第8章
CHAPTERXIX——THELOSTTOY
"Well，"Joansaidwithasigh，"I"veshownyouhustlingAmericanmethodsthatsucceedandgetsomewhere，andhereyouarebeginningyourmuddlingagain。"
Fivedayshadpassed，andsheandSheldonwerestandingontheverandawatchingtheMartha，close-hauledonthewind，layingatackoffshore。DuringthosefivedaysJoanhadneveroncebroachedthedesireofherheart，thoughSheldon，inthisparticularinstancereadingherlikeabook，hadwatchedherleaduptothequestionascoreoftimesinthehopethathewouldhimselfsuggesthertakingchargeoftheMartha。Shehadwantedhimtosaytheword，andshehadsteeledherselfnottosayitherself。Thematteroffindingaskipperhadbeenahardone。ShewasjealousoftheMartha，andnosuggestedmanhadsatisfiedher。
"Oleson？"shehaddemanded。"HedoesverywellontheFlibberty，withmeandmymentooverhaulherwhenevershe"sreadytofalltopiecesthroughhisslackness。ButskipperoftheMartha？
Impossible!"
"Munster？Yes，he"stheonlymanIknowintheSolomonsI"dcaretoseeincharge。Andyet，there"shisrecord。HelosttheUmbawa——onehundredandfortydrowned。Hewasfirstofficeronthebridge。Deliberatedisobediencetoinstructions。Nowondertheybrokehim。
"ChristianYounghasneverhadanyexperiencewithlargeboats。
Besides，wecan"taffordtopayhimwhathe"sclearingontheMinerva。Sparrowhawkisagoodman——totakeorders。Hehasnoinitiative。He"sanablesailor，buthecan"tcommand。ItellyouIwasnervousallthetimehehadchargeoftheFlibbertyatPoonga-PoongawhenIhadtostaybytheMartha。"
Andsoithadgone。Nonameproposedwassatisfactory，and，moreover，Sheldonhadbeensurprisedbytheaccuracyofherjudgments。AdozentimesshealmostdrovehimtothestatementthatfromtheshowingshemadeofSolomonIslandssailors，shewastheonlypersonfittedtocommandtheMartha。Buteachtimeherestrainedhimself，whileherpridepreventedherfrommakingthesuggestion。
"Goodwhale-boatsailorsdonotnecessarilymakegoodschooner-
handlers，"sherepliedtooneofhisarguments。"Besides，thecaptainofaboatliketheMarthamusthavealargemind，seethingsinalargeway；hemusthavecapacityandenterprise。"
"ButwithyourTahitiansonboard——"Sheldonhadbegunanotherargument。
"Therewon"tbeanyTahitiansonboard，"shehadreturnedpromptly。
"Mymenstaywithme。IneverknowwhenImayneedthem。WhenI
sail，theysail；whenIremainashore，theyremainashore。I"llfindplentyforthemtodorighthereontheplantation。You"veseenthemclearingbush，eachofthemworthhalfadozenofyourcannibals。"
SoitwasthatJoanstoodbesideSheldonandsighedasshewatchedtheMarthabeatingouttosea，oldKinross，broughtoverfromSavo，incommand。
"Kinrossisanoldfossil，"shesaid，withatouchofbitternessinhervoice。"Oh，he"llneverwreckherthroughrashness，restassuredofthat；buthe"stimidtochildishness，andtimidskipperslosejustasmanyvesselsasrashones。Someday，KinrosswilllosetheMarthabecausethere"llbeonlyonechanceandhe"llbeafraidtotakeit。Iknowhissort。Afraidtotakeadvantageofaproperbreezeofwindthatwillfetchhiminintwentyhours，he"llgetcaughtoutinthecalmthatfollowsandspendawholeweekingettingin。TheMarthawillmakemoneywithhim，there"snodoubtofit；butshewon"tmakenearthemoneythatshewouldunderacompetentmaster。"
Shepaused，andwithheightenedcolourandsparklingeyesgazedseawardattheschooner。
"My!butsheisawitch!Lookathereatingupthewater，andthere"snowindtospeakof。She"snotgotordinarywhitemetaleither。It"sman-of-warcopper，everyinchofit。IhadthempolishitwithcocoanuthuskswhenshewascareenedatPoonga-
Poonga。Shewasaseal-hunterbeforethisgoldexpeditiongother。
Andseal-huntershadtosail。They"verunawayfromsecondclassRussiancruisersmorethanonceupthereoffSiberia。
"Honestly，ifI"ddreamedofthechancewaitingformeatGuvutuwhenIboughtherforlessthanthreehundreddollars，I"dneverhavegonepartnerswithyou。AndinthatcaseI"dbesailingherrightnow。
ThejusticeofhercontentioncameabruptlyhometoSheldon。Whatshehaddoneshewouldhavedonejustthesameifshehadnotbeenhispartner。AndinthesavingoftheMarthahehadplayednopart。Single-handed，unadvised，intheteethofthelaughterofGuvutuandofthecompetitionofmenlikeMorganandRaff，shehadgoneintotheadventureandbroughtitthroughtosuccess。
"Youmakemefeellikeabigmanwhohasrobbedasmallchildofalolly，"hesaidwithsuddencontrition。
"Andthesmallchildiscryingforit。"Shelookedathim，andhenotedthatherlipwasslightlytremblingandthathereyesweremoist。Itwastheboyallover，hethought；theboycryingfortheweebitboatwithwhichtoplay。Andyetitwasawoman，too。
Whatamazeofcontradictionshewas!Andhewondered，hadshebeenallwomanandnoboy，ifhewouldhavelovedherinjustthesameway。Thenitrushedinuponhisconsciousnessthathereallylovedherforwhatshewas，foralltheboyinherandalltherestofher——forthetotalofherthatwouldhavebeenadifferenttotalindirectproportiontoanydifferingofthepartsofher。
"Butthesmallchildwon"tcryanymoreforit，"shewassaying。
"Thisisthelastsob。Someday，ifKinrossdoesn"tloseher，you"llturnherovertoyourpartner，Iknow。AndIwon"tnagyouanymore。OnlyIdohopeyouknowhowIfeel。Itisn"tasifI"dmerelyboughttheMartha，ormerelybuilther。Isavedher。I
tookheroffthereef。Isavedherfromthegraveoftheseawhenfifty-fivepoundswasconsideredabigrisk。Sheismine，peculiarlymine。Withoutmeshewouldn"texist。Thatbignor"westerwouldhavefinishedherthefirstthreehoursitblew。
AndthenI"vesailedher，too；andsheisawitch，aperfectwitch。
Why，doyouknow，she"llsteerbythewindwithhalfaspoke，giveandtake。Andgoingabout!Well，youdon"thavetobabyher，startinghead-sheets，flatteningmainsail，andgentlingherwiththewheel。Putyourwheeldown，andaroundshecomes，likeacoltwiththebitinitsteeth。Andyoucanbackherlikeasteamer。I
diditatLanga-Langa，betweenthatshoalpatchandtheshore-reef。
Itwaswonderful。
"Butyoudon"tloveboatslikeIdo，andIknowyouthinkI"mmakingafoolofmyself。ButsomedayI"mgoingtosailtheMarthaagain。Iknowit。Iknowit。"
