\"No，itisn\'t。It\'saninvitationtofight。\"
\"Butwhatthedevildoyouwanttofightwithmefor？\"Sheldon\'sirritationwasgrowingattheother\'spersistence。\"I\'venoquarrelwithyou。Andwhatquarrelcanyouhavewithme？Ihaveneverinterferedwithyou。Youweremyguest。MissLacklandismypartner。Ifyousawfittomakelovetoher，andsomehowfailedtosucceed，whyshouldyouwanttofightwithme？Thisisthetwentiethcentury，mydearfellow，andduellingwentoutoffashionbeforeyouandIwereborn。\"
\"Youbegantherow，\"Tudordoggedlyasserted。\"Yougavemetounderstandthatitwastimeformetogo。Youfiredmeoutofyourhouse，inshort。AndthenyouhavethecheektowanttoknowwhyI
amstartingtherow。Itwon\'tdo，Itellyou。Youstartedit，andIamgoingtoseeitthrough。\"
Sheldonsmiledtolerantlyandproceededtolightacigarette。ButTudorwasnottobeturnedaside。
\"Youstartedthisrow，\"heurged。
\"Thereisn\'tanyrow。Ittakestwotomakearow，andI，forone，refusetohaveanythingtodowithsuchtomfoolery。\"
\"Youstartedit，Isay，andI\'lltellyouwhyyoustartedit。\"
\"Ifancyyou\'vebeendrinking，\"Sheldoninterposed。\"It\'stheonlyexplanationIcanfindforyourunreasonableness。\"
\"AndI\'lltellyouwhyyoustartedit。Itwasn\'tsillinessonyourparttoexaggeratethislittletrifleoflove-makingintosomethingserious。Iwaspoachingonyourpreserves，andyouwantedtogetridofme。Itwasallveryniceandsnughere，youandthegirl，untilIcamealong。Andnowyou\'rejealous——that\'sit，jealousy——
andwantmeoutofit。ButIwon\'tgo。\"
\"Thenstayonbyallmeans。Iwon\'tquarrelwithyouaboutit。
Makeyourselfcomfortable。Stayforayear，ifyouwish。\"
\"She\'snotyourwife，\"Tudorcontinued，asthoughtheotherhadnotspoken。\"Afellowhastherighttomakelovetoherunlessshe\'syour——well，perhapsitwasanerrorafterall，duetoignorance，perfectlyexcusable，onmypart。ImighthaveseenitwithhalfaneyeifI\'dlistenedtothegossiponthebeach。AllGuvutuandTulagiwerelaughingaboutit。Iwasafool，andIcertainlymadethemistakeoftakingthesituationonitsassumedinnocentface-
value。\"
SoangrywasSheldonbecomingthatthefaceandformoftheotherseemedtovibrateandoscillatebeforehiseyes。YetoutwardlySheldonwascalmandapparentlywearyofthediscussion。
\"Pleasekeepheroutoftheconversation，\"hesaid。
\"ButwhyshouldI？\"wasthedemand。\"Thepairofyoutrappedmeintomakingafoolofmyself。HowwasItoknowthateverythingwasnotallright？Youandsheactedasifeverythingwereonthesquare。Butmyeyesareopennow。Why，sheplayedtheoutragedwifetoperfection，slappedthetransgressorandfledtoyou。
Prettygoodproofofwhatallthebeachhasbeensaying。Partners，eh？——abusinesspartnership？Gammonmyeye，that\'swhatitis。\"
ThenitwasthatSheldonstruckout，coollyanddeliberately，withallthestrengthofhisarm，andTudor，caughtonthejaw，fellsideways，crumplingashedidsoandcrushingachairtokindlingwoodbeneaththeweightofhisfallingbody。Hepulledhimselfslowlytohisfeet，butdidnotoffertorush。
\"Nowwillyoufight？\"Tudorsaidgrimly。
Sheldonlaughed，andforthefirsttimewithtruespontaneity。Theintrinsicridiculousnessofthesituationwastoomuchforhissenseofhumour。Hemadeasiftorepeattheblow，butTudor，whiteofface，witharmshangingresistlesslyathissides，offerednodefence。
\"Idon\'tmeanafightwithfists，\"hesaidslowly。\"Imeantoafinish，tothedeath。You\'reagoodshotwithrevolverandrifle。
SoamI。That\'sthewaywe\'llsettleit。\"
\"Youhavegonecleanmad。Youarealunatic。\"
