncaressedtheanimal"sears，thenthrewhimselfintoachairandlaughedheartily。WhatwouldtheCommissioneroftheSolomonsthink？Whatwouldhispeopleathomethink？AndintheonebreathhewasgladthatthepartnershiphadbeeneffectedandsorrythatJoanLacklandhadevercometotheSolomons。Thenhewentinsideandlookedathimselfinahand-mirror。Hestudiedthereflectionlongandthoughtfullyandwonderingly。
CHAPTERXIV——THEMARTHA
Theyweredeepinagameofbilliardsthenextmorning，aftertheeleveno"clockbreakfast，whenViaburienteredandannounced，-
"Bigfellaschoonercloseup。"
Evenashespoke，theyheardtherumbleofchainthroughhawse-
pipe，andfromtheverandasawabigblack-paintedschooner，swingingtoherjust-caughtanchor。
"It"saYankee，"Joancried。"Seethatbow!Lookatthatellipticalstern!Ah，Ithoughtso——"astheStarsandStripesflutteredtothemast-head。
NoaNoah，atSheldon"sdirection，rantheUnionJackuptheflag-
staff。
"NowwhatisanAmericanvesseldoingdownhere？"Joanasked。
"It"snotayacht，thoughI"llwagershecansail。Look!Hername!Whatisit？"
"Martha，SanFrancisco，"Sheldonread，lookingthroughthetelescope。"It"sthefirstYankeeIeverheardofintheSolomons。
Theyarecomingashore，whoevertheyare。And，byJove，lookatthosemenattheoars。It"sanall-whitecrew。Nowwhatreasonbringsthemhere？"
"They"renotpropersailors，"Joancommented。"I"dbeashamedofacrewofblack-boysthatpulledinsuchfashion。Lookatthatfellowinthebow——theonejustjumpingout；he"dbemoreathomeonacow-pony。"
Theboat"s-crewscatteredupanddownthebeach，rangingaboutwitheagercuriosity，whilethetwomenwhohadsatinthestern-sheetsopenedthegateandcameupthepathtothebungalow。Oneofthem，atallandslenderman，wascladinwhiteducksthatfittedhimlikeasemi-militaryuniform。Theotherman，innondescriptgarmentsthatwerebothoftheseaandshore，andthatmusthavebeenuncomfortablyhot，slouchedandshambledlikeanovergrownape。Tocompletetheillusion，hisfaceseemedtosproutinalldirectionswithadense，bushymassofredwhiskers，whilehiseyesweresmallandsharpandrestless。
Sheldon，whohadgonetotheheadofthesteps，introducedthemtoJoan。Thebewhiskeredindividual，wholookedlikeaScotsman，hadtheTeutonicnameofVonBlix，andspokewithastrongAmericanaccent。Thetallmaninthewell-fittingducks，whogavetheEnglishnameofTudor——JohnTudor——talkedpurely-enunciatedEnglishsuchasanyculturedAmericanwouldtalk，saveforthefactthatitwasmostdelicatelyandsubtlytouchedbyafaintGermanaccent。
JoandecidedthatshehadbeenhelpedtoidentifytheaccentbytheshortGerman-lookingmoustachethatdidnotconcealthemouthanditsfullredlips，whichwouldhaveformedaCupid"sbowbutforsomeharshnessorseverityofspiritthathadmouldedthemmasculinely。
VonBlixwasroughandboorish，butTudorwasgracefullyeasyineverythinghedid，orlooked，orsaid。Hisblueeyessparkledandflashed，hisclean-cutmobilefeatureswereanindextohisslightestshadesoffeelingandexpression。Hebubbledwithenthusiasms，andhisfaintestsmileorlightestlaughseemedspontaneousandgenuine。Butitwasonlyoccasionallyatfirstthathespoke，forVonBlixtoldtheirstoryandstatedtheirerrand。
Theywereonagold-huntingexpedition。Hewastheleader，andTudorwashislieutenant。Allhands——andthereweretwenty-eight——
wereshareholders，invaryingproportions，intheadventure。
Severalweresailors，butthelargemajoritywereminers，culledfromallthecampsfromMexicototheArcticOcean。Itwastheoldandever-untiringpursuitofgold，andtheyhadcometotheSolomonstogetit。Partofthem，undertheleadershipofTudor，weretogouptheBalesunaandpenetratethemountainousheartofGuadalcanar，whiletheMartha，underVonBlix，sailedawayforMalaitatoputthroughsimilarexploration。
"Andso，"saidVonBlix，"forMr。Tudor"sexpeditionwemusthavesomeblack-boys。Canwegetthemfromyou？"
"Ofcoursewewillpay，"Tudorbrokein。"Youhaveonlytochargewhatyouconsiderthemworth。Youpaythemsixpoundsayear，don"tyou？"
"Inthefirstplacewecan"tsparethem，"Sheldonanswered。"Weareshortofthemontheplantationasitis。"
"WE？"Tudoraskedquickly。"Thenyouareafirmorapartnership？
IunderstoodatGuvututhatyouwerealone，thatyouhadlostyourpartner。"
SheldoninclinedhisheadtowardJoan，andashespokeshefeltthathehadbecomeatriflestiff。
"MissLacklandhasbecomeinterestedintheplantationsincethen。
Buttoreturntotheboys。Wecan"tsparethem，andbesides，theywouldbeoflittleuse。Youcouldn"tgetthemtoaccompanyyoubeyondBinu，whichisashortday"sworkwiththeboatsfromhere。