第6章
TheyareMalaita-men，andtheyareafraidofbeingeaten。Theywoulddesertyouatthefirstopportunity。YoucouldgettheBinumentoaccompanyyouanotherday"sjourney，throughthegrass-
lands，butatthefirstrollofthefoothillslookforthemtoturnback。Theylikewisearedisinclinedtobeingeaten。"
"Isitasbadasthat？"askedVonBlix。
"TheinteriorofGuadalcanarhasneverbeenexplored，"Sheldonexplained。"Thebushmenareaswildmenasaretobefoundanywhereintheworldto-day。Ihaveneverseenone。Ihaveneverseenamanwhohasseenone。Theynevercomedowntothecoast，thoughtheirscoutingpartiesoccasionallyeatacoastnativewhohaswanderedtoofarinland。Nobodyknowsanythingaboutthem。
Theydon"tevenusetobacco——haveneverlearneditsuse。TheAustrianexpedition——scientists，youknow——gotpartwayinbeforeitwascuttopieces。Themonumentisupthebeachthereseveralmiles。Onlyonemangotbacktothecoasttotellthetale。AndnowyouhaveallIoranyothermanknowsoftheinsideofGuadalcanar。"
"Butgold——haveyouheardofgold？"Tudoraskedimpatiently。"Doyouknowanythingaboutgold？"
Sheldonsmiled，whilethetwovisitorshungeagerlyuponhiswords。
"YoucangotwomilesuptheBalesunaandwashcoloursfromthegravel。I"vedoneitoften。Thereisgoldundoubtedlybackinthemountains。"
TudorandVonBlixlookedtriumphantlyateachother。
"OldWheatsheaf"syarnwastrue，then，"Tudorsaid，andVonBlixnodded。"AndifMalaitaturnsoutaswell——"
TudorbrokeoffandlookedatJoan。
"Itwasthetaleofthisoldbeachcomberthatbroughtushere，"heexplained。"VonBlixbefriendedhimandwastoldthesecret。"HeturnedandaddressedSheldon。"IthinkweshallprovethatwhitemenhavebeenthroughtheheartofGuadalcanarlongbeforethetimeoftheAustrianexpedition。"
Sheldonshruggedhisshoulders。
"Wehaveneverheardofitdownhere，"hesaidsimply。ThenheaddressedVonBlix。"Astotheboys，youcouldn"tusethemfartherthanBinu，andI"lllendyouasmanyasyouwantasfarasthat。
Howmanyofyourpartyaregoing，andhowsoonwillyoustart？"
"Ten，"saidTudor；"ninemenandmyself。"
"Andyoushouldbeabletostartdayafterto-morrow，"VonBlixsaidtohim。"Theboatsshouldpracticallybeknockedtogetherthisafternoon。To-morrowshouldseetheoutfitportionedandpacked。AsfortheMartha，Mr。Sheldon，we"llrushthestuffashorethisafternoonandsailbysundown。"
Asthetwomenreturneddownthepathtotheirboat，SheldonregardedJoanquizzically。
"There"sromanceforyou，"hesaid，"andadventure——gold-huntingamongthecannibals。"
"Atitleforabook，"shecried。"Or，betteryet，"Gold-HuntingAmongtheHead-Hunters。"My!wouldn"titsell!"
"Andnowaren"tyousorryyoubecameacocoanutplanter？"heteased。"Thinkofinvestinginsuchanadventure。"
"IfIdid，"sheretorted，"VonBlixwouldn"tbefinickyaboutmyjoininginthecruisetoMalaita。"
"Idon"tdoubtbutwhathewouldjumpatit。"
"Whatdoyouthinkofthem？"sheasked。
"Oh，oldVonBlixisallright，asolidsortofchapinhisfashion；butTudorisfly-away——toomuchonthesurface，youknow。
Ifitcametobeingwreckedonadesertisland，I"dpreferVonBlix。"
"Idon"tquiteunderstand，"Joanobjected。"WhathaveyouagainstTudor？"
"YourememberBrowning"s"LastDuchess"？"
Shenodded。
"Well，Tudorremindsmeofher——"
"Butshewasdelightful。"
"Soshewas。Butshewasawoman。Oneexpectssomethingdifferentfromaman——morecontrol，youknow，morerestraint，moredeliberation。Amanmustbemoresolid，moresolidandsteady-
goingandlesseffervescent。AmanofTudor"stypegetsonmynerves。Onedemandsmorereposefromaman。"
Joanfeltthatshedidnotquiteagreewithhisjudgment；and，somehow，Sheldoncaughtherfeelingandwasdisturbed。Herememberednotinghowhereyeshadbrightenedasshetalkedwiththenewcomer——confounditall，washegettingjealous？heaskedhimself。Whyshouldn"thereyesbrighten？Whatconcernwasitofhis？
Asecondboathadbeenlowered，andtheoutfitoftheshorepartywaslandedrapidly。Adozenofthecrewputtheknocked-downboatstogetheronthebeach。Therewerefiveofthesecraft——leanandnarrow，withflaringsides，andremarkablylong。Eachwasequippedwiththreepaddlesandseveraliron-shodpoles。
"Youchapscertainlyseemtoknowriver-work，"Sheldontoldoneofthecarpenters。
Themanspatamouthfuloftobacco-juiceintothewhitesand，andanswered，-
"Weuse"eminAlaska。They"remodelledaftertheYukonpoling-
boats，andyoucanbetyourlifethey"recrackerjacks。Thiscreek"llbeasnapalongsidesomeofthemNorthernstreams。Fivehundredpoundsinoneofthemboats，an"twomencansnakeitalonginawaythat"dsurpriseyou。"
AtsunsettheMarthabrokeoutheranchorandgotunderway，dippingherflagandsalutingwithabombgun。TheUnionJackranupanddownthestaff，andSheldonrepliedwithhisbrasssignal-
cannon。Theminerspitchedtheirtentsinthecompound，andcookedonthebeach，whileTudordinedwithJoanandSheldon。
