adventure-第15章

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't　he　bite　you？　　He　savvee　you　Tahitian　eh？〃

Noa　Noah　shook　his　head　and　grinned。

〃He　no　savvee　me　Tahitian；〃　he　explained。　　〃He　savvee　me　wear　pants　all　the　same　white　man。〃

〃You'll　have　to　give　him　a　course　in　'Sartor　Resartus；'〃　Sheldon　laughed；　as　he　came　down　and　began　to　make　friends　with　Satan。

It　chanced　just　then　that　Adamu　Adam　and　Matauare；　two　of　Joan's　sailors；　entered　the　compound　from　the　far　side…gate。　　They　had　been　down　to　the　Balesuna　making　an　alligator　trap；　and；　instead　of　trousers；　were　clad　in　lava…lavas　that　flapped　gracefully　about　their　stalwart　limbs。　　Satan　saw　them；　and　advertised　his　find　by　breaking　away　from　Sheldon's　hands　and　charging。

〃No　got　pants；〃　Noah　announced　with　a　grin　that　broadened　as　Adamu　Adam　took　to　flight。

He　climbed　up　the　platform　that　supported　the　galvanized　iron　tanks　which　held　the　water　collected　from　the　roof。　　Foiled　here；　Satan　turned　and　charged　back　on　Matauare。

〃Run；　Matauare！　　Run！〃　Joan　called。

But　he　held　his　ground　and　waited　the　dog。

〃He　is　the　Fearless　Onethat　is　what　his　name　means；〃　Joan　explained　to　Sheldon。

The　Tahitian　watched　Satan　coolly；　and　when　that　sanguine…mouthed　creature　lifted　into　the　air　in　the　final　leap；　the　man's　hand　shot　out。　　It　was　a　fair　grip　on　the　lower　jaw；　and　Satan　described　a　half　circle　and　was　flung　to　the　rear；　turning　over　in　the　air　and　falling　heavily　on　his　back。　　Three　times　he　leaped；　and　three　times　that　grip　on　his　jaw　flung　him　to　defeat。　　Then　he　contented　himself　with　trotting　at　Matauare's　heels；　eyeing　him　and　sniffing　him　suspiciously。

〃It's　all　right；　Satan；　it's　all　right；〃　Sheldon　assured　him。　〃That　good　fella　belong　along　me。〃

But　Satan　dogged　the　Tahitian's　movements　for　a　full　hour　before　he　made　up　his　mind　that　the　man　was　an　appurtenance　of　the　place。　Then　he　turned　his　attention　to　the　three　house…boys；　cornering　Ornfiri　in　the　kitchen　and　rushing　him　against　the　hot　stove；　stripping　the　lava…lava　from　Lalaperu　when　that　excited　youth　climbed　a　veranda…post；　and　following　Viaburi　on　top　the　billiard…　table；　where　the　battle　raged　until　Joan　managed　a　rescue。



CHAPTER　IXAS　BETWEEN　A　MAN　AND　A　WOMAN



It　was　Satan's　inexhaustible　energy　and　good　spirits　that　most　impressed　them。　　His　teeth　seemed　perpetually　to　ache　with　desire；　and　in　lieu　of　black　legs　he　husked　the　cocoanuts　that　fell　from　the　trees　in　the　compound；　kept　the　enclosure　clear　of　intruding　hens；　and　made　a　hostile　acquaintance　with　every　boss…boy　who　came　to　report。　　He　was　unable　to　forget　the　torment　of　his　puppyhood；　wherein　everlasting　hatred　of　the　black　had　been　woven　into　the　fibres　of　consciousness；　and　such　a　terror　did　he　make　himself　that　Sheldon　was　forced　to　shut　him　up　in　the　living　room　when；　for　any　reason；　strange　natives　were　permitted　in　the　compound。　　This　always　hurt　Satan's　feelings　and　fanned　his　wrath；　so　that　even　the　house…boys　had　to　watch　out　for　him　when　he　was　first　released。

Christian　Young　sailed　away　in　the　Minerva；　carrying　an　invitation　（that　would　be　delivered　nobody　knew　when）　to　Tommy　Jones　to　drop　in　at　Berande　the　next　time　he　was　passing。

〃What　are　your　plans　when　you　get　to　Sydney？〃　Sheldon　asked；　that　night；　at　dinner。

〃First　I've　heard　that　I'm　going　to　Sydney；〃　Joan　retorted。　　〃I　suppose　you've　received　information；　by　bush…telegraph；　that　that　third　assistant　understrapper　and　ex…sailorman　at　Tulagi　is　going　to　deport　me　as　an　undesirable　immigrant。〃

〃Oh；　no；　nothing　of　the　sort；　I　assure　you；〃　Sheldon　began　with　awkward　haste；　fearful　of　having　offended；　though　he　knew　not　how。　〃I　was　just　wondering；　that　was　all。　　You　see；　with　the　loss　of　the　schooner　and　。　。　and　all　the　rest　。　。　。　you　understand　。　。　I　was　thinking　that　ifaifhang　it　all；　until　you　could　communicate　with　your　friends；　my　agents　at　Sydney　could　advance　you　a　loan；　temporary　you　see；　why　I'd　be　only　too　glad　and　all　the　rest；　you　know。　　The　proper〃