\"No，I\'mnot，\"Tudorretorted。\"I\'mamaninlove。AndonceagainIaskyoutogooutsideandsettleit，withanyweaponsyouchoose。\"
Sheldonregardedhimforthefirsttimewithgenuineseriousness，wonderingwhatstrangemaggotscouldbegnawinginhisbraintodrivehimtosuchunusualconduct。
\"Butmendon\'tactthiswayinreallife，\"Sheldonremarked。
\"You\'llfindI\'mprettyrealbeforeyou\'redonewithme。I\'mgoingtokillyouto-day。\"
\"Boshandnonsense，man。\"ThistimeSheldonhadlosthistemperoverthesuperficialaspectsofthesituation。\"Boshandnonsense，that\'sallitis。Mendon\'tfightduelsinthetwentiethcentury。
It\'s——it\'santediluvian，Itellyou。\"
\"SpeakingofJoan——\"
\"Pleasekeephernameoutofit，\"Sheldonwarnedhim。
\"Iwill，ifyou\'llfight。\"
Sheldonthrewuphisarmsdespairingly。
\"SpeakingofJoan——\"
\"Lookout，\"Sheldonwarnedagain。
\"Oh，goahead，knockmedown。Butthatwon\'tclosemymouth。Youcanknockmedownallday，butasfastasIgettomyfeetI\'llspeakofJoanagain。Nowwillyoufight？\"
\"Listentome，Tudor，\"Sheldonbegan，withaneffortatdecisiveness。\"IamnotusedtotakingfrommenatitheofwhatI\'vealreadytakenfromyou。\"
\"You\'lltakealotmorebeforetheday\'sout，\"wastheanswer。\"I
tellyou，yousimplymustfight。I\'llgiveyouafairchancetokillme，butI\'llkillyoubeforetheday\'sout。Thisisn\'tcivilization。It\'stheSolomonIslands，andaprettyprimitivepropositionforallthat。KingEdwardandlawandorderarerepresentedbytheCommissioneratTulagiandanoccasionalvisitinggunboat。Andtwomenandonewomanisanequallyprimitiveproposition。We\'llsettleitinthegoodoldprimitiveway。\"
AsSheldonlookedathimthethoughtcametohismindthatafteralltheremightbesomethingintheother\'swildadventuresovertheearth。Itrequiredamanofthatcalibre，amancapableofobtrudingaduelintoorderlytwentiethcenturylife，tofindsuchwildadventures。
\"There\'sonlyonewaytostopme，\"Tudorwenton。\"Ican\'tinsultyoudirectly，Iknow。Youaretooeasy-going，orcowardly，orboth，forthat。ButIcannarrateforyouthetalkofthebeach——
ah，thatgrindsyou，doesn\'tit？Icantellyouwhatthebeachhastosayaboutyouandthisyounggirlrunningaplantationunderabusinesspartnership。\"
\"Stop!\"Sheldoncried，fortheotherwasbeginningtovibrateandoscillatebeforehiseyes。\"Youwantaduel。I\'llgiveittoyou。\"Thenhiscommon-senseanddislikefortheridiculousassertedthemselves，andheadded，\"Butit\'sabsurd，impossible。\"
\"JoanandDavid——partners，eh？JoanandDavid——partners，\"Tudorbegantoiterateandreiterateinamaliciousandscornfulchant。
\"Forheaven\'ssakekeepquiet，andI\'llletyouhaveyourway，\"
Sheldoncried。\"Ineversawafoolsobentonhisfolly。Whatkindofaduelshallitbe？Therearenoseconds。Whatweaponsshallweuse？\"
ImmediatelyTudor\'smonkey-likeimpishnesslefthim，andhewasoncemorethecool，self-possessedmanoftheworld。
\"I\'veoftenthoughtthattheidealduelshouldbesomewhatdifferentfromtheconventionalone，\"hesaid。\"I\'vefoughtseveralofthatsort，youknow——\"
\"Frenchones，\"Sheldoninterrupted。
\"Callthemthat。Butspeakingofthisidealduel，hereitis。Noseconds，ofcourse，andnoonlookers。Thetwoprincipalsalonearenecessary。Theymayuseanyweaponstheyplease，fromrevolversandriflestomachinegunsandpompoms。Theystartamileapart，andadvanceoneachother，takingadvantageofcover，retreating，circling，feinting——anythingandeverythingpermissible。Inshort，theprincipalsshallhunteachother——\"