Theirguestseemedtohavebeeneverywhereandseeneverythingandmeteverybody，and，encouragedbyJoan，histalkwaslargelyuponhisownadventures。Hewasanadventurerofadventurers，andbyhisownaccounthadbeenbornintoadventure。DescendedfromoldNewEnglandstock，hisfatheraconsul-general，hehadbeenborninGermany，inwhichcountryhehadreceivedhisearlyeducationandhisaccent。Then，stillaboy，hehadrejoinedhisfatherinTurkey，andaccompaniedhimlatertoPersia，hisfatherhavingbeenappointedMinistertothatcountry。
Tudorhadalwaysbeenawanderer，andwithfacilewitandquickvividdescriptionheleapedfromepisodeandplacetoepisodeandplace，relatinghisexperiencesseeminglynotbecausetheywerehis，butforthesakeoftheirbizarrenessanduniqueness，fortheunusualincidentorthelaughablesituation。HehadgonethroughSouthAmericanrevolutions，beenaRoughRiderinCuba，ascoutinSouthAfrica，awarcorrespondentintheRusso-Japanesewar。HehadmusheddogsintheKlondike，washedgoldfromthesandsofNome，andeditedanewspaperinSanFrancisco。ThePresidentoftheUnitedStateswashisfriend。HewasequallyathomeintheclubsofLondonandtheContinent，theGrandHotelatYokohama，andtheselector"sshantiesintheNever-Nevercountry。HehadshotbiggameinSiam，pearledinthePaumotus，visitedTolstoy，seenthePassionPlay，andcrossedtheAndesonmule-back；whilehewasalivingdirectoryofthefeverholesofWestAfrica。
Sheldonleanedbackinhischairontheveranda，sippinghiscoffeeandlistening。Inspiteofhimselfhefelttouchedbythecharmofthemanwhohadledsovariedalife。AndyetSheldonwasnotcomfortable。ItseemedtohimthatthemanaddressedhimselfparticularlytoJoan。Hiswordsandsmilesweredirectedimpartiallytowardbothofthem，yetSheldonwascertain，hadthetwomenofthembeenalone，thattheconversationwouldhavebeenalongdifferentlines。TudorhadseentheeffectonJoananddeliberatelycontinuedtheflowofreminiscence，nettingherintheglamourofromance。Sheldonwatchedherraptattention，listenedtoherspontaneouslaughter，quickquestions，andpassingjudgments，andfeltgrowwithinhimthedawningconsciousnessthathelovedher。
Sohewasveryquietandalmostsad，thoughattimeshewasawareofadistinctirritationagainsthisguest，andheevenspeculatedastowhatpercentageofTudor"stalewastrueandhowanyofitcouldbeprovedordisproved。Inthisconnection，asifthescenehadbeenpreparedbyacleverplaywright，UtamicameupontheverandatoreporttoJoanthecaptureofacrocodileinthetraptheyhadmadeforher。
Tudor"sface，illuminatedbythematchwithwhichhewaslightinghiscigarette，caughtUtami"seye，andUtamiforgottoreporttohismistress。
"Hello，Tudor，"hesaid，withafamiliaritythatstartledSheldon。
ThePolynesian"shandwentout，andTudor，shakingit，wasstaringintohisface。
"Whoisit？"heasked。"Ican"tseeyou。"
"Utami。"
"AndwhothedickensisUtami？WheredidIevermeetyou，myman？"
"YounoforgettheHuahine？"Utamichided。"LasttimeHuahinesail？"
TudorgrippedtheTahitian"shandasecondtimeandshookitwithgenuineheartiness。
"TherewasonlyonekanakawhocameoutoftheHuahinethatlastvoyage，andthatkanakawasJoe。Thedeucetakeit，man，I"mgladtoseeyou，thoughIneverheardyournewnamebefore。"
"Yes，everybodyspeakmeJoealongtheHuahine。Utamimynameallthetime，justthesame。"
"Butwhatareyoudoinghere？"Tudorasked，releasingthesailor"shandandleaningeagerlyforward。
"MesailalongMissieLackalannaherschoonerMiele。WegoTahiti，Raiatea，Tahaa，Bora-Bora，Manua，Tutuila，Apia，Savaii，andFijiIslands——plentyFijiIslands。MestopalongMissieLackalannainSolomons。Verysoonshecatchotherschooner。"
"HeandIwerethetwosurvivorsofthewreckoftheHuahine，"
Tudorexplainedtotheothers。"Fifty-sevenalltoldonboardwhenwesailedfromHuapa，andJoeandIweretheonlytwothateversetfootonlandagain。Hurricane，youknow，inthePaumotus。ThatwaswhenIwasafterpearls。"
"Andyounevertoldme，Utami，thatyou"dbeenwreckedinahurricane，"Joansaidreproachfully。
ThebigTahitianshiftedhisweightandflashedhisteethinaconciliatingsmile。
"Menot"inknothing"tall，"hesaid。
Hehalf-turned，asiftodepart，byhismannerindicatingthatheconsideredittimetogowhileyethedesiredtoremain。
"Allright，Utami，"Tudorsaid。"I"llseeyouinthemorningandhaveayarn。"
"Hesavedmylife，thebeggar，"Tudorexplained，astheTahitianstrodeawayandwithheavysoftnessoffootwentdownthesteps。
"Swim!Inevermetabetterswimmer。"
Andthereat，solicitedbyJoan，TudornarratedthewreckoftheHuahine；whileSheldonsmokedandpondered，anddecidedthatwhatevertheman"sshortcomingswere，hewasatleastnotaliar。
CHAPTERXV——ADISCOURSEONMANNERS
Thedayspassed，andTudorseemedloathtoleavethehospitalityofBerande。Everythingwasreadyforthestart，buthelingeredon，spendingmuchtimeinJoan"scompanyandtherebyincreasingthedislikeSheldonhadtakentohim。Hewentswimmingwithher，inpointofrashnessexceedingher；anddynamitedfishwithher，divingamongthehungryground-sharksandcontestingwiththemforpossessionofthestunnedprey，untilheearnedtheapprovalofthewholeTahitiancrew。Arahuchallengedhimtotearafishfromashark"sjaws，leavinghalftothesharkandbringingtheotherhalfhimselftothesurface；andTudorperformedthefeat，aflipfromthesandpaperhideoftheastonishedsharkscrapingseveralinchesofskinfromhisshoulder。AndJoanwasdelighted，whileSheldon，lookingon，realizedthatherewastheheroofheradventure-dreamscomingtrue。Shedidnotcareforlove，buthefeltthatifevershedidloveitwouldbethatsortofaman——"amanwhoexhibited，"