Inreply，andquitewithoutpremeditation，hishandwentouttohers，coveringitasitlayontherailing。Butheknew，beyondtheshadowofadoubt，thatitwastheboythatreturnedthepressurehegave，theboysorrowingoverthelosttoy。Thethoughtchilledhim。Neverhadhebeenactuallynearertoher，andneverhadshebeenmoreconvincinglyremote。Shewascertainlynotacutelyawarethathishandwastouchinghers。InhergriefatthedepartureoftheMarthaitwas，toher，anybody"shand——atthebest，afriend"shand。
Hewithdrewhishandandwalkedperturbedlyaway。
"Whyhasn"thegotthatbigfisherman"sstaysailonher？"shedemandedirritably。"Itwouldmaketheoldgirljustwalkalonginthisbreeze。IknowthesortoldKinrossis。He"stheskipperthatliesthreedaysunderdouble-reefedtopsailswaitingforagalethatdoesn"tcome。Safe？Oh，yes，he"ssafe——dangerouslysafe。"
Sheldonretracedhissteps。
"Nevermind，"hesaid。"YoucangosailingontheMarthaanytimeyouplease——recruitingonMalaitaifyouwantto。"
Itwasagreatconcessionhewasmaking，andhefeltthathediditagainsthisbetterjudgment。Herreceptionofitwasasurprisetohim。
"WitholdKinrossincommand？"shequeried。"No，thankyou。He"ddrivemetosuicide。Icouldn"tstandhishandlingofher。Itwouldgivemenervousprostration。I"llneverstepontheMarthaagain，unlessitistotakechargeofher。I"masailor，likemyfather，andhecouldneverbeartoseeavesselmishandled。DidyouseethewayKinrossgotunderway？Itwasdisgraceful。Andthenoisehemadeaboutit!OldNoahdidbetterwiththeArk。"
"Butwemanagetogetsomewherejustthesame，"hesmiled。
"SodidNoah。"
"Thatwasthemainthing。"
"Foranantediluvian。"
ShetookanotherlingeringlookattheMartha，thenturnedtoSheldon。
"Youareaslovenlylotdownherewhenitcomestoboats——mostofyouare，anyway。ChristianYoungisallrightthough，Munsterhasaslap-dashstyleabouthim，andtheydosayoldNielsenwasacrackerjack。ButwiththerestI"veseen，there"snodash，nogo，nocleverness，norealsailor"spride。It"sallhum-drum，andpodgy，andslow-going，anygoingsolongasyougetthereheavenknowswhen。ButsomedayI"llshowyouhowtheMarthashouldbehandled。I"llbreakoutanchorandgetunderwayinaspeedandstylethatwillmakeyourheadhum；andI"llbringheralongsidethewharfatGuvutuwithoutdroppinganchorandrunningaline。"
Shecametoabreathlesspause，andthenbrokeintolaughter，directed，hecouldsee，againstherself。
"OldKinrossissettingthatfisherman"sstaysail，"heremarkedquietly。
"No!"shecriedincredulously，swiftlylooking，thenrunningforthetelescope。
Sheregardedthemanoeuvresteadilythroughtheglass，andSheldon，watchingherface，couldseethattheskipperwasnotmakingasuccessofit。
Shefinallyloweredtheglasswithagroan。
"He"smadeamessofit，"shesaid，"andnowhe"stryingitoveragain。AndamanlikethatisputinchargeofafairyliketheMartha!Well，it"sagoodargumentagainstmarriage，that"sall。
No，Iwon"tlookanymore。Comeoninandplayasteady，conservativegameofbilliardswithme。AndafterthatI"mgoingtosaddleupandgoafterpigeons。Willyoucomealong？"
Anhourlater，justastheywereridingoutofthecompound，JoanturnedinthesaddleforalastlookattheMartha，adistantspeckwellovertowardtheFloridacoast。
"Won"tTudorbesurprisedwhenhefindsweowntheMartha？"shelaughed。"Thinkofit!Ifhedoesn"tstrikepay-dirthe"llhavetobuyasteamer-passagetogetawayfromtheSolomons。"
Stilllaughinggaily，sherodethroughthegate。Butsuddenlyherlaughterbrokeflatlyandshereinedinthemare。Sheldonglancedathersharply，andnotedherfacemottling，evenashelooked，andturningorangeandgreen。
"It"sthefever，"shesaid。"I"llhavetoturnback。"
Bythetimetheywereinthecompoundshewasshiveringandshaking，andhehadtohelpherfromherhorse。
"Funny，isn"tit？"shesaidwithchatteringteeth。"Likeseasickness——notserious，buthorriblymiserablewhileitlasts。
I"mgoingtobed。SendNoaNoahandViaburitome。TellOrnfiritomakehotwater。I"llbeoutofmyheadinfifteenminutes。ButI"llbeallrightbyevening。Shortandsharpisthewayittakesme。Toobadtolosetheshooting。Thankyou，I"mallright。"
Sheldonobeyedherinstructions，rushedhot-waterbottlesalongtoher，andthensatontheverandavainlytryingtointeresthimselfinatwo-months-oldfileofSydneynewspapers。Hekeptglancingupandacrossthecompoundtothegrasshouse。Yes，hedecided，thecontentionofeverywhitemanintheislandswasright；theSolomonswasnoplaceforawoman。
Heclappedhishands，andLalaperucamerunning。
"Here，you!"heordered；"goalongbarracks，bring"mblackfellaMary，plentytoomuch，altogether。"
AfewminuteslaterthedozenblackwomenofBerandewererangedbeforehim。Helookedthemovercritically，finallyselectingonethatwasyoung，comelyassuchcreatureswent，andwhosebodyborenosignsofskin-disease。
"Whatname，you？"hedemanded。"Sangui？"
"MeMahua，"wastheanswer。
"Allright，youfellaMahua。Youfinishcookalongboys。YoustopalongwhiteMary。Allthetimeyoustopalong。Yousavvee？"
"Mesavvee，"shegrunted，andobeyedhisgesturetogotothegrasshouseimmediately。
"Whatname？"heaskedViaburi，whohadjustcomeoutofthegrasshouse。
"Bigfellasick，"wastheanswer。"WhitefellaMarytalk"mtoomuchalleetime。Alleetimetalk"mbigfellaschooner。"
Sheldonnodded。Heunderstood。ItwasthelossoftheMarthathathadbroughtonthefever。Thefeverwouldhavecomesoonerorlater，heknew；butherdisappointmenthadprecipitatedit。Helightedacigarette，andinthecurlingsmokeofitcaughtvisionsofhisEnglishmother，andwonderedifshewouldunderstandhowhersoncouldloveawomanwhocriedbecauseshecouldnotbeskipperofaschoonerinthecannibalisles。
CHAPTERXX——AMAN-TALK
Themostpatientmanintheworldispronetoimpatienceinlove——
andSheldonwasinlove。Hecalledhimselfanassascoreoftimesaday，andstrovetocontainhimselfbydirectinghismindinotherchannels，butmorethanascoreoftimeseachdayhisthoughtsrovedbackanddweltonJoan。Itwasaprettyproblemshepresented，andhewascontinuallydebatingwithhimselfastowhatwasthebestwaytoapproachher。