\"LikeacoupleofwildIndians？\"
\"Precisely，\"criedTudor，delighted。\"You\'vegottheidea。AndBerandeisjusttheplace，andthisisjusttherighttime。MissLacklandwillbetakinghersiesta，andshe\'llthinkweare。We\'vegottwohoursforitbeforeshewakes。Sohurryupandcomeon。
YoustartoutfromtheBalesunaandIstartfromtheBerande。
Thosetworiversaretheboundariesoftheplantation，aren\'tthey？
Verywell。Thefieldoftheduelwillbetheplantation。Neitherprincipalmustgooutsideitsboundaries。Areyousatisfied？\"
\"Quite。ButhaveyouanyobjectionsifIleavesomeorders？\"
\"Notatall，\"Tudoracquiesced，thepinkofcourtesynowthathiswishhadbeengranted。
Sheldonclappedhishands，andtherunninghouse-boyhurriedawaytobringbackAdamuAdamandNoaNoah。
\"Listen，\"Sheldonsaidtothem。\"Thismanandme，wehaveonebigfightto-day。Maybehedie。MaybeIdie。Ifhedie，allright。
IfIdie，youtwolookafterMissieLackalanna。Youtakerifles，andyoulookafterherdaytimeandnight-time。IfshewanttotalkwithMr。Tudor，allright。Ifshenotwanttotalk，youmakehimkeepaway。Savvee？\"
Theygruntedandnodded。Theyhadhadmuchtodowithwhitemen，andhadlearnednevertoquestionthestrangewaysofthestrangebreed。Ifthesetwosawfittogooutandkilleachother，thatwastheirbusinessandnotthebusinessoftheislanders，whotookordersfromthem。Theysteppedtothegun-rack，andeachpickedarifle。
\"BetterallTahitianmenhaverifles，\"suggestedAdamuAdam。
\"Maybebigtroublecome。\"
\"Allright，youtakethem，\"Sheldonanswered，busywithissuingtheammunition。
Theywenttothedooranddownthesteps，carryingtheeightriflestotheirquarters。Tudor，withcartridge-beltsforrifleandpistolstrappedaroundhim，rifleinhand，stoodimpatientlywaiting。
\"Comeon，hurryup；we\'reburningdaylight，\"heurged，asSheldonsearchedafterextraclipsforhisautomaticpistol。
Togethertheypasseddownthestepsandoutofthecompoundtothebeach，wheretheyturnedtheirbackstoeachother，andeachproceededtowardhisdestination，theirriflesinthehollowsoftheirarms，TudorwalkingtowardtheBerandeandSheldontowardtheBalesuna。
CHAPTERXXVII——MODERNDUELLING
BarelyhadSheldonreachedtheBalesuna，whenheheardthefaintreportofadistantrifleandknewitwasthesignalofTudor，givingnoticethathehadreachedtheBerande，turnedabout，andwascomingback。Sheldonfiredhisrifleintotheairinanswer，andinturnproceededtoadvance。Hemovedasinadream，absent-
mindedlykeepingtotheopenbeach。Thethingwassopreposterousthathehadtostruggletorealizeit，andhereviewedinhismindtheconversationwithTudor，tryingtofindsomecluetothecommon-senseofwhathewasdoing。HedidnotwanttokillTudor。
Becausethatmanhadblunderedinhislove-makingwasnoreasonthathe，Sheldon，shouldtakehislife。Thenwhatwasitallabout？True，thefellowhadinsultedJoanbyhissubsequentremarksandbeenknockeddownforit，butbecausehehadknockedhimdownwasnoreasonthatheshouldnowtrytokillhim。