washiswayofputtingit。
HefelthimselfhandicappedinthepresenceofTudor，whohadthegiftofmakingashowofallhisqualities。Sheldonknewhimselfforabraveman，whereforehemadenoadvertisementofthefact。
Heknewthatjustasreadilyastheotherwouldhediveamongground-sharkstosavealife，butinthatfacthecouldfindnosanctionforthefoolhardyactofdivingamongsharksforthehalfofafish。Thedifferencebetweenthemwasthathekeptthecurtainofhisshopwindowdown。Lifepulsedsteadilyanddeepinhim，anditwasnothisnatureneedlesslytoagitatethesurfacesothattheworldcouldseethesplashhewasmaking。Andtheeffectoftheother"samazingexhibitionswastomakehimretreatmoredeeplywithinhimselfandwraphimselfmorethicklythaneverinthenerveless，stoicalcalmofhisrace。
"Youaresostupidthelastfewdays，"Joancomplainedtohim。
"Onewouldthinkyouweresick，orbilious，orsomething。Youdon"tseemtohaveanideainyourheadaboveblacklabourandcocoanuts。Whatisthematter？"
Sheldonsmiledandbeatafurtherretreatwithinhimself，listeningthewhiletoJoanandTudorpropoundingthetheoryofthestrongarmbywhichthewhitemanorderedlifeamongthelesserbreeds。
AshelistenedSheldonrealized，asbyrevelation，thatthatwaspreciselywhathewasdoing。Whiletheyphilosophizedaboutithewaslivingit，placingthestronghandofhisracefirmlyontheshouldersofthelesserbreedsthatlabouredonBerandeormenaceditfromafar。Butwhytalkaboutit？heaskedhimself。Itwassufficienttodoitandbedonewithit。
Hesaidasmuch，drylyandquietly，andfoundhimselfinvolvedinadiscussion，withJoanandTudorsidingagainsthim，inwhichamoreastoundingchargethaneverhehaddreamedofwasmadeagainsttheveryEnglishcontrolandreserveofwhichhewassecretlyproud。
"TheYankeestalkalotaboutwhattheydoandhavedone，"Tudorsaid，"andarelookeddownuponbytheEnglishasbraggarts。ButtheYankeeisonlyachild。Hedoesnotknoweffectuallyhowtobrag。Hetalksaboutit，yousee。ButtheEnglishmangoeshimonebetterbynottalkingaboutit。TheEnglishman"sproverbiallackofbraggingisasubtlerformofbragafterall。Itisreallyclever，asyouwillagree。"
"Ineverthoughtofitbefore，"Joancried。"Ofcourse。AnEnglishmanperformssometerrificallyheroicexploit，andisverymodestandreserved——refusestotalkaboutitatall——andtheeffectisthatbyhissilenceheasmuchassays，"Idothingslikethiseveryday。Itisaseasyasrollingoffalog。YououghttoseethereallyheroicthingsIcoulddoiftheyevercamemyway。
Butthislittlething，thislittleepisode——really，don"tyouknow，Ifailtoseeanythinginitremarkableorunusual。"Asforme，ifIwentupinapowderexplosion，orsavedahundredlives，I"dwantallmyfriendstohearaboutit，andtheirfriendsaswell。I"dbeprouderthanLuciferovertheaffair。Confess，Mr。Sheldon，don"tyoufeelprouddowninsidewhenyou"vedonesomethingdaringorcourageous？"
Sheldonnodded。
"Then，"shepressedhomethepoint，"isn"tdisguisingthatprideunderamaskofcarelessindifferenceequivalenttotellingalie？"
"Yes，itis，"headmitted。"Butwetellsimilarlieseveryday。
Itisamatteroftraining，andtheEnglisharebettertrained，thatisall。Yourcountrymenwillbetrainedaswellintime。AsMr。Tudorsaid，theYankeesareyoung。"
"Thankgoodnesswehaven"tbeguntotellsuchliesyet!"wasJoan"sejaculation。
"Oh，butyouhave，"Sheldonsaidquickly。"Youweretellingmealieofthatorderonlytheotherday。Yourememberwhenyouweregoingupthelantern-halyardshandoverhand？Yourfacewasthepersonificationofduplicity。"
"Itwasnosuchthing。"
"Pardonmeamoment，"hewenton。"Yourfacewasascalmandpeacefulasthoughyouwerereclininginasteamer-chair。Tolookatyourfaceonewouldhaveinferredthatcarryingtheweightofyourbodyuparopehandoverhandwasaverycommonplaceaccomplishment——aseasyasrollingoffalog。Andyouneedn"ttellme，MissLackland，thatyoudidn"tmakefacesthefirsttimeyoutriedtoclimbarope。But，likeanycircusathlete，youtrainedyourselfoutoftheface-makingperiod。Youtrainedyourfacetohideyourfeelings，tohidetheexhaustingeffortyourmusclesweremaking。Itwas，toquoteMr。Tudor，asubtlerexhibitionofphysicalprowess。AndthatisallourEnglishreserveis——amerematteroftraining。Certainlyweareproudinsideofthethingswedoandhavedone，proudasLucifer——yes，andprouder。Butwehavegrownup，andnolongertalkaboutsuchthings。"
"Isurrender，"Joancried。"Youarenotsostupidafterall。"
"Yes，youhaveusthere，"Tudoradmitted。"Butyouwouldn"thavehadusifyouhadn"tbrokenyourtrainingrules。"
"Howdoyoumean？"
"Bytalkingaboutit。"
Joanclappedherhandsinapproval。Tudorlightedafreshcigarette，whileSheldonsaton，imperturbablysilent。