Hewasnotanadeptatlove-making。Hehadhadbutoneexperienceinthegentleart(inwhichhehadbeenmorewooedthanwooing)，andtheaffairhadprofitedhimlittle。Thiswasanotheraffair，andheassuredhimselfcontinuallythatitwasauniquelydifferentanddifficultaffair。Notonlywashereawomanwhowasnotbentonfindingahusband，butitwasawomanwhowasn"tawomanatall；
whowasgenuinelyappalledbythethoughtofahusband；whojoyedinboys"games，andsentimentalizedoversuchthingsasadventure；
whowashealthyandnormalandwholesome，andwhowassoimmaturethatahusbandstoodfornothingmorethananencumbranceinhercherishedschemeofexistence。
Buthowtoapproachher？Hedivinedthefanaticalloveoffreedominher，thedeep-seatedantipathyforrestraintofanysort。Nomancouldeverputhisarmaroundherandwinher。Shewouldflutterawaylikeafrightenedbird。Approachbycontact——that，herealized，wastheonethinghemustneverdo。Hishand-claspmustbewhatithadalwaysbeen，thehand-claspofheartyfriendshipandnothingmore。Neverbyactionmustheadvertisehisfeelingforher。Remainedspeech。Butwhatspeech？Appealtoherlove？Butshedidnotlovehim。Appealtoherbrain？Butitwasapparentlyaboy"sbrain。Allthedeliciousnessandfinenessofafinelybredwomanwashers；but，forallhecoulddiscern，hermentalprocessesweresexlessandboyish。Andyetspeechitmustbe，forabeginninghadtobemadesomewhere，sometime；hermindmustbemadeaccustomedtotheidea，herthoughtsturneduponthematterofmarriage。
Andsoherodeoverseeingabouttheplantation，withtightlydrawnandpuckeredbrows，puzzlingovertheproblem，andsteelinghimselftothefirstattempt。Adozenwaysheplannedanintricateleadinguptothefirstbreakingoftheice，andeachtimesomelinkinthechainsnappedandthetalkwentoffonunexpectedandirrelevantlines。Andthenonemorning，quitefortuitously，theopportunitycame。
"MydearestwishisthesuccessofBerande，"Joanhadjustsaid，aproposofadiscussionaboutthecheapeningoffreightsoncopratomarket。
"DoyoumindifItellyouthedearestwishofmyheart？"hepromptlyreturned。"Ilongforit。Idreamaboutit。Itismydearestdesire。"
Hepausedandlookedatherwithintentsignificance；butitwasplaintohimthatshethoughttherewasnothingmoreatissuethanmutualconfidencesaboutthingsingeneral。
"Yes，goahead，"shesaid，atrifleimpatientathisdelay。
"IlovetothinkofthesuccessofBerande，"hesaid；"butthatissecondary。Itissubordinatetothedearestwish，whichisthatsomedayyouwillshareBerandewithmeinacompleterwaythanthatofmerebusinesspartnership。Itisforyou，someday，whenyouareready，tobemywife。"
Shestartedbackfromhimasifshehadbeenstung。Herfacewentwhiteontheinstant，notfrommaidenlyembarrassment，butfromtheangerwhichhecouldseeflaminginhereyes。
"Thistakingforgranted!——thiswhenIamready!"shecriedpassionately。Thenhervoiceswiftlybecamecoldandsteady，andshetalkedinthewayheimaginedshemusthavetalkedbusinesswithMorganandRaffatGuvutu。"Listentome，Mr。Sheldon。I
likeyouverywell，thoughyouareslowandamuddler；butIwantyoutounderstand，onceandforall，thatIdidnotcometotheSolomonstogetmarried。ThatisanafflictionIcouldhaveaccumulatedathome，withoutsailingtenthousandmilesafterit。
Ihavemyownwaytomakeintheworld，andIcametotheSolomonstodoit。GettingmarriedisnotmakingMYwayintheworld。Itmaydoforsomewomen，butnotforme，thankyou。WhenIsitdowntotalkoverthefreightoncopra，Idon"tcaretohaveproposalsofmarriagesandwichedin。Besides——besides——"
Hervoicebrokeforthemoment，andwhenshewentontherewasanoteofappealinitthatwell-nighconvictedhimtohimselfofbeingabrute。
"Don"tyousee？——itspoilseverything；itmakesthewholesituationimpossible……and……andIsolovedourpartnership，andwasproudofit。Don"tyousee？——Ican"tgoonbeingyourpartnerifyoumakelovetome。AndIwassohappy。"
Tearsofdisappointmentwereinhereyes，andshecaughtaswiftsobinherthroat。
"Iwarnedyou，"hesaidgravely。"Suchunusualsituationsbetweenmenandwomencannotendure。Itoldyousoatthebeginning。"
"Oh，yes；itisquitecleartomewhatyoudid。"Shewasangryagain，andthefeminineappealhaddisappeared。"Youwereverydiscreetinyourwarning。YoutookgoodcaretowarnmeagainsteveryothermanintheSolomonsexceptyourself。"
ItwasablowinthefacetoSheldon。Hesmartedwiththetruthofit，andatthesametimehesmartedwithwhathewasconvincedwastheinjusticeofit。Agleamoftriumphthatflickeredinhereyebecauseofthehitshehadmadedecidedhim。
"Itisnotsoone-sidedasyouseemtothinkitis，"hebegan。"I
wasdoingverynicelyonBerandebeforeyoucame。AtleastIwasnotsufferingindignities，suchasbeingaccusedofcowardlyconduct，asyouhavejustaccusedme。Remember——pleaseremember，I
didnotinviteyoutoBerande。NordidIinviteyoutostayonatBerande。Itwasbystayingthatyoubroughtaboutthis——toyou——
unpleasantsituation。Bystayingyoumadeyourselfatemptation，andnowyouwouldblamemeforit。Ididnotwantyoutostay。I
wasn"tinlovewithyouthen。IwantedyoutogotoSydney；togobacktoHawaii。Butyouinsistedonstaying。Youvirtually——"
Hepausedforasofterwordthantheonethathadrisentohislips，andshetookitawayfromhim。
"Forcedmyselfonyou——that"swhatyoumeanttosay，"shecried，theflagsofbattlepaintinghercheeks。"Goahead。Don"tmindmyfeelings。"
"Allright；Iwon"t，"hesaiddecisively，realizingthatthediscussionwasindangerofbecomingavituperative，schoolboyargument。"Youhaveinsistedonbeingconsideredasaman。
Consistencywoulddemandthatyoutalklikeaman，andlikeamanlistentoman-talk。Andlistenyoushall。Itisnotyourfaultthatthisunpleasantnesshasarisen。Idonotblameyouforanything；rememberthat。Andforthesamereasonyoushouldnotblamemeforanything。"
Henoticedherbosomheavingasshesatwithclenchedhands，anditwasallhecoulddotoconquerthedesiretoflashhisarmsoutandaroundherinsteadofgoingonwithhiscoollyplannedcampaign。
Asitwas，henearlytoldherthatshewasamostadorableboy。
Buthecheckedallsuchwaywardfancies，andheldhimselfrigidlydowntohisdisquisition。
"Youcan"thelpbeingyourself。Youcan"thelpbeingaverydesirablecreaturesofarasIamconcerned。Youhavemademewantyou。Youdidn"tintendto；youdidn"ttryto。Youweresomade，thatisall。AndIwassomadethatIwasripetowantyou。ButI