Inthisfashionhecoveredaquarterofthedistancebetweenthetworivers，whenitdawneduponhimthatTudorwasnotonthebeachatall。Ofcoursenot。Hewasadvancing，accordingtothetermsoftheagreement，intheshelterofthecocoanuttrees。Sheldonpromptlyswervedtothelefttoseeksimilarshelter，whenthefaintcrackofariflecametohisears，andalmostimmediatelythebullet，strikingthehardsandahundredfeetbeyondhim，ricochettedandwhinedonwardonasecondflight，convincinghimthat，preposterousandunrealasitwas，itwasneverthelesssoberfact。Ithadbeenintendedforhim。Yeteventhenitwashardtobelieve。Heglancedoverthefamiliarlandscapeandattheseadimplinginthelightbutsteadybreeze。FromthedirectionofTulagihecouldseethewhitesailsofaschoonerlayingatackacrosstowardBerande。Downthebeachahorsewasgrazing，andheidlywonderedwheretheotherswere。Thesmokerisingfromthecopra-dryingcaughthiseyes，whichrovedonoverthebarracks，thetool-houses，theboat-sheds，andthebungalow，andcametorestonJoan\'slittlegrasshouseinthecornerofthecompound。
Keepingnowtotheshelterofthetrees，hewentforwardanotherquarterofamile。IfTudorhadadvancedwithequalspeedtheyshouldhavecometogetheratthatpoint，andSheldonconcludedthattheotherwascircling。Thedifficultywastolocatehim。Therowsoftrees，runningatrightangles，enabledhimtoseealongonlyonenarrowavenueatatime。Hisenemymightbecomingalongthenextavenue，orthenext，torightorleft。Hemightbeahundredfeetawayorhalfamile。Sheldonploddedon，anddecidedthattheoldstereotypedduelwasfarsimplerandeasierthanthisprotractedhide-and-seekaffair。He，too，triedcircling，inthehopeofcuttingtheother\'scircle；but，withoutcatchingaglimpseofhim，hefinallyemergeduponafreshclearingwheretheyoungtrees，waist-high，affordedlittleshelterandlesshiding。Justasheemerged，steppingoutapace，ariflecrackedtohisright，andthoughhedidnothearthebulletinpassing，thethudofitcametohisearswhenitstruckapalm-trunkfartheron。
Hesprangbackintotheprotectionofthelargertrees。Twicehehadexposedhimselfandbeenfiredat，whilehehadfailedtocatchasingleglimpseofhisantagonist。Aslowangerbegantoburninhim。Itwasdeucedlyunpleasant，hedecided，thisbeingpepperedat；andnonsensicalasitreallywas，itwasnonethelessdeadlyserious。Therewasnoavoidingtheissue，nofiringintheairandgettingoverwithitasintheold-fashionedduel。Thismutualman-huntmustkeepupuntilonegottheother。Andifoneneglectedachancetogettheother，thatincreasedtheother\'schancetogethim。Therecouldbenofalsesentimentaboutit。
Tudorhadbeenacunningdevilwhenheproposedthissortofduel，Sheldonconcluded，ashebegantoworkalongcautiouslyinthedirectionofthelastshot。
Whenhearrivedatthespot，Tudorwasgone，andonlyhisfoot-
printsremained，pointingoutthecoursehehadtakenintothedepthsoftheplantation。Once，tenminuteslater，hecaughtaglimpseofTudor，ahundredyardsaway，crossingthesameavenueashimselfbutgoingintheoppositedirection。Hisriflehalf-leapedtohisshoulder，buttheotherwasgone。Moreinwhimthaninhopeofresult，grinningtohimselfashedidso，SheldonraisedhisautomaticpistolandintwosecondssenteightshotsscatteringthroughthetreesinthedirectioninwhichTudorhaddisappeared。
Wishinghehadashot-gun，Sheldondroppedtothegroundbehindatree，slippedafreshclipupthehollowbuttofthepistol，threwacartridgeintothechamber，shovedthesafetycatchintoplace，andreloadedtheemptyclip。
ItwasbutashorttimeafterthatthatTudortriedthesametrickonhim，thebulletspatteringabouthimlikespitefulrain，thuddingintothepalmtrunks，orglancingoffinwhiningricochets。Thelastbulletofall，makingadoublericochetfromtwodifferenttreesandlosingmostofitsmomentum，struckSheldonasharpblowontheforeheadanddroppedathisfeet。Hewaspartlystunnedforthemoment，butoninvestigationfoundnogreaterharmthananastylumpthatsoonrosetothesizeofapigeon\'segg。