"Hegotyouthere，"Joanchallenged。"Whydon"tyoucrushhim？"
"Really，Ican"tthinkofanythingtosay，"Sheldonsaid。"Iknowmypositionissound，andthatissatisfactoryenough。"
"Youmightretort，"shesuggested，"thatwhenanadultiswithkindergartenchildrenhemustdescendtokindergartenidiomsinordertomakehimselfintelligible。Thatwaswhyyoubroketrainingrules。Itwastheonlywaytomakeuschildrenunderstand。"
"You"vedesertedintheheatofthebattle，MissLackland，andgoneovertotheenemy，"Tudorsaidplaintively。
Butshewasnotlistening。Instead，shewaslookingintentlyacrossthecompoundandouttosea。Theyfollowedhergaze，andsawagreenlightandtheloomofavessel"ssails。
"Iwonderifit"stheMarthacomeback，"Tudorhazarded。
"No，thesidelightistoolow，"Joananswered。"Besides，they"vegotthesweepsout。Don"tyouhearthem？Theywouldn"tbesweepingabigvesselliketheMartha。"
"Besides，theMarthahasagasolineengine——twenty-fivehorse-
power，"Tudoradded。
"Justthesortofacraftforus，"JoansaidwistfullytoSheldon。
"IreallymustseeifIcan"tgetaschoonerwithanengine。I
mightgetasecond-handengineputin。"
"Thatwouldmeantheadditionalexpenseofanengineer"swages，"heobjected。
"Butitwouldpayforitselfbyquickerpassages，"sheargued；"anditwouldbeasgoodasinsurance。Iknow。I"veknockedaboutamongstreefsmyself。Besides，ifyouweren"tsomediaeval，I
couldbeskipperandsavemorethantheengineer"swages。"
Hedidnotreplytoherthrust，andsheglancedathim。Hewaslookingoutoverthewater，andinthelanternlightshenotedthelinesofhisface——strong，stern，dogged，themouthalmostchastebutfirmerandthinner-lippedthanTudor"s。Forthefirsttimesherealizedthequalityofhisstrength，thecalmandquietofit，itssimpleintegrityandreposefuldetermination。SheglancedquicklyatTudorontheothersideofher。Itwasahandsomerface，onethatwasmoreimmediatelypleasing。Butshedidnotlikethemouth。Itwasmadeforkissing，andsheabhorredkisses。Thiswasnotadeliberatelyachievedconcept；itcametoherintheformofafaintandvaguelyintangiblerepulsion。Forthemomentsheknewafleetingdoubtoftheman。PerhapsSheldonwasrightinhisjudgmentoftheother。Shedidnotknow，anditconcernedherlittle；forboats，andthesea，andthethingsandhappeningsoftheseawereoffarmorevitalinteresttoherthanmen，andthenextmomentshewasstaringthroughthewarmtropicdarknessattheloomofthesailsandthesteadygreenofthemovingsidelight，andlisteningeagerlytotheclickofthesweepsintherowlocks。Inhermind"seyeshecouldseethestrainingnakedformsofblackmenbendingrhythmicallytothework，andsomewhereonthatstrangedecksheknewwastheinevitablemaster-man，conningthevesselintoitsanchorage，peeringatthedimtree-lineoftheshore，judgingthedeceitfulnight-distances，feelingonhischeekthefirstfansofthelandbreezethatwaseventhenbeginningtoblow，weighing，thinking，measuring，gaugingthescoreormoreofever-
shiftingforces，throughwhich，bywhich，andinspiteofwhichhedirectedthesteadyequilibriumofhiscourse。Sheknewitbecauseshelovedit，andshewasalivetoitasonlyasailorcouldbe。
Twicesheheardthesplashofthelead，andlistenedintentlyforthecrythatfollowed。Onceaman"svoicespoke，low，imperative，issuinganorder，andshethrilledwiththedelightofit。Itwasonlyadirectiontothemanatthewheeltoporthishelm。Shewatchedtheslightalteringofthecourse，andknewthatitwasforthepurposeofenablingtheflat-hauledsailstocatchthosefirstfansofthelandbreeze，andshewaitedforthesamelowvoicetouttertheoneword"Steady!"Andagainshethrilledwhenitdidutterit。Oncemoretheleadsplashed，and"Elevenfadom"wastheresultingcry。"Letgo!"thelowvoicecametoherthroughthedarkness，followedbythesurgingrumbleoftheanchor-chain。Theclickingofthesheavesintheblocksasthesailsrandown，head-
sailsfirst，wasmusictoher；andshedetectedontheinstantthejammingofajib-downhaul，andalmostsawtheimpatientjerkwithwhichthesailormusthaveclearedit。Nordidshetakeinterestinthetwomenbesidehertillbothlights，redandgreen，cameintoviewastheanchorcheckedtheonwardway。
Sheldonwaswonderingastotheidentityofthecraft，whileTudorpersistedinbelievingitmightbetheMartha。
"It"stheMinerva，"Joansaiddecidedly。
"Howdoyouknow？"Sheldonasked，scepticalofhercertitude。
"It"saketchtobeginwith。Andbesides，Icouldtellanywheretherattleofhermainpeak-blocks——they"retoolargeforthehalyard。"
Adarkfigurecrossedthecompounddiagonallyfromthebeachgate，wherewhoeveritwashadbeenwatchingthevessel。
"Isthatyou，Utami？"Joancalled。
"No，Missie；meMatapuu，"wastheanswer。
"Whatvesselisit？"
"Met"inkMinerva。"
JoanlookedtriumphantlyatSheldon，whobowed。
"IfMatapuusayssoitmustbeso，"hemurmured。
"ButwhenJoanLacklandsaysso，youdoubt，"shecried，"justasyoudoubtherabilityasaskipper。Butnevermind，you"llbesorrysomedayforallyourunkindness。There"stheboatloweringnow，andinfiveminuteswe"llbeshakinghandswithChristianYoung。"
