adventure-第31章

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oys；　breathless　and　scratched　ran　him　down　with　the　news　that　the　Martha；　the　Flibberty…Gibbet；　and　the　Emily　were　heading　in　for　the　anchorage。

Coming　into　the　compound　from　the　rear；　Sheldon　could　see　nothing　until　he　rode　around　the　corner　of　the　bungalow。　　Then　he　saw　everything　at　oncefirst；　a　glimpse　at　the　sea；　where　the　Martha　floated　huge　alongside　the　cutter　and　the　ketch　which　had　rescued　her；　and；　next；　the　ground　in　front　of　the　veranda　steps；　where　a　great　crowd　of　fresh…caught　cannibals　stood　at　attention。　　From　the　fact　that　each　was　attired　in　a　new；　snow…white　lava…lava；　Sheldon　knew　that　they　were　recruits。　　Part　way　up　the　steps；　one　of　them　was　just　backing　down　into　the　crowd；　while　another；　called　out　by　name；　was　coming　up。　　It　was　Joan's　voice　that　had　called　him；　and　Sheldon　reined　in　his　horse　and　watched。　　She　sat　at　the　head　of　the　steps；　behind　a　table；　between　Munster　and　his　white　mate；　the　three　of　them　checking　long　lists；　Joan　asking　the　questions　and　writing　the　answers　in　the　big；　red…covered；　Berande　labour…　journal。

〃What　name？〃　she　demanded　of　the　black　man　on　the　steps。

〃Tagari；〃　came　the　answer；　accompanied　by　a　grin　and　a　rolling　of　curious　eyes；　for　it　was　the　first　white…man's　house　the　black　had　ever　seen。

〃What　place　b'long　you？〃

〃Bangoora。〃

No　one　had　noticed　Sheldon；　and　he　continued　to　sit　his　horse　and　watch。　　There　was　a　discrepancy　between　the　answer　and　the　record　in　the　recruiting　books；　and　a　consequent　discussion；　until　Munster　solved　the　difficulty。

〃Bangoora？〃　he　said。　　〃That's　the　little　beach　at　the　head　of　the　bay　out　of　Latta。　　He's　down　as　a　Latta…mansee；　there　it　is；　'Tagari；　Latta。'〃

〃What　place　you　go　you　finish　along　white　marster？〃　Joan　asked。

〃Bangoora；〃　the　man　replied；　and　Joan　wrote　it　down。

〃Ogu！〃　Joan　called。

The　black　stepped　down；　and　another　mounted　to　take　his　place。　　But　Tagari；　just　before　he　reached　the　bottom　step；　caught　sight　of　Sheldon。　　It　was　the　first　horse　the　fellow　had　ever　seen；　and　he　let　out　a　frightened　screech　and　dashed　madly　up　the　steps。　　At　the　same　moment　the　great　mass　of　blacks　surged　away　panic…stricken　from　Sheldon's　vicinity。　　The　grinning　house…boys　shouted　encouragement　and　explanation；　and　the　stampede　was　checked；　the　new…caught　head…hunters　huddling　closely　together　and　staring　dubiously　at　the　fearful　monster。

〃Hello！〃　Joan　called　out。　　〃What　do　you　mean　by　frightening　all　my　boys？　　Come　on　up。〃

〃What　do　you　think　of　them？〃　she　asked；　when　they　had　shaken　hands。　〃And　what　do　you　think　of　her？〃with　a　wave　of　the　hand　toward　the　Martha。　　〃I　thought　you'd　deserted　the　plantation；　and　that　I　might　as　well　go　ahead　and　get　the　men　into　barracks。　　Aren't　they　beauties？　　Do　you　see　that　one　with　the　split　nose？　　He's　the　only　man　who　doesn't　hail　from　the　Poonga…Poonga　coast；　and　they　said　the　Poonga…Poonga　natives　wouldn't　recruit。　　Just　look　at　them　and　congratulate　me。　　There　are　no　kiddies　and　half…grown　youths　among　them。　　They're　men；　every　last　one　of　them。　　I　have　such　a　long　story　I　don't　know　where　to　begin；　and　I　won't　begin　anyway　till　we're　through　with　this　and　until　you　have　told　me　that　you　are　not　angry　with　me。〃

〃Oguwhat　place　b'long　you？〃　she　went　on　with　her　catechism。

But　Ogu　was　a　bushman；　lacking　knowledge　of　the　almost　universal　beche…de…mer　English；　and　half　a　dozen　of　his　fellows　wrangled　to　explain。

〃There　are　only　two　or　three　more；〃　Joan　said　to　Sheldon；　〃and　then　we're　done。　　But　you　haven't　told　me　that　you　are　not　angry。〃

Sheldon　looked　into　her　clear　eyes　as　she　favoured　him　with　a　direct；　untroubled　gaze　that　threatened；　he　knew　from　experience；　to　turn　teasingly　defiant　on　an　instant's　notice。　　And　as　he　looked　at　her　it　came　to　him　that　he　had　never　half…anticipated　the　gladness　her　return　would　bring　to　him。

〃I　was　angry；〃　he　said　deliberately。　　〃I　am　still　angry；　very　angry〃　he　noted　the　glint　of　defiance　in　her　eyes　and　thrilled　〃but　I　forgave；　and　I　now　forgive　all　over　again。　　Though　I　still　insist〃

〃That　I　should　have　a　guardian；〃　she　interrupted。　　〃But　that　day　will　never　come。　　Thank　goodness　I'm　of　legal　age　and　able　to　transact　business　in　my　own　right。　　And　speaking　of　business；　how　do　you　like　my　forceful　American　methods？〃