can"thelpbeingmyself。Ican"tbyaneffortofwillceasefromwantingyou，anymorethanyoubyaneffortofwillcanmakeyourselfundesirabletome。"
"Oh，thisdesire!thiswant!want!want!"shebrokeinrebelliously。"Iamnotquiteafool。Iunderstandsomethings。
Andthewholethingissofoolishandabsurd——anduncomfortable。I
wishIcouldgetawayfromit。IreallythinkitwouldbeagoodideaformetomarryNoaNoah，orAdamuAdam，orLalaperuthere，oranyblackboy。ThenIcouldgivehimorders，andkeephimpennedawayfromme；andmenlikeyouwouldleavemealone，andnottalkmarriageand"Iwant，Iwant。""
Sheldonlaughedinspiteofhimself，andfarfromanygenuineimpulsetolaugh。
"Youarepositivelysoulless，"hesaidsavagely。
"BecauseI"veasoulthatdoesn"tyearnforamanformaster？"shetookupthegage。"Verywell，then。Iamsoulless，andwhatareyougoingtodoaboutit？"
"Iamgoingtoaskyouwhyyoulooklikeawoman？Whyhaveyoutheformofawoman？thelipsofawoman？thewonderfulhairofawoman？AndIamgoingtoanswer:becauseyouareawoman——thoughthewomaninyouisasleep——andthatsomedaythewomanwillwakeup。"
"Heavenforbid!"shecried，insuchsuddenandgenuinedismayastomakehimlaugh，andtobringasmiletoherownlipsagainstherself。
"I"vegotsomemoretosaytoyou，"Sheldonpursued。"IdidtrytoprotectyoufromeveryothermanintheSolomons，andfromyourselfaswell。Asforme，Ididn"tdreamthatdangerlayinthatquarter。SoIfailedtoprotectyoufrommyself。Ifailedtoprotectyouatall。Youwentyourownwilfulway，justasthoughI
didn"texist——wreckingschooners，recruitingonMalaita，andsailingschooners；onelone，unprotectedgirlinthecompanyofsomeoftheworstscoundrelsintheSolomons。Fowler!andBrahms!
andCurtis!Andsuchistheperversenessofhumannature——Iamfrank，yousee——Iloveyouforthattoo。Iloveyouforallofyou，justasyouare。"
Shemadeamoueofdistasteandraisedahandprotestingly。
"Don"t，"hesaid。"Youhavenorighttorecoilfromthementionofmyloveforyou。Rememberthisisaman-talk。Fromthepointofviewofthetalk，youareaman。Thewomaninyouisonlyincidental，accidental，andirrelevant。You"vegottolistentothebaldstatementoffact，strangethoughitis，thatIloveyou。"
"AndnowIwon"tbotheryouanymoreaboutlove。We"llgoonthesameasbefore。YouarebetteroffandsaferonBerande，inspiteofthefactthatIloveyou，thananywhereelseintheSolomons。
ButIwantyou，asafinalitemofman-talk，toremember，fromtimetotime，thatIloveyou，andthatitwillbethedearestdayofmylifewhenyouconsenttomarryme。Iwantyoutothinkofitsometimes。Youcan"thelpbutthinkofitsometimes。Andnowwewon"ttalkaboutitanymore。Asbetweenmen，there"smyhand。"
Heheldouthishand。Shehesitated，thengrippeditheartily，andsmiledthroughhertears。
"Iwish——"shefaltered，"Iwish，insteadofthatblackMary，you"dgivenmesomebodytoswearforme。"
Andwiththisenigmaticutterancesheturnedaway。
CHAPTERXXI——CONTRABAND
Sheldondidnotmentionthesubjectagain，nordidhisconductchangefromwhatithadalwaysbeen。Therewasnothingofthepininglover，noroftheloveratall，inhisdemeanour。Norwasthereanyawkwardnessbetweenthem。Theywereasfrankandfriendlyintheirrelationsasever。Hehadwonderedifhisbelligerentlovedeclarationmighthavearousedsomewomanlyself-
consciousnessinJoan，buthelookedinvainforanysignofit。
Sheappearedasunchangedashe；andwhileheknewthathehidhisrealfeelings，hewasfirminhisbeliefthatshehidnothing。Andyetthegermhehadimplantedmustbeatwork；hewasconfidentofthat，thoughhewaswithoutconfidenceastotheresult。Therewasnoforecastingthisstrangegirl"sprocesses。Shemightawaken，itwastrue；andontheotherhand，andwithequalchance，hemightbethewrongmanforher，andhisdeclarationoflovemightonlymorefirmlysetherinherviewsonsingleblessedness。
Whilehedevotedmoreandmoreofhistimetotheplantationitself，shetookoverthehouseanditsmultitudinousaffairs；andshetookholdfirmly，insailorfashion，revolutionizingthesystemanddiscipline。ThelaboursituationonBerandewasimproving。
TheMarthahadcarriedawayfiftyoftheblackswhosetimewasup，andtheyhadbeenamongtheworstontheplantation——five-yearmenrecruitedbyBillyBe-blowed，menwhohadgonethroughtheolddaysofterrorismwhentheoriginalownersofBerandehadbeendrivenaway。Thenewrecruits，beingbrokeninunderthenewregime，gavebetterpromise。JoanhadjoinedwithSheldonfromthestartintheprogrammethattheymustbegrippedwiththestronghand，andatthesametimebetreatedwithabsolutejustice，iftheyweretoescapebeingcontaminatedbytheolderboysthatstillremained。
"Ithinkitwouldbeagoodideatoputallthegangsatworkclosetothehousethisafternoon，"sheannouncedonedayatbreakfast。
"I"vecleanedupthehouse，andyououghttocleanupthebarracks。
Thereistoomuchstealinggoingon。"
"Agoodidea，"Sheldonagreed。"Theirboxesshouldbesearched。
I"vejustmissedacoupleofshirts，andmybesttoothbrushisgone。"
"Andtwoboxesofmycartridges，"sheadded，"tosaynothingofhandkerchiefs，towels，sheets，andmybestpairofslippers。ButwhattheywantwithyourtoothbrushismorethanIcanimagine。
They"llbestealingthebilliardballsnext。"
"Onediddisappearafewweeksbeforeyoucame，"Sheldonlaughed。
"We"llsearchtheboxesthisafternoon。"
Andabusyafternoonitwas。JoanandSheldon，botharmed，wentthroughthebarracks，housebyhouse，theboss-boysassisting，andhalfadozenmessengers，inrelay，shoutingalongthelinethenamesoftheboyswanted。Eachboybroughtthekeytohisparticularbox，andwaspermittedtolookonwhilethecontentswereoverhauledbytheboss-boys。
Awealthoflootwasrecovered。Therewerefullyadozencane-
knives——bighackingweaponswithrazor-edges，capableofdecapitatingamanatastroke。Towels，sheets，shirts，andslippers，alongwithtoothbrushes，wisp-brooms，soap，themissingbilliardball，andallthelostandforgottentriflesofmanymonths，cametolight。Butmostastonishingwasthequantityofammunition-cartridgesforLee-Metfords，forWinchestersandMarlins，forrevolversfromthirty-twocalibretoforty-five，shot-