Lalaperubroughtouttheglassesandcigarettesandtheeternalwhiskyandsoda，andbeforethefiveminuteswerepastthegateclickedandChristianYoung，tawnyandgolden，gentleofvoiceandlookandhand，cameupthebungalowstepsandjoinedthem。
CHAPTERXVI——THEGIRLWHOHADNOTGROWNUP
News，asusual，ChristianYoungbrought——newsofthedrinkingatGuvutu，wherethemenboastedthattheydrankbetweendrinks；newsofthenewriflesadriftonYsabel，ofthelatestmurdersonMalaita，ofTomButler"ssicknessonSantaAna；andlastandmostimportant，newsthattheMatambohadgoneonareefintheShortlandsandwouldbelaidoffonerunforrepairs。
"ThatmeansfiveweeksmorebeforeyoucansailforSydney，"
SheldonsaidtoJoan。
"Andthatwearelosingprecioustime，"sheaddedruefully。
"IfyouwanttogotoSydney，theUpolusailsfromTulagito-morrowafternoon，"Youngsaid。
"ButIthoughtshewasrunningrecruitsfortheGermansinSamoa，"
sheobjected。"Atanyrate，IcouldcatchhertoSamoa，andchangeatApiatooneoftheWeirLinefreighters。It"salongwayaround，butstillitwouldsavetime。"
"ThistimetheUpoluisgoingstraighttoSydney，"Youngexplained。
"She"sgoingtodry-dock，yousee；andyoucancatchheraslateasfiveto-morrowafternoon——atleast，soherfirstofficertoldme。"
"ButI"vegottogotoGuvutufirst。"Joanlookedatthemenwithawhimsicalexpression。"I"vesomeshoppingtodo。Ican"tweartheseBerandecurtainsintoSydney。ImustbuyclothatGuvutuandmakemyselfadressduringthevoyagedown。I"llstartimmediately——inanhour。Lalaperu，youbring"monefellaAdamuAdamalongme。Tell"mthatfellaOrnfirimake"mkai-kaitakealongwhale-boat。"Sherosetoherfeet，lookingatSheldon。"Andyou，please，havetheboyscarrydownthewhale-boat——myboat，youknow。I"llbeoffinanhour。"
BothSheldonandTudorlookedattheirwatches。
"It"sanall-nightrow，"Sheldonsaid。"Youmightwaittillmorning——"
"Andmissmyshopping？No，thankyou。Besides，theUpoluisnotaregularpassengersteamer，andsheisjustasliabletosailaheadoftimeasontime。AndfromwhatIhearaboutthoseGuvutusybarites，thebesttimetoshopwillbeinthemorning。Andnowyou"llhavetoexcuseme，forI"vegottopack。"
"I"llgooverwithyou，"Sheldonannounced。
"LetmerunyouoverintheMinerva，"saidYoung。
Sheshookherheadlaughingly。
"I"mgoinginthewhale-boat。Onewouldthink，fromallyoursolicitude，thatI"dneverbeenawayfromhomebefore。You，Mr。
Sheldon，asmypartner，IcannotpermittodesertBerandeandyourworkoutofamistakennotionofcourtesy。Ifyouwon"tpermitmetobeskipper，Iwon"tpermityourgalivantingovertheseaasprotectorofyoungwomenwhodon"tneedprotection。Andasforyou，CaptainYoung，youknowverywellthatyoujustleftGuvututhismorning，thatyouareboundforMarau，andthatyousaidyourselfthatintwohoursyouaregettingunderwayagain。"
"ButmayInotseeyousafelyacross？"Tudorasked，apleadingnoteinhisvoicethatraspedonSheldon"snerves。
"No，no，andagainno，"shecried。"You"veallgotyourworktodo，andsohaveI。IcametotheSolomonstowork，nottobeescortedaboutlikeadoll。Forthatmatter，here"smyescort，andtherearesevenmorelikehim。"
AdamuAdamstoodbesideher，toweringaboveher，ashetoweredabovethethreewhitemen。Theclingingcottonundershirtheworecouldnothidethebulgeofhistremendousmuscles。
"Lookathisfist，"saidTudor。"I"dhatetoreceiveapunchfromit。"
"Idon"tblameyou。"Joanlaughedreminiscently。"IsawhimhitthecaptainofaSwedishbarkonthebeachatLevuka，intheFijis。
Itwasthecaptain"sfault。Isawitallmyself，anditwassplendid。Adamuonlyhithimonce，andhebroketheman"sarm。
Youremember，Adamu？"
ThebigTahitiansmiledandnodded，hisblackeyes，softanddeer-
like，seemingtogivethelietosobelligerentanature。
"Westartinanhourinthewhale-boatforGuvutu，bigbrother，"
Joansaidtohim。"Tellyourbrothers，allofthem，sothattheycangetready。WecatchtheUpoluforSydney。Youwillallcomealong，andsailbacktotheSolomonsinthenewschooner。Takeyourextrashirtsanddungareesalong。Plentycoldweatherdownthere。Nowrunalong，andtellthemtohurry。Leavethegunsbehind。TurnthemovertoMr。Sheldon。Wewon"tneedthem。"
"Ifyouarereallybentupongoing——"Sheldonbegan。
"That"ssettledlongago，"sheansweredshortly。"I"mgoingtopacknow。ButI"lltellyouwhatyoucandoforme——issuesometobaccoandotherstufftheywanttomymen。"
AnhourlaterthethreemenhadshakenhandswithJoandownonthebeach。Shegavethesignal，andtheboatshovedoff，sixmenattheoars，theseventhmanfor"ard，andAdamuAdamatthesteering-
sweep。Joanwasstandingupinthestern-sheets，reiteratinghergood-byes——aslimfigureofawomaninthetight-fittingjacketshehadwornashorefromthewreck，thelong-barrelledColt"srevolverhangingfromtheloosebeltaroundherwaist，herclear-cutfacelikeaboy"sundertheStetsonhatthatfailedtoconcealtheheavymassesofhairbeneath。
"You"dbettergetintoshelter，"shecalledtothem。"There"sabigsquallcoming。AndIhopeyou"vegotplentyofchainout，CaptainYoung。Good-bye!Good-bye，everybody!"