Thehuntwenton。Once，comingtotheedgeofthegrovenearthebungalow，hesawthehouse-boysandthecook，clusteredonthebackverandaandpeeringcuriouslyamongthetrees，talkingandlaughingwithoneanotherintheirqueerfalsettovoices。Anothertimehecameuponaworking-gangbusyathoeingweeds。Theyscarcelynoticedhimwhenhecameup，thoughtheyknewthoroughlywellwhatwasgoingon。Itwasnoaffairoftheirsthattheenigmaticalwhitemenshouldbeouttryingtokilleachother，andwhateverinterestintheproceedingsmightbetheirstheywerecarefultoconcealitfromSheldon。Heorderedthemtocontinuehoeingweedsinadistantandout-of-the-waycorner，andwentonwiththepursuitofTudor。
Tiringoftheendlesscircling，Sheldontriedoncemoretoadvancedirectlyonhisfoe，butthelatterwastoocrafty，takingadvantageofhisboldnesstofireacoupleofshotsathim，andslippingawayonsomechangedandcontinuallychangingcourse。Foranhourtheydodgedandturnedandtwistedbackandforthandaround，andhuntedeachotheramongtheorderlypalms。Theycaughtfleetingglimpsesofeachotherandchancedflyingshotswhichwerewithoutresult。Onagrassyshelterbehindatree，SheldoncameuponwhereTudorhadrestedandsmokedacigarette。Thepressedgrassshowedwherehehadsat。Toonesidelaythecigarettestumpandthecharredmatchwhichhadlightedit。Infrontlayascatteringofbrightmetallicfragments。Sheldonrecognizedtheirsignificance。Tudorwasnotchinghissteel-jacketedbullets，orcuttingthemblunt，sothattheywouldspreadonstriking——inshort，hewasmakingthemintotheviciousdum-dumprohibitedinmodernwarfare。Sheldonknewnowwhatwouldhappentohimifabulletstruckhisbody。Itwouldleaveatinyholewhereitentered，buttheholewhereitemergedwouldbethesizeofasaucer。
Hedecidedtogiveupthepursuit，andlaydowninthegrass，protectedrightandleftbytherowofpalms，withoneitherhandthelongavenueextending。Thishecouldwatch。Tudorwouldhavetocometohimorelsetherewouldbenoterminationoftheaffair。
Hewipedthesweatfromhisfaceandtiedthehandkerchiefaroundhisnecktokeepoffthestinginggnatsthatlurkedinthegrass。
Neverhadhefeltsogreatadisgustforthethingcalled\"adventure。\"Joanhadbeenbadenough，withherBaden-Powellandlong-barrelledColt\'s；butherewasthisnewcomeralsolookingforadventure，andfindingitinnootherwaythanbyluggingapeace-
lovingplanterintoanabsurdandpreposterousbush-whackingduel。
Ifeveradventurewaswelldamned，itwasbySheldon，sweatinginthewindlessgrassandfightinggnats，thewhilehekeptclosewatchupanddowntheavenue。
ThenTudorcame。Sheldonhappenedtobelookinginhisdirectionatthemomenthecameintoview，peeringquicklyupanddowntheavenuebeforehesteppedintotheopen。Midwayhestopped，asifdebatingwhatcoursetopursue。Hemadeasplendidmark，facinghisconcealedenemyattwohundredyards\'distance。Sheldonaimedatthecentreofhischest，thendeliberatelyshiftedtheaimtohisrightshoulder，and，withthethought，\"Thatwillputhimoutofbusiness，\"pulledthetrigger。Thebullet，drivingwithmomentumsufficienttoperforateaman\'sbodyamiledistant，struckTudorwithsuchforceastopivothim，whirlinghimhalfaroundbytheshockofitsimpactandknockinghimdown。
\"\'HopeIhaven\'tkilledthebeggar，\"Sheldonmutteredaloud，springingtohisfeetandrunningforward。