guncartridges，Joan"stwoboxesofthirty-eight，cartridgesofprodigiousborefortheancientSnidersofMalaita，flasksofblackpowder，sticksofdynamite，yardsoffuse，andboxesofdetonators。
ButthegreatfindwasinthehouseoccupiedbyGogoomyandfivePortAdamsrecruits。ThefactthattheboxesyieldednothingexcitedSheldon"ssuspicions，andhegaveorderstodiguptheearthenfloor。Wrappedinmatting，welloiled，freefromrust，andbrandnew，twoWinchesterswerefirstunearthed。Sheldondidnotrecognizethem。TheyhadnotcomefromBerande；neitherhadthefortyflasksofblackpowderfoundunderthecorner-postofthehouse；andwhilehecouldnotbesure，hecouldremembernolossofeightboxesofdetonators。AbigColt"srevolverherecognizedasHughieDrummond"s；whileJoanidentifiedathirty-twoIvorandJohnsonasalossreportedbyMatapuuthefirstweekhelandedatBerande。TheabsenceofanycartridgesmadeSheldonpersistinthediggingupofthefloor，andafifty-poundflourtinwashisreward。WithgloweringeyesGogoomylookedonwhileSheldontookfromthetinahundredroundseachforthetwoWinchestersandfullyasmanyroundsmoreofnondescriptcartridgesofallsortsandmakesandcalibres。
Thecontrabandandstolenpropertywaspiledinassortedheapsonthebackverandaofthebungalow。Afewpacesfromthebottomofthestepsweregroupedtheforty-oddculprits，withbehindthem，insolidarray，theseveralhundredblacksoftheplantation。AttheheadofthestepsJoanandSheldonwereseated，whileonthestepsstoodthegang-bosses。Onebyonetheculpritswerecalledupandexamined。Nothingdefinitecouldbeextractedfromthem。Theyliedtransparently，butpersistently，andwhencaughtinonelieexplaineditawaywithhalfadozenothers。Oneboycomplacentlyannouncedthathehadfoundelevensticksofdynamiteonthebeach。
Matapuu"srevolver，foundintheboxofoneKapu，wasexplainedawaybythatboyashavingbeengiventohimbyLervumie。
Lervumie，calledforthtotestify，saidhehadgotitfromNoni；
NonihadgotitfromSulefatoi；SulefatoifromChoka；ChokafromNgava；andNgavacompletedthecirclebystatingthatithadbeengiventohimbyKapu。Kapu，thusdoublydamned，calmlygavefulldetailsofhowithadbeengiventohimbyLervumie；andLervumie，withequalwealthofdetail，toldhowhehadreceiveditfromNoni；
andfromNonitoSulefatoiitwentonaroundthecircleagain。
Diversarticlesweretracedindubitablytothehouse-boys，eachofwhomsteadfastlyproclaimedhisowninnocenceandcastdoubtsonhisfellows。Theboywiththebilliardballsaidthathehadneverseenitinhislifebefore，andhazardedthesuggestionthatithadgotintohisboxthroughsomemysteriousandoccultlyevilagency。
Sofarashewasconcerneditmighthavedroppeddownfromheavenforallheknewhowitgotthere。Tothecooksandboats"-crewsofeveryvesselthathaddroppedanchoroffBerandeinthepastseveralyearswereascribedthearrivalofscoresofthestolenarticlesandofthemajorportionoftheammunition。Therewasnotracingthetruthinanyofit，thoughitwaswithoutdoubtthattheunidentifiedweaponsandunfamiliarcartridgeshadcomeashoreoffvisitingcraft。
"Lookatit，"SheldonsaidtoJoan。"We"vebeensleepingoveravolcano。Theyoughttobewhipped——"
"Nowhipme，"Gogoomycriedoutfrombelow。"Fatherbelongmebigfellachief。Mewhip，toomuchtroublealongyou，closeup，myword。"
"WhatnameyoufellaGogoomy!"Sheldonshouted。"Iknocksevenbellsoutofyou。Here，youKwaque，put"mironsalongthatfellaGogoomy。"
Kwaque，astrappinggang-boss，pluckedGogoomyfromoutofhisfollowing，and，helpedbytheothergang-bosses；twistedhisarmsbehindhimandsnappedontheheavyhandcuffs。
"Mefinishalongyou，closeup，youdiealtogether，"Gogoomy，withwrath-distortedface，threatenedtheboss-boy。
"Please，nowhipping，"Joansaidinalowvoice。"IfwhippingIS
necessary，sendthemtoTulagiandlettheGovernmentdoit。Givethemtheirchoicebetweenafineoranofficialwhipping。"
Sheldonnoddedandstoodup，facingtheblacks。
"Manonmie!"hecalled。
Manonmiestoodforthandwaited。
"Youfellaboybadfellatoomuch，"Sheldoncharged。"Yousteal"mplenty。Yousteal"monefellatowel，onefellacane-knife，two-
tenfellacartridge。Myword，plentybadfellasteal"myou。Mecrossalongyoutoomuch。S"poseyoulike"m，metake"monefellapoundalongyouinbigbook。S"poseyounolike"mmetake"monefellapound，thenmesendyoufellaalongTulagicatch"monestrongfellagovernmentwhipping。PlentyNewGeorgiaboys，plentyYsabelboysstopalongjailalongTulagi。ThemfellanolikeMalaitaboyslittlebit。Myword，theygive"myoustrongfellawhipping。Whatyousay？"
"Youtake"monefellapoundalongme，"wastheanswer。
AndManonmie，patentlyrelieved，steppedback，whileSheldonenteredthefineintheplantationlabourjournal。
Boyafterboy，hecalledtheoffendersoutandgavethemtheirchoice；and，boybyboy，eachoneelectedtopaythefineimposed。
Somefineswereaslowasseveralshillings；whileinthemoreseriouscases，suchastheftsofgunsandammunition，thefineswerecorrespondinglyheavy。
Gogoomyandhisfivetribesmenwerefinedthreepoundseach，andatGogoomy"sgutturalcommandtheyrefusedtopay。
"S"poseyougoalongTulagi，"Sheldonwarnedhim，"youcatch"mstrongfellawhippingandyoustopalongjailthreefellayear。
Mr。Burnett，helook"malongWinchester，look"malongcartridge，look"malongrevolver，look"malongblackpowder，look"malongdynamite——myword，hecrosstoomuch，hegiveyouthreefellayearalongjail。S"poseyounolike"mpaythreefellapoundyoustopalongjail。Savvee？"
Gogoomywavered。
"It"strue——that"swhatBurnettwouldgivethem，"SheldonsaidinanasidetoJoan。
"Youtake"mthreefellapoundalongme，"Gogoomymuttered，atthesametimescowlinghishatredatSheldon，andtransferringhalfthescowltoJoanandKwaque。"Mefinishalongyou，youcatch"mbigfellatrouble，myword。FatherbelongmebigfellachiefalongPortAdams。"
"Thatwilldo，"Sheldonwarnedhim。"Youshutmouthbelongyou。"
"Menofright，"thesonofachiefretorted，byhisinsolenceincreasinghisstatureintheeyesofhisfellows。
"Lockhimupforto-night，"SheldonsaidtoKwaque。"Sunhecomeupput"mthatfellaandfivefellabelonghimalonggrass-cutting。
Savvee？"
Kwaquegrinned。
"Mesavvee，"hesaid。"Cut"mgrass，ngari-ngari{4}stop"malonggrass。Myword!"