Herlastwordscameoutofthedarkness，whichwrappeditselfsolidlyabouttheboat。Yettheycontinuedtostareintotheblacknessinthedirectioninwhichtheboathaddisappeared，listeningtothesteadyclickoftheoarsintherowlocksuntilitfadedawayandceased。
"Sheisonlyagirl，"ChristianYoungsaidwithslowsolemnity。
Thediscoveryseemedtohavebeenmadeonthespurofthemoment。
"Sheisonlyagirl，"herepeatedwithgreatersolemnity。
"Adashedprettyone，andagoodtraveller，"Tudorlaughed。"Shecertainlyhasspunk，eh，Sheldon？"
"Yes，sheisbrave，"wasthereluctantanswerforSheldondidnotfeeldisposedtotalkabouther。
"That"stheAmericanofit，"Tudorwenton。"Push，andgo，andenergy，andindependence。Whatdoyouthink，skipper？"
"Ithinksheisyoung，veryyoung，onlyagirl，"repliedthecaptainoftheMinerva，continuingtostareintotheblacknessthathidthesea。
Theblacknessseemedsuddenlytoincreaseindensity，andtheystumbledupthebeach，feelingtheirwaytothegate。
"Watchoutfornuts，"Sheldonwarned，asthefirstblastofthesquallshriekedthroughthepalms。Theyjoinedhandsandstaggeredupthepath，withtheripecocoanutsthuddinginamonstrousrainallaroundthem。Theygainedtheveranda，wheretheysatinsilenceovertheirwhisky，eachmanstaringstraightouttosea，wherethewildlyswingingriding-lightoftheMinervacouldbeseeninthelullsofthedrivingrain。
Somewhereoutthere，Sheldonreflected，wasJoanLackland，thegirlwhohadnotgrownup，thewomangoodtolookupon，withonlyaboy"smindandaboy"sdesires，leavingBerandeamidstormandconflictinmuchthesamemannerthatshehadfirstarrived，inthestern-sheetsofherwhale-boat，AdamuAdamsteering，hersavagecrewbendingtotheoars。AndshewastakingherStetsonhatwithher，alongwiththecartridge-beltandthelong-barrelledrevolver。
Hesuddenlydiscoveredanimmenseaffectionforthosefripperiesofhersatwhichhehadsecretlylaughedwhenfirsthesawthem。Hebecameawareofthesentimentaldirectioninwhichhisfancywasleadinghim，andfeltinclinedtolaugh。Buthedidnotlaugh。
Thenextmomenthewasbusyvisioningthehat，andbelt，andrevolver。Undoubtedlythiswaslove，hethought，andhefeltatinyglowofprideinhiminthattheSolomonshadnotsucceededinkillingallhissentiment。
Anhourlater，ChristianYoungstoodup，knockedouthispipe，andpreparedtogoaboardandgetunderway。
"She"sallright，"hesaid，aproposofnothingspoken，andyetdistinctlyrelevanttowhatwasineachoftheirminds。"She"sgotagoodboat"s-crew，andshe"sasailorherself。Good-night，Mr。
Sheldon。AnythingIcandoforyoudownMarau-way？"Heturnedandpointedtoawideningspaceofstarrysky。"It"sgoingtobeafinenightafterall。Withthisfavouringbitofbreezeshehassailonalready，andshe"llmakeGuvutubydaylight。Good-night。"
"IguessI"llturnin，oldman，"Tudorsaid，risingandplacinghisglassonthetable。"I"llstartthefirstthinginthemorning。
It"sbeendisgracefulthewayI"vebeenhangingonhere。Good-
night。"
Sheldon，sittingonalone，wonderediftheothermanwouldhavedecidedtopulloutinthemorninghadJoannotsailedaway。Well，therewasonebitofconsolationinit:JoanhadcertainlylingeredatBerandefornoman，notevenTudor。"Istartinanhour"——herwordsranginhisbrain，andunderhiseyelidshecouldseeherasshestoodupandutteredthem。Hesmiled。Theinstantsheheardthenewsshehadmadeuphermindtogo。Itwasnotveryflatteringtoman，butwhatcouldanymancountinhereyeswhenaschoonerwaitingtobeboughtinSydneywasinthewind？Whatacreature!Whatacreature!