But　his　jaw　dropped　and　he　regarded　her　irritably　and　with　apprehension。

〃What　IS　the　matter？〃　he　demanded；　with　a　show　of　heat。　　〃What　HAVE　I　done　now？〃

Joan's　eyes　were　bright　with　battle；　the　curve　of　her　lips　sharp　with　mockery。

〃Certainly　not　the　unexpected；〃　she　said　quietly。　　〃Merely　ignored　me　in　your　ordinary；　every…day；　man…god；　superior　fashion。　Naturally　it　counted　for　nothing；　my　telling　you　that　I　had　no　idea　of　going　to　Sydney。　　Go　to　Sydney　I　must；　because　you；　in　your　superior　wisdom；　have　so　decreed。〃

She　paused　and　looked　at　him　curiously；　as　though　he　were　some　strange　breed　of　animal。

〃Of　course　I　am　grateful　for　your　offer　of　assistance；　but　even　that　is　no　salve　to　wounded　pride。　　For　that　matter；　it　is　no　more　than　one　white　man　should　expect　from　another。　　Shipwrecked　mariners　are　always　helped　along　their　way。　　Only　this　particular　mariner　doesn't　need　any　help。　　Furthermore；　this　mariner　is　not　going　to　Sydney；　thank　you。〃

〃But　what　do　you　intend　to　do？〃

〃Find　some　spot　where　I　shall　escape　the　indignity　of　being　patronized　and　bossed　by　the　superior　sex。〃

〃Come　now；　that　is　putting　it　a　bit　too　strongly。〃　　Sheldon　laughed；　but　the　strain　in　his　voice　destroyed　the　effect　of　spontaneity。　　〃You　know　yourself　how　impossible　the　situation　is。〃

〃I　know　nothing　of　the　sort；　sir。　　And　if　it　is　impossible；　well；　haven't　I　achieved　it？〃

〃But　it　cannot　continue。　　Really〃

〃Oh；　yes；　it　can。　　Having　achieved　it；　I　can　go　on　achieving　it。　　I　intend　to　remain　in　the　Solomons；　but　not　on　Berande。　　To…morrow　I　am　going　to　take　the　whale…boat　over　to　Pari…Sulay。　　I　was　talking　with　Captain　Young　about　it。　　He　says　there　are　at　least　four　hundred　acres；　and　every　foot　of　it　good　for　planting。　　Being　an　island；　he　says　I　won't　have　to　bother　about　wild　pigs　destroying　the　young　trees。　　All　I'll　have　to　do　is　to　keep　the　weeds　hoed　until　the　trees　come　into　bearing。　　First；　I'll　buy　the　island；　next；　get　forty　or　fifty　recruits　and　start　clearing　and　planting；　and　at　the　same　time　I'll　run　up　a　bungalow；　and　then　you'll　be　relieved　of　my　embarrassing　presencenow　don't　say　that　it　isn't。〃

〃It　is　embarrassing；〃　he　said　bluntly。　　〃But　you　refuse　to　see　my　point　of　view；　so　there　is　no　use　in　discussing　it。　　Now　please　forget　all　about　it；　and　consider　me　at　your　service　concerning　this　。　。　。　this　project　of　yours。　　I　know　more　about　cocoanut…　planting　than　you　do。　　You　speak　like　a　capitalist。　　I　don't　know　how　much　money　you　have；　but　I　don't　fancy　you　are　rolling　in　wealth；　as　you　Americans　say。　　But　I　do　know　what　it　costs　to　clear　land。　　Suppose　the　government　sells　you　Pari…Sulay　at　a　pound　an　acre；　clearing　will　cost　you　at　least　four　pounds　more；　that　is；　five　pounds　for　four　hundred　acres；　or；　say；　ten　thousand　dollars。　Have　you　that　much？〃

She　was　keenly　interested；　and　he　could　see　that　the　previous　clash　between　them　was　already　forgotten。　　Her　disappointment　was　plain　as　she　confessed：

〃No；　I　haven't　quite　eight　thousand　dollars。〃

〃Then　here's　another　way　of　looking　at　it。　　You'll　need；　as　you　said；　at　least　fifty　boys。　　Not　counting　premiums；　their　wages　are　thirty　dollars　a　year。〃

〃I　pay　my　Tahitians　fifteen　a　month；〃　she　interpolated。

〃They　won't　do　on　straight　plantation　work。　　But　to　return。　　The　wages　of　fifty　boys　each　year　will　come　to　three　hundred　pounds　that　is；　fifteen　hundred　dollars。　　Very　well。　　It　will　be　seven　years　before　your　trees　begin　to　bear。　　Seven　times　fifteen　hundred　is　ten　thousand　five　hundred　dollarsmore　than　you　possess；　and　all　eaten　up　by　the　boys'　wages；　with　nothing　to　pay　for　bungalow；　building；　tools；　quinine；　trips　to　Sydney；　and　so　forth。〃

Sheldon　shook　his　head　gravely。　　〃You'll　have　to　abandon　the　idea。〃

〃But　I　won't　go　to　Sydney；〃　she　cried。　　〃I　simply　won't。　　I'll　buy　in　to　the　extent　of　my　money　as　a　small　partner　in　some　other　plantation。　　Let　me　buy　in　in　Berande！〃

〃Heaven　forbid！〃　he　cried　in　such　genuine　dismay　that　she　broke　into　hearty　laughter。

〃There；　I　won't　tease　you。　　Really；　you　know；　I'm　not　accustomed　to　forcing　my　presence　where　it　is　not　desired。　　Yes；　yes；　I　know　you're　just　aching　to　point　out　that　I've　forced　myself　upon　you　ever　since　I　landed；　only　you　are　too　polite　to　say　so。　　Yet　as