AhundredfeetawayallanxietyonthatscorewasrelievedbyTudor，whomadeshiftwithhislefthand，andfromhisautomaticpistolhurledarainofbulletsallaroundSheldon。Thelatterdodgedbehindapalmtrunk，countingtheshots，andwhentheeighthhadbeenfiredherushedinonthewoundedman。Hekickedthepistoloutoftheother\'shand，andthensatdownonhiminordertokeephimdown。
\"Bequiet，\"hesaid。\"I\'vegotyou，sothere\'snousestruggling。\"
Tudorstillattemptedtostruggleandtothrowhimoff。
\"Keepquiet，Itellyou，\"Sheldoncommanded。\"I\'msatisfiedwiththeoutcome，andyou\'vegottobe。Soyoumightaswellgiveinandcallthisaffairclosed。\"
Tudorreluctantlyrelaxed。
\"Ratherfunny，isn\'tit，thesemodernduels？\"Sheldongrinneddownathimasheremovedhisweight。\"Notabitdignified。Ifyou\'dstruggledamomentlongerI\'dhaverubbedyourfaceintheearth。
I\'veagoodmindtodoitanyway，justtoteachyouthatduellinghasgoneoutoffashion。Nowletusseetoyourinjuries。\"
\"Youonlygotmethatlast，\"Tudorgruntedsullenly，\"lyinginambushlike——\"
\"LikeawildIndian。Precisely。You\'vecaughttheidea，oldman。\"
Sheldonceasedhismockingandstoodup。\"YoulietherequietlyuntilIsendbacksomeoftheboystocarryyouin。You\'renotseriouslyhurt，andit\'sluckyforyouIdidn\'tfollowyourexample。Ifyouhadbeenstruckwithoneofyourownbullets，acarriageandpairwouldhavebeennonetoolargetodrivethroughtheholeitwouldhavemade。Asitis，you\'redrilledclean——anicelittleperforation。Allyouneedisantisepticwashinganddressing，andyou\'llbearoundinamonth。Nowtakeiteasy，andI\'llsendastretcherforyou。\"
CHAPTERXXVIII——CAPITULATION
WhenSheldonemergedfromamongthetreeshefoundJoanwaitingatthecompoundgate，andhecouldnotfailtoseethatshewasvisiblygladdenedatthesightofhim。
\"Ican\'ttellyouhowgladIamtoseeyou，\"washergreeting。
\"What\'sbecomeofTudor？Thatlastflutteroftheautomaticwasn\'tnicetolistento。WasityouorTudor？\"
\"Soyouknowallaboutit，\"heansweredcoolly。\"Well，itwasTudor，buthewasdoingitleft-handed。He\'sdownwithaholeinhisshoulder。\"Helookedatherkeenly。\"Disappointing，isn\'tit？\"hedrawled。
\"Howdoyoumean？\"
\"Why，thatIdidn\'tkillhim。\"
\"ButIdidn\'twanthimkilledjustbecausehekissedme，\"shecried。
\"Oh，hedidkissyou!\"Sheldonretorted，inevidentsurprise。\"I
thoughtyousaidhehurtyourarm。\"
\"Onecouldcallitakiss，thoughitwasonlyontheendofthenose。\"Shelaughedattherecollection。\"ButIpaidhimbackforthatmyself。Iboxedhisfaceforhim。Andhedidhurtmyarm。
It\'sblackandblue。Lookatit。\"
Shepulleduptheloosesleeveofherblouse，andhesawthebruisedimprintsoftwofingers。
Justthenagangofblackscameoutfromamongthetreescarryingthewoundedmanonaroughstretcher。
\"Romantic，isn\'tit？\"Sheldonsneered，followingJoan\'sstartledgaze。\"AndnowI\'llhavetoplaysurgeonanddoctorhimup。
Funny，thistwentieth-centuryduelling。Firstyoudrillaholeinaman，andnextyousetaboutpluggingtheholeup。\"
Theyhadsteppedasidetoletthestretcherpass，andTudor，whohadheardtheremark，liftedhimselfupontheelbowofhissoundarmandsaidwithadefiantgrin，-
\"Ifyou\'dgotoneofmineyou\'dhavehadtoplugwithadinner-
plate。\"
\"Oh，youwretch!\"Joancried。\"You\'vebeencuttingyourbullets。\"
\"Itwasaccordingtoagreement，\"Tudoranswered。\"Everythingwent。
Wecouldhaveuseddynamiteifwewantedto。\"
\"He\'sright，\"Sheldonassuredher，astheyswunginbehind。\"Anyweaponwaspermissible。Ilayinthegrasswherehecouldn\'tseeme，andbushwhackedhimintrulynoblefashion。That\'swhatcomesofhavingwomenontheplantation。Andnowit\'santisepticsanddrainagetubes，Isuppose。It\'sanastymess，andI\'llhavetoreaduponitbeforeItacklethejob。\"