"TherewillbetroublewithGogoomyyet，"SheldonsaidtoJoan，astheboss-boysmarshalledtheirgangsandledthemawaytotheirwork。"Keepaneyeonhim。Becarefulwhenyouareridingaloneontheplantation。ThelossofthoseWinchestersandallthatammunitionhashithimharderthanyourcuffingdid。Heisdead-
ripeformischief。"
CHAPTERXXII——GOGOOMYFINISHESALONGKWAQUEALTOGETHER
"IwonderwhathasbecomeofTudor。It"stwomonthssincehedisappearedintothebush，andnotawordofhimafterheleftBinu。"
JoanLacklandwassittingastrideherhorsebythebankoftheBalesunawherethesweetcornhadbeenplanted，andSheldon，whohadcomeacrossfromthehouseonfoot，wasleaningagainstherhorse"sshoulder。
"Yes，itisalongtimefornonewstohavetrickleddown，"heanswered，watchingherkeenlyfromunderhishat-brimandwonderingastothemeasureofheranxietyfortheadventurousgold-hunter；
"butTudorwillcomeoutallright。HedidathingatthestartthatIwouldn"thavegivenhimoranyothermancreditfor——
persuadedBinuCharleytogoalongwithhim。I"llwagernootherBinuniggerhasevergonesofarintothebushunlesstobekai-
kai"d。AsforTudor——"
"Look!look!"Joancriedinalowvoice，pointingacrossthenarrowstreamtoaslackeddywhereahugecrocodiledriftedlikealogawash。"My!IwishIhadmyrifle。"
Thecrocodile，leavingscarcelyaripplebehind，sankdownanddisappeared。
"ABinumanwasinearlythismorning——formedicine，"Sheldonremarked。"Itmayhavebeenthatverybrutethatwasresponsible。
AdozenoftheBinuwomenwereout，andtheforemostonesteppedrightonabigcrocodile。Itwasbytheedgeofthewater，andhetumbledheroverandgotherbytheleg。Alltheotherwomengotholdofherandpulled。Andinthetugofwarshelostherleg，belowtheknee，hesaid。Igavehimastockofantiseptics。
She"llpullthrough，Ifancy。"
"Ugh——thefilthybeasts，"Joangulpedshudderingly。"Ihatethem!
Ihatethem!"
"Andyetyougodivingamongsharks，"Sheldonchided。
"They"reonlyfish-sharks。Andaslongasthereareplentyoffishthereisnodanger。Itisonlywhenthey"refamishedthatthey"reliabletotakeabite。"
Sheldonshudderedinwardlyattheswiftvisionthataroseofthedaintyfleshofherinashark"smany-toothedmaw。
"Iwishyouwouldn"t，justthesame，"hesaidslowly。"Youacknowledgethereisarisk。"
"Butthat"shalfthefunofit，"shecried。
Atriteplatitudeabouthisnotcaringtoloseherwasonhislips，butherefrainedfromutteringit。Anotherconclusionhehadarrivedatwasthatshewasnottobenagged。Continual，orevenoccasional，remindersofhisfeelingforherwouldconstituteatacticalerrorofnomeandimensions。
"Someforthebookofverse，someforthesimplelife，andsomefortheshark"sbelly，"helaughedgrimly，thenadded:"Justthesame，IwishIcouldswimaswellasyou。Maybeitwouldbegetconfidencesuchasyouhave。"
"Doyouknow，Ithinkitwouldbenicetobemarriedtoamansuchasyouseemtobebecoming，"sheremarked，withoneofherabruptchangesthatalwaysastoundedhim。"Ishouldthinkyoucouldbetrainedintoaverygoodhusband——youknow，notoneofthedomineeringkind，butonewhoconsideredhiswifewasjustasmuchanindividualashimselfandjustasmuchafreeagent。Really，youknow，Ithinkyouareimproving。"
Shelaughedandrodeaway，leavinghimgreatlycastdown。Ifhehadthoughttherehadbeenonebitofcoynessinherwords，onefeminineflutter，onewomanlyattemptatdeliberatelureandencouragement，hewouldhavebeenelated。Butheknewabsolutelythatitwastheboy，andnotthewoman，whohadsodaringlyspoken。
Joanrodeonamongtheavenuesofyoungcocoanut-palms，sawahornbill，followeditinitserraticflightstothehighforestontheedgeoftheplantation，heardthecooingofwildpigeonsandlocatedtheminthedeeperwoods，followedthefreshtrailofawildpigforadistance，circledback，andtookthenarrowpathforthebungalowthatranthroughtwentyacresofunclearedcane。Thegrasswaswaist-highandhigher，andassherodealongsherememberedthatGogoomywasoneofagangofboysthathadbeendetailedtothegrass-cutting。Shecametowheretheyhadbeenatwork，butsawnosignsofthem。Herunshodhorsemadenosoundonthesoft，sandyfooting，andalittlefurtheronsheheardvoicesproceedingfromoutofthegrass。Shereinedinandlistened。ItwasGogoomytalking，andasshelistenedshegrippedherbridle-
reintightlyandawaveofangerpassedoverher。
"Doghestop"malonghouse，night-timehewalkabout，"Gogoomywassaying，perforceinbeche-de-merEnglish，becausehewastalkingtoothersbesidehisowntribesmen。"Youfellaboycatch"monefellapig，put"mkai-kaibelonghimalongbigfellafish-hook。S"posedoghewalkaboutcatch"mkai-kai，youfellaboycatch"mdogalleesameoneshark。Doghefinishcloseup。Bigfellamarstersleepalongbigfellahouse。WhiteMarysleepalongpickaninnyhouse。OnefellaAdamuhestopalongoutsidepickaninnyhouse。
Youfellaboyfinish"mdog，finish"mAdamu，finish"mbigfellamarster，finish"mWhiteMary，finish"emaltogether。Plentymuskethestop，plentypowder，plentytomahawk，plentyknife-fee，plentyporpoiseteeth，plentytobacco，plentycalico——myword，toomuchplentyeverythingwetake"malongwhale-boat，washee{5}likehell，sunhecomeupwelongwaytoomuch。"
"Mecatch"mpigsunhegodown，"spokeuponewhosethinfalsettovoiceJoanrecognizedasbelongingtoCosse，oneofGogoomy"stribesmen。
"Mecatch"mdog，"saidanother。
"Andmecatch"mwhitefellaMary，"Gogoomycriedtriumphantly。
"Mecatch"mKwaquehediealonghimdamnquick。"