BerandewasalonelyplacetoSheldoninthedaysthatfollowed。
InthemorningafterJoan"sdeparture，hehadseenTudor"sexpeditionoffonitswayuptheBalesuna；inthelateafternoon，throughhistelescope，hehadseenthesmokeoftheUpoluthatwasbearingJoanawaytoSydney；andintheeveninghesatdowntodinnerinsolitarystate，devotingmoreofhistimetolookingatheremptychairthantohisfood。Henevercameoutontheverandawithoutglancingfirstofallathergrasshouseinthecornerofthecompound；andoneevening，idlyknockingtheballsaboutonthebilliardtable，hecametohimselftofindhimselfstandingstaringatthenailuponwhichfromthefirstshehadhungherStetsonhatandherrevolver-belt。
Whyshouldhecareforher？hedemandedofhimselfangrily。Shewascertainlythelastwomanintheworldhewouldhavethoughtofchoosingforhimself。Neverhadheencounteredonewhohadsothoroughlyirritatedhim，raspedhisfeelings，smashedhisconventions，andviolatednearlyeveryattributeofwhathadbeenhisidealofwoman。Hadhebeentoolongawayfromtheworld？Hadheforgottenwhattheraceofwomenwaslike？Wasitmerelyacaseofpropinquity？Andshewasn"treallyawoman。Shewasamasquerader。Underallherseemingofwoman，shewasaboy，playingaboy"spranks，divingforfishamongstsharks，sportingarevolver，longingforadventure，and，whatwasmore，goingoutinsearchofitinherwhale-boat，alongwithhersavageislandersandherbagofsovereigns。Buthelovedher——thatwasthepointofitall，andhedidnottrytoevadeit。Hewasnotsorrythatitwasso。Helovedher——thatwastheoverwhelming，astoundingfact。
OnceagainhediscoveredabigenthusiasmforBerande。Allthebubble-illusionsconcerningthelifeofthetropicalplanterhadbeenprickedbythesternfactsoftheSolomons。FollowingthedeathofHughie，hehadresolvedtomuddlealongsomehowwiththeplantation；butthisresolvehadnotbeenbasedupondesire。
Instead，itwasbasedupontheinherentstubbornnessofhisnatureandhisdisliketogiveoveranattemptedtask。
Butnowitwasdifferent。Berandemeanteverything。Itmustsucceed——notmerelybecauseJoanwasapartnerinit，butbecausehewantedtomakethatpartnershippermanentlybinding。Threemoreyearsandtheplantationwouldbeasplendid-payinginvestment。
TheycouldthentakeyearlytripstoAustralia，andoftener；andanoccasionalrunhometoEngland——orHawaii，wouldcomeasamatterofcourse。
Hespenthiseveningsporingoveraccounts，ormakingendlesscalculationsbasedoncheaperfreightsforcopraandonthepossiblemaximumandminimummarketpricesforthatstapleofcommerce。Hisdayswerespentoutontheplantation。Heundertookmoreclearingofbush；andclearingandplantingwenton，underhispersonalsupervision，atafasterpacethaneverbefore。Heexperimentedwithpremiumsforextraworkperformedbytheblackboys，andyearnedcontinuallyformoreofthemtoputtowork。NotuntilJoancouldreturnontheschoonerwouldthisbepossible，fortheprofessionalrecruiterswereallunderlongcontractstotheFulcrumBrothers，MorganandRaff，andtheFires，PhilpCompany；
whiletheFlibberty-Gibbetwaswhollyoccupiedinrunningaboutamonghiswidelyscatteredtradingstations，whichextendedfromthecoastofNewGeorgiainonedirectiontoUlavaandSikianaintheother。Blackshemusthave，and，ifJoanwerefortunateingettingaschooner，threemonthsatleastmustelapsebeforethefirstrecruitscouldbelandedonBerande。
AweekaftertheUpolu"sdeparture，theMalakuladroppedanchorandherskippercameashoreforagameofbilliardsandtogossipuntilthelandbreezesprangup。Besides，ashetoldhissuper-cargo，hesimplyhadtocomeashore，notmerelytodeliverthelargepackageofseedswithfullinstructionsforplantingfromJoan，buttoshockSheldonwiththelittlesurprisebornofinformationhewasbringingwithhim。
CaptainAucklandplayedthebilliardsfirst，anditwasnotuntilhewascomfortablyseatedinasteamer-chair，hissecondwhiskysecurelyinhishand，thatheletoffhisbomb。
"Agreatpiece，thatMissLacklandofyours，"hechuckled。"Claimstobeapart-ownerofBerande。Saysshe"syourpartner。Isthatstraight？"
Sheldonnoddedcoldly。
"Youdon"tsay？Thatisasurprise!Well，shehasn"tconvincedGuvutuorTulagiofit。They"reprettyusedtoirregularthingsoverthere，but——ha!ha!-"hestoppedtohavehislaughoutandtomophisbaldheadwithatradehandkerchief。"Butthatpartnershipyarnofherswastoobigtoswallow，thoughitgavethemtheexcuseforafewmoredrinks。"
"Thereisnothingirregularaboutit。Itisanordinarybusinesstransaction。"SheldonstrovetoactasthoughsuchtransactionswerequitethecommonplacethingonplantationsintheSolomons。
"SheinvestedsomethinglikefifteenhundredpoundsinBerande——"
"Soshesaid。"
"AndshehasgonetoSydneyonbusinessfortheplantation。"
"Oh，no，shehasn"t。"
"Ibegpardon？"Sheldonqueried。
"Isaidshehasn"t，that"sall。"
"Butdidn"ttheUpolusail？IcouldhaveswornIsawhersmokelastTuesdayafternoon，late，asshepassedSavo。"