\"Idon\'tseethatit\'smyfault，\"shebegan。\"Icouldn\'thelpitbecausehekissedme。Ineverdreamedhewouldattemptit。\"
\"Wedidn\'tfightforthatreason。Butthereisn\'ttimetoexplain。
Ifyou\'llgetdressingsandbandagesreadyI\'lllookup\'gun-shotwounds\'andseewhat\'stobedone。\"
\"Ishebleedingseriously？\"sheasked。
\"No；thebulletseemstohavemissedtheimportantarteries。Butthatwouldhavebeenapickle。\"
\"Thenthere\'snoneedtobotheraboutreadingup，\"Joansaid。\"AndI\'mjustdyingtohearwhatitwasallabout。TheApostleislyingbecalmedinsidethepoint，andherboatsareouttowing。She\'llbeatanchorinfiveminutes，andDoctorWelshmereissuretobeonboard。Soallwe\'vegottodoistomakeTudorcomfortable。We\'dbetterputhiminyourroomunderthemosquito-netting，andsendaboatofftotellDr。Welshmeretobringhisinstruments。\"
Anhourafterward，Dr。Welshmereleftthepatientcomfortableandattendedto，andwentdowntothebeachtogoonboard，promisingtocomebacktodinner。JoanandSheldon，standingontheveranda，watchedhimdepart。
\"I\'llneverhaveitinforthemissionariesagainsinceseeingthemhereintheSolomons，\"shesaid，seatingherselfinasteamer-
chair。
ShelookedatSheldonandbegantolaugh。
\"That\'sright，\"hesaid。\"It\'sthewayIfeel，playingthefoolandtryingtomurderaguest。\"
\"Butyouhaven\'ttoldmewhatitwasallabout。\"
\"You，\"heansweredshortly。
\"Me？Butyoujustsaiditwasn\'t。\"
\"Oh，itwasn\'tthekiss。\"Hewalkedovertotherailingandleanedagainstit，facingher。\"Butitwasaboutyouallthesame，andI
mayaswelltellyou。Youremember，IwarnedyoulongagowhatwouldhappenwhenyouwantedtobecomeapartnerinBerande。Well，allthebeachisgossipingaboutit；andTudorpersistedinrepeatingthegossiptome。Soyouseeitwon\'tdoforyoutostayonhereunderpresentconditions。Itwouldbebetterifyouwentaway。\"
\"ButIdon\'twanttogoaway，\"sheobjectedwithruefulcountenance。
\"Achaperone，then——\"
\"No，norachaperone。\"
\"Butyousurelydon\'texpectmetogoaroundshootingeveryslandererintheSolomonsthatopenshismouth？\"hedemandedgloomily。
\"No，northateither，\"sheansweredwithquickimpulsiveness。
\"I\'lltellyouwhatwe\'lldo。We\'llgetmarriedandputastoptoitall。There!\"
Helookedatherinamazement，andwouldhavebelievedthatshewasmakingfunofhimhaditnotbeenforthewarmbloodthatsuddenlysuffusedhercheeks。
\"Doyoumeanthat？\"heaskedunsteadily。\"Why？\"
\"Toputastoptoallthenastygossipofthebeach。That\'saprettygoodreason，isn\'tit？\"
Thetemptationwasstrongenoughandsuddenenoughtomakehimwaver，butallthedisgustcamebacktohimthatwashiswhenhelayinthegrassfightinggnatsandcursingadventure，andheanswered，-
\"No；itisworsethannoreasonatall。Idon\'tcaretomarryyouasamatterofexpedience——\"
\"Youarethemostridiculouscreature!\"shebrokein，withaflashofherold-timeanger。\"Youtalkloveandmarriagetome，verymuchagainstmywish，andgomooningaroundovertheplantationweekafterweekbecauseyoucan\'thaveme，andlookatmewhenyouthinkI\'mnotnoticingandwhenallthetimeI\'mwonderingwhenyouhadyourlastsquaremealbecauseofthehungrylookinyoureyes，andmakeeyesatmyrevolver-belthangingonanail，andfightduelsaboutme，andalltherest——and——andnow，whenIsayI\'llmarryyou，youdoyourselfthehonourofrefusingme。\"