ThismuchJoanheardoftheplantomurder，andthenherrisingwrathprovedtoomuchforherdiscretion。Shespurredherhorseintothegrass，crying，-
"Whatnameyoufellaboy，eh？Whatname？"
Theyarose，scramblingandscattering，andtohersurpriseshesawtherewereadozenofthem。Asshelookedintheirgloweringfacesandnotedtheheavy，two-foot，hackingcane-knivesintheirhands，shebecamesuddenlyawareoftherashnessofheract。Ifonlyshehadhadherrevolverorarifle，allwouldhavebeenwell。Butshehadcarelesslyventuredoutunarmed，andshefollowedtheglanceofGogoomytoherwaistandsawthepleasedflashinhiseyesasheperceivedtheabsenceofthedreadfulman-killingrevolver。
ThefirstarticleintheSolomonIslandscodeforwhitemenwasnevertoshowfearbeforeanative，andJoantriedtocarryoffthesituationincavalierfashion。
"Toomuchtalkalongyoufellaboy，"shesaidseverely。"Toomuchtalk，toolittlework。Savvee？"
Gogoomymadenoreply，but，apparentlyshiftingweight，heslidonefootforward。Theotherboys，spreadfan-wiseabouther，werealsoslidingforward，thecruelcane-knivesintheirhandsadvertisingtheirintention。
"Youcut"mgrass!"shecommandedimperatively。
ButGogoomyslidhisotherfootforward。Shemeasuredthedistancewithhereye。Itwouldbeimpossibletowhirlherhorsearoundandgetaway。Shewouldbechoppeddownfrombehind。
Andinthattensemomentthefacesofallofthemwereimprintedonhermindinanunforgettablepicture——oneofthem，anoldman，withtornanddistendedear-lobesthatfelltohischest；another，withthebroadflattenednoseofAfrica，andwithwitheredeyessoburiedunderfrowningbrowsthatnothingbutthesickly，yellowish-
lookingwhitescouldbeseen；athird，thick-lippedandbeardedwithkinkywhiskers；andGogoomy——shehadneverrealizedbeforehowhandsomeGogoomywasinhismutinousandobstinatewild-animalway。
Therewasaprimitivearistocraticnessabouthimthathisfellowslacked。Thelinesofhisfigureweremoreroundedthantheirs，theskinsmooth，welloiled，andfreefromdisease。Onhischest，suspendedfromasinglestringofporpoise-teetharoundhisthroat，hungabigcrescentcarvedoutofopalescentpearl-shell。Arowofpurewhitecowrieshellsbandedhisbrow。Fromhishairdroopedalong，lonefeather。Abovetheswellingcalfofoneleghewore，asagarter，asinglestringofwhitebeads。Theeffectwasdandyishintheextreme。Anarrowgee-stringcompletedhiscostume。
Anothermanshesaw，oldandshrivelled，withpuckeredforeheadandapuckeredfacethattrembledandworkedwithanimalpassionasinthepastshehadnoticedthefacesofmonkeystrembleandwork。
"Gogoomy，"shesaidsharply，"younocut"mgrass，myword，Ibang"mheadbelongyou。"
Hisexpressionbecameatriflemoredisdainful，buthedidnotanswer。Instead，hestoleaglancetorightandlefttomarkhowhisfellowswereclosingabouther。Atthesamemomenthecasuallyslippedhisfootforwardthroughthegrassforamatterofseveralinches。
Joanwaskeenlyawareofthedesperatenessofthesituation。Theonlywayoutwasthrough。Sheliftedherriding-whipthreateningly，andatthesamemomentdroveinbothspurswithherheels，rushingthestartledhorsestraightatGogoomy。Itallhappenedinaninstant。Everycane-knifewaslifted，andeveryboysaveGogoomyleapedforher。Heswervedasidetoavoidthehorse，atthesametimeswinginghiscane-knifeinaslicingblowthatwouldhavecutherintwain。Sheleanedforwardundertheflyingsteel，whichcutthroughherriding-skirt，throughtheedgeofthesaddle，throughthesaddlecloth，andevenslightlyintothehorseitself。Herrighthand，stillraised，camedown，thethinwhipwhishingthroughtheair。Shesawthewhite，cookedmarkofthewealclearacrossthesullen，handsomeface，andstillwhatwaspracticallyinthesameinstantshesawthemanwiththepuckeredface，overridden，godownbeforeher，andsheheardhissnarlingandgrimacingchatter-foralltheworldlikeanangrymonkey。Thenshewasfreeandaway，headingthehorseattopspeedforthehouse。
Outofhersea-trainingshewasabletoappreciateSheldon"sexecutivenesswhensheburstinonhimwithhernews。Springingfromthesteamer-chairinwhichhehadbeenloungingwhilewaitingforbreakfast，heclappedhishandsforthehouse-boys；and，whilelisteningtoher，hewasbucklingonhiscartridge-beltandrunningthemechanismofhisautomaticpistol。
"Ornfiri，"hesnappedouthisorders，"youfellaringbigfellabellstrongfellaplenty。Youfinish"mbell，youput"msaddleonhorse。Viaburi，yougoquickhousebelongSeeleehestop，tell"mplentyblackfellarunaway——tenfellatwofellablackfellaboy。"
HescribbledanoteandhandedittoLalaperu。"Lalaperu，yougoquickhousebelongwhitefellaMarsterBoucher。"
"Thatwillheadthembackfromthecoastonbothsides，"heexplainedtoJoan。"AndoldSeeleewillturnhiswholevillagelooseontheirtrackaswell。"
Inresponsetothesummonsofthebigbell，Joan"sTahitianswerethefirsttoarrive，bytheirglisteningbodiesandpantingchestsshowingthattheyhadrunalltheway。Someofthefarthest-placedgangswouldbenearlyanhourinarriving。
SheldonproceededtoarmJoan"ssailorsanddealoutammunitionandhandcuffs。AdamuAdam，withloadedrifle，heplacedonguardoverthewhale-boats。NoaNoah，aidedbyMatapuu，wereinstructedtotakechargeoftheworking-gangsasfastastheycamein，tokeepthemamused，andtoguardagainsttheirbeingstampededintomakingabreakthemselves。ThefiveotherTahitiansweretofollowJoanandSheldononfoot。