"TheUpolusailedallright。"CaptainAucklandsippedhiswhiskywithprovokingslowness。"OnlyMissLacklandwasn"tapassenger。"
"Thenwhereisshe？"
"AtGuvutu，lastIsawofher。ShewasgoingtoSydneytobuyaschooner，wasn"tshe？"
"Yes，yes。"
"That"swhatshesaid。Well，she"sboughtone，thoughIwouldn"tgivehertenshillingsforitifanor"westerblowsup，andit"sabouttimewehadone。Thishasbeentoolongaspellofgoodweathertolast。"
"Ifyoucameheretoexcitemycuriosity，oldman，"Sheldonsaid，"you"vecertainlysucceeded。Nowgoaheadandtellmeinastraightforwardwaywhathashappened。Whatschooner？Whereisit？Howdidshehappentobuyit？"
"First，theschoonerMartha，"theskipperanswered，checkinghisrepliesoffonhisfingers。"Second，theMarthaisontheoutsidereefatPoonga-Poonga，lootedcleanofeverythingportable，andreadytogotopieceswiththefirstbitoflivelysea。Andthird，MissLacklandboughtheratauction。Shewasknockeddowntoherforfifty-fivequidbythethird-assistant-resident-commissioner。
Ioughttoknow。Ibidfiftymyself，forMorganandRaff。Myword，weren"ttheyhot!Itoldthemtogotothedevil，andthatitwastheirfaultforlimitingmetofiftyquidwhentheythoughtthechancetosalvetheMarthawasworthmore。Yousee，theyweren"texpectingcompetition。FulcrumBrothershadnorepresentativepresent，neitherhadFires，PhilpCompany，andtheonlymantobeafraidofwasNielsen"sagent，Squires，andhimtheygotdrunkandsoundasleepoverinGuvutu。
""Twenty，"saysI，formybid。"Twenty-five，"saysthelittlegirl。"Thirty，"saysI。"Forty，"saysshe。"Fifty，"saysI。
"Fifty-five，"saysshe。AndthereIwasstuck。"Holdon，"saysI；
"waittillIseemyowners。""No，youdon"t，"saysshe。"It"scustomary，"saysI。"Notanywhereintheworld，"saysshe。"Thenit"scourtesyintheSolomons，"saysI。
"Andd"yeknow，onmyfaithIthinkBurnett"dhavedoneit，onlyshepipesup，sweetandpertasyouplease:"Mr。Auctioneer，willyoukindlyproceedwiththesaleinthecustomarymanner？I"veotherbusinesstoattendto，andIcan"taffordtowaitallnightonmenwhodon"tknowtheirownminds。"AndthenshesmilesatBurnett，aswell——youknow，oneofthosefetchingsmiles，anddammeifBurnettdoesn"tbeginsingingout:"Goin"，goin"，goin"——lastbid——goin"，goin"forfifty-fivesovereigns——goin"，goin"，gone——toyou，Miss——er——whatname，please？"
""JoanLackland，"saysshe，withasmiletome；andthat"showsheboughttheMartha。"
Sheldonexperiencedasuddenthrill。TheMartha!——afinerschoonerthantheMalakula，and，forthatmatter，thefinestintheSolomons。Shewasjustthethingforrecruits，andshewasrightonthespot。Thenherealizedthatforsuchacrafttosellatauctionforfifty-fivepoundsmeantthattherewassmallchanceforsavingher。
"Buthowdidithappen？"heasked。"Weren"ttheyratherquickinsellingtheMartha？"
"Hadto。YouknowthereefatPoonga-Poonga。She"snotworthtuppenceonitifanykindofaseakicksup，andit"sripeforanor"westeranymomentnow。Thecrowdabandonedhercompletely。
Didn"tevendreamofauctioningher。MorganandRaffpersuadedthemtoputherup。They"reaco-operativecrowd，youknow，anorganizedbusinesscorporation，foreandaft，allhandsandthecook。Theyheldameetingandvotedtosell。"
"Butwhydidn"ttheystandbyandtrytosaveher？"
"Standby!YouknowMalaita。AndyouknowPoonga-Poonga。That"swheretheycutofftheScottishChiefsandkilledallhands。Therewasnothingtodobuttaketotheboats。TheMarthamissedstaysgoingin，andinsidefiveminutesshewasonthereefandinpossession。Theniggersswarmedoverher，andtheyjustthrewthecrewintotheboats。Italkedwithsomeofthemen。Theyswearthereweretwohundredwarcanoesaroundherinsidehalfanhour，andfivethousandbushmenonthebeach。Saidyoucouldn"tseeMalaitaforthesmokeofthesignalfires。Anyway，theyclearedoutforTulagi。"
"Butwhydidn"ttheyfight？"Sheldonasked。
"Itwasfunnytheydidn"t，buttheygotseparated。Yousee，two-
thirdsofthemwereintheboats，withoutweapons，runninganchorsandneverdreamingthenativeswouldattack。Theyfoundouttheirmistaketoolate。Thenativeshadcharge。That"sthetroubleofnewchumsonthecoast。Itwouldneverhavehappenedwithyouormeoranyold-timer。"
"ButwhatisMissLacklandintendingtodo？"CaptainAucklandgrinned。
"She"sgoingtotrytogettheMarthaoff，Ishouldsay。Orelsewhydidshepayfifty-fivequidforher？Andifshefails，she"lltrytogethermoneybackbysavingthegear——spars，youknow，andpatentsteering-gear，andwinches，andsuchthings。Atleastthat"swhatI"ddoifIwasinherplace。WhenIsailed，thelittlegirlhadcharteredtheEmily——"I"mgoingrecruiting，"saysMunster——he"stheskipperandownernow。"Andhowmuchwillyounetonthecruise？"asksshe。"Oh，fiftyquid，"sayshe。"Good，"
saysshe；"youbringyourEmilyalongwithmeandyou"llgetseventy-five。"Youknowthatbigship"sanchorandchainpiledupbehindthecoal-sheds？ShewasjustbuyingthatwhenIleft。