\"Youcan\'tmakemeanymoreridiculousthanIfeel，\"heanswered，rubbingthelumponhisforeheadreflectively。\"Andifthisistheacceptedromanticprogramme——adueloveragirl，andthegirlrushingintothearmsofthewinner——why，Ishallnotmakeabiggerassofmyselfbygoinginforit。\"
\"Ithoughtyou\'djumpatit，\"sheconfessed，withanaivetehecouldnotbutquestion，forhethoughthesawaroguishgleaminhereyes。
\"Myconceptionoflovemustdifferfromyoursthen，\"hesaid。\"I
shouldwantawomantomarrymeforloveofme，andnotoutofromanticadmirationbecauseIwasluckyenoughtodrillaholeinaman\'sshoulderwithsmokelesspowder。ItellyouIamdisgustedwiththisadventuretom-fooleryandrot。Idon\'tlikeit。Tudorisasampleoftheadventure-kind——pickingaquarrelwithmeandbehavinglikeamonkey，insistingonfightingwithme——\'tothedeath，\'hesaid。Itwaslikeapennydreadful。\"
Shewasbitingherlip，andthoughhereyeswerecoolandlevel-
lookingasever，thetell-taleangryredwasinhercheeks。
\"Ofcourse，ifyoudon\'twanttomarryme——\"
\"ButIdo，\"hehastilyinterposed。
\"Oh，youdo——\"
\"Butdon\'tyousee，littlegirl，Iwantyoutoloveme，\"hehurriedon。\"Otherwise，itwouldbeonlyhalfamarriage。Idon\'twantyoutomarrymesimplybecausebysodoingastopisputtothebeachgossip，nordoIwantyoutomarrymeoutofsomefoolishromanticnotion。Ishouldn\'twantyou……thatway。\"
\"Oh，inthatcase，\"shesaidwithassumeddeliberateness，andhecouldhavesworntotheroguishgleam，\"inthatcase，sinceyouarewillingtoconsidermyoffer，letmemakeafewremarks。Inthefirstplace，youneedn\'tsneeratadventurewhenyouarelivingityourself；andyouwerecertainlylivingitwhenIfoundyoufirst，downwithfeveronalonelyplantationwithacoupleofhundredwildcannibalsthirstingforyourlife。ThenIcamealong——\"
\"Andwhatwithyourarrivinginagale，\"hebrokein，\"freshfromthewreckoftheschooner，landingonthebeachinawhale-boatfullofpicturesqueTahitiansailors，andcomingintothebungalowwithaBaden-Powellonyourhead，sea-bootsonyourfeet，andawhackingbigColt\'sdanglingonyourhip——why，Iamonlytooreadytoadmitthatyouwerethequintessenceofadventure。\"
\"Verygood，\"shecriedexultantly。\"It\'smeresimplearithmetic——
theaddingofyouradventureandmyadventuretogether。Sothat\'ssettled，andyouneedn\'tjeeratadventureanymore。Next，Idon\'tthinktherewasanythingromanticinTudor\'sattemptingtokissme，noranythinglikeadventureinthisabsurdduel。ButIdothink，now，thatitwasromanticforyoutofallinlovewithme。Andfinally，anditisaddingromancetoromance，Ithink……IthinkIdoloveyou，Dave——oh，Dave!\"
Thelastwasasighingdove-cryashecaughtherupinhisarmsandpressedhertohim。
\"ButIdon\'tloveyoubecauseyouplayedthefoolto-day，\"shewhisperedonhisshoulder。\"Whitemenshouldn\'tgoaroundkillingeachother。\"
\"Thenwhydoyouloveme？\"hequestioned，enthralledafterthemannerofallloversintheeverlastingquerythatforeverhasremainedunanswered。
\"Idon\'tknow——justbecauseIdo，Iguess。Andthat\'sallthesatisfactionyougavemewhenwehadthatman-talk。ButIhavebeenlovingyouforweeks——duringallthetimeyouhavebeensodeliciouslyandunobtrusivelyjealousofTudor。\"
\"Yes，yes，goon，\"heurgedbreathlessly，whenshepaused。
\"Iwonderedwhenyou\'dbreakout，andbecauseyoudidn\'tIlovedyouallthemore。YouwerelikeDad，andVon。Youcouldholdyourselfincheck。Youdidn\'tmakeafoolofyourself。\"
\"Notuntilto-day，\"hesuggested。
\"Yes，andIlovedyouforthat