"I"mgladweunearthedthatarsenaltheotherday，"Sheldonremarkedastheyrodeoutofthecompoundgate。
Ahundredyardsawaytheyencounteredoneoftheclearinggangscomingin。ItwasKwaque"sgang，butSheldonlookedinvainforhim。
"WhatnamethatfellaKwaquehenostopalongyou？"hedemanded。
Ababelofexcitedvoicesattemptedananswer。
"Shut"mmouthbelongyoualtogether，"Sheldoncommanded。
Hespokeroughly，livinguptotheroleofthewhitemanwhomustalwaysbestronganddominant。
"Here，youfellaBabatani，youtalk"mmouthbelongyou。"
Babatanisteppedforwardinalltheprideofonesingledoutfromamonghisfellows。
"GogoomyhefinishalongKwaquealtogether，"wasBabatani"sexplanation。"Hetake"mheadb"longhimrunlikehell。"
Inbriefwords，andwithpaucityofimagination，hedescribedthemurder，andSheldonandJoanrodeon。Inthegrass，whereJoanhadbeenattacked，theyfoundthelittleshrivelledman，stillchatteringandgrimacing，whomJoanhadriddendown。Themarehadplungedonhisankle，completelycrushingit，andahundredyards"
crawlhadconvincedhimofthefutilityofescape。Tothelastclearing-gang，fromthefarthestedgeoftheplantation，wasgiventhetaskofcarryinghimintothehouse。
Amilefartheron，wheretherunaways"trailledstraighttowardthebush，theyencounteredthebodyofKwaque。Theheadhadbeenhackedoffandwasmissing，andSheldontookitonfaiththatthebodywasKwaque"s。Hehadevidentlyputupafight，forabloodytrailledawayfromthebody。
Oncetheywerewellintothethickbushthehorseshadtobeabandoned。Papeharawasleftinchargeofthem，whileJoanandSheldonandtheremainingTahitianspushedaheadonfoot。Thewayleddownthroughaswampyhollow，whichwasoverflowedbytheBerandeRiveronoccasion，andwheretheredtrailofthemurdererswascrossedbyacrocodile"strail。Theyhadapparentlycaughtthecreatureasleepinthesunanddesistedlongenoughfromtheirflighttohackhimtopieces。Herethewoundedmanhadsatdownandwaiteduntiltheywerereadytogoon。
Anhourlater，followingalongawild-pigtrail，Sheldonsuddenlyhalted。Thebloodytrackshadceased。TheTahitianscastoutinthebushoneitherside，andacryfromUtamiapprisedthemofafind。JoanwaitedtillSheldoncameback。
"It"sMauko，"hesaid。"Kwaquedidforhim，andhecrawledinthereanddied。That"stwoaccountedfor。Therearetenmore。
Don"tyouthinkyou"vegotenoughofit？"
Shenodded。
"Itisn"tnice，"shesaid。"I"llgobackandwaitforyouwiththehorses。"
"Butyoucan"tgoalone。Taketwoofthemen。"
"ThenI"llgoon，"shesaid。"Itwouldbefoolishtoweakenthepursuit，andIamcertainlynottired。"
ThetrailbenttotherightasthoughtherunawayshadchangedtheirmindandheadedfortheBalesuna。Butthetrailstillcontinuedtobendtotherighttillitpromisedtomakealoop，andthepointofintersectionseemedtobetheedgeoftheplantationwherethehorseshadbeenleft。Crossingoneofthequietjunglespaces，wherenaughtmovedbutavelvety，twelve-inchbutterfly，theyheardthesoundofshots。
"Eight，"Joancounted。"Itwasonlyonegun。ItmustbePapehara。"
Theyhurriedon，butwhentheyreachedthespottheywereindoubt。
Thetwohorsesstoodquietlytethered，andPapehara，squattedonhishams，washavingapeacefulsmoke。Advancingtowardhim，Sheldontrippedonabodythatlayinthegrass，andashesavedhimselffromfallinghiseyeslightedonasecond。Joanrecognizedthisone。ItwasCosse，oneofGogoomy"stribesmen，theonewhohadpromisedtocatchatsunsetthepigthatwastohavebaitedthehookforSatan。
"Noluck，Missie，"wasPapehara"sgreeting，accompaniedbyadisconsolateshakeofthehead。"Catchonlytwoboy。IhavegoodshotatGogoomy，onlyImiss。"
"Butyoukilledthem，"Joanchided。"Youmustcatchthemalive。"
TheTahitiansmiled。
"How？"hequeried。"Iamhaveasmoke。IthinkaboutTahiti，andbreadfruit，andjollygoodtimeatBoraBora。Quick，justlikethat，tenboyherunoutofbushforme。Eachboyhavelongknife。
Gogoomyhavelongknifeonehand，andKwaque"sheadinotherhand。
Inostoptocatch"malive。Ishootlikehell。Howyoucatch"malive，tenboy，tenlongknife，andKwaque"shead？"
Thescatteredpathsofthedifferentboys，wheretheybrokebackafterthedisastrousattempttorushtheTahitian，soonledtogether。TheytracedittotheBerande，whichtherunawayshadcrossedwiththeclearintentionofburyingthemselvesinthehugemangroveswampthatlaybeyond。
"Thereisnouseourgoinganyfarther，"Sheldonsaid。"Seeleewillturnouthisvillageandhuntthemoutofthat。They"llnevergetpasthim。Allwecandoistoguardthecoastandkeepthemfrombreakingbackontheplantationandrunningamuck。Ah，I
thoughtso。"
Againstthejunglegloomofthefarthershore，comingfromdownstream，asmallcanoeglided。Sosilentlydiditmovethatitwasmorelikeanapparition。Threenakedblacksdippedwithnoiselesspaddles。Long-hafted，slender，bone-barbedthrowing-spearslayalongthegunwaleofthecanoe，whileaquiverfulofarrowshungoneachman"sback。Theeyesoftheman-huntersmissednothing。TheyhadseenSheldonandJoanfirst，buttheygavenosign。WhereGogoomyandhisfollowershademergedfromtheriver，thecanoeabruptlystopped，thenturnedanddisappearedintothedeepermangrovegloom。Asecondandathirdcanoecamearoundthebendfrombelow，glidedghostliketothecrossingoftherunaways，andvanishedinthemangroves。
"Ihopetherewon"tbeanymorekilling，"Joansaid，astheyturnedtheirhorseshomeward。
"Idon"tthinkso，"Sheldonassuredher。"MyunderstandingwitholdSeeleeisthatheispaidonlyforliveboys；soheisverycareful。"