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。