〃Mr。　Raff；　from　what　I　hear；　doesn't　take　kindly　to　them；〃　he　temporized；　〃and　you've　certainly　set　the　dry　bones　rattling　for　many　a　day。　　But　what　I　want　to　know　is　if　other　American　women　are　as　successful　in　business　ventures？〃

〃Luck；　'most　all　luck；〃　she　disclaimed　modestly；　though　her　eyes　lighted　with　sudden　pleasure；　and　he　knew　her　boy's　vanity　had　been　touched　by　his　trifle　of　tempered　praise。

〃Luck　be　blowed！〃　broke　out　the　long　mate；　Sparrowhawk；　his　face　shining　with　admiration。　　〃It　was　hard　work；　that's　what　it　was。　We　earned　our　pay。　　She　worked　us　till　we　dropped。　　And　we　were　down　with　fever　half　the　time。　　So　was　she；　for　that　matter；　only　she　wouldn't　stay　down；　and　she　wouldn't　let　us　stay　down。　　My　word；　she's　a　slave…driver'Just　one　more　heave；　Mr。　Sparrowhawk；　and　then　you　can　go　to　bed　for　a　week'；she　to　me；　and　me　staggerin'　'round　like　a　dead　man；　with　bilious…green　lights　flashing　inside　my　head；　an'　my　head　just　bustin'。　　I　was　all　in；　but　I　gave　that　heave　right　Oand　then　it　was；　'Another　heave　now；　Mr。　Sparrowhawk；　just　another　heave。'　　An'　the　Lord　lumme；　the　way　she　made　love　to　old　Kina…Kina！〃

He　shook　his　head　reproachfully；　while　the　laughter　died　down　in　his　throat　to　long…drawn　chuckles。

〃He　was　older　than　Telepasse　and　dirtier；〃　she　assured　Sheldon；　〃and　I　am　sure　much　wickeder。　　But　this　isn't　work。　　Let　us　get　through　with　these　lists。〃

She　turned　to　the　waiting　black　on　the　steps；　…

〃Ogu；　you　finish　along　big　marster　belong　white　man；　you　go　Not…　Not。Here　you；　Tangari；　you　speak　'm　along　that　fella　Ogu。　　He　finish　he　walk　about　Not…Not。　　Have　you　got　that；　Mr。　Munster？〃

〃But　you've　broken　the　recruiting　laws；〃　Sheldon　said；　when　the　new　recruits　had　marched　away　to　the　barracks。　　〃The　licenses　for　the　Flibberty　and　the　Emily　don't　allow　for　one　hundred　and　fifty。　What　did　Burnett　say？〃

〃He　passed　them；　all　of　them；〃　she　answered。　　〃Captain　Munster　will　tell　you　what　he　saidsomething　about　being　blowed；　or　words　to　that　effect。　　Now　I　must　run　and　wash　up。　　Did　the　Sydney　orders　arrive？〃

〃Yours　are　in　your　quarters；〃　Sheldon　said。　　〃Hurry；　for　breakfast　is　waiting。　　Let　me　have　your　hat　and　belt。　　Do；　please；　allow　me。　There's　only　one　hook　for　them；　and　I　know　where　it　is。〃

She　gave　him　a　quick　scrutiny　that　was　almost　woman…like；　then　sighed　with　relief　as　she　unbuckled　the　heavy　belt　and　passed　it　to　him。

〃I　doubt　if　I　ever　want　to　see　another　revolver；〃　she　complained。　〃That　one　has　worn　a　hole　in　me；　I'm　sure。　　I　never　dreamed　I　could　get　so　weary　of　one。〃

Sheldon　watched　her　to　the　foot　of　the　steps；　where　she　turned　and　called　back；　…

〃My！　　I　can't　tell　you　how　good　it　is　to　be　home　again。〃

And　as　his　gaze　continued　to　follow　her　across　the　compound　to　the　tiny　grass　house；　the　realization　came　to　him　crushingly　that　Berande　and　that　little　grass　house　was　the　only　place　in　the　world　she　could　call　〃home。〃


〃And　Burnett　said；　'Well；　I'll　be　damnedI　beg　your　pardon；　Miss　Lackland；　but　you　have　wantonly　broken　the　recruiting　laws　and　you　know　it；'〃　Captain　Munster　narrated；　as　they　sat　over　their　whisky；　waiting　for　Joan　to　come　back。　　〃And　says　she　to　him；　'Mr。　Burnett；　can　you　show　me　any　law　against　taking　the　passengers　off　a　vessel　that's　on　a　reef？'　　'That　is　not　the　point；'　says　he。　　'It's　the　very；　precise；　particular　point；'　says　she　and　you　bear　it　in　mind　and　go　ahead　and　pass　my　recruits。　　You　can　report　me　to　the　Lord　High　Commissioner　if　you　want；　but　I　have　three　vessels　here　waiting　on　your　convenience；　and　if　you　delay　them　much　longer　there'll　be　another　report　go　in　to　the　Lord　High　Commissioner。'

〃'I'll　hold　you　responsible；　Captain　Munster；'　says　he　to　me；　mad　enough　to　eat　scrap…iron。　　'No；　you　won't；'　says　she；　'I'm　the　charterer　of　the　Emily；　and　Captain　Munster　has　acted　under　my　orders。'

〃What　could　Burnett　do？　　He　passed　the　whole　hundred　and　fifty；　though　the　Emily　was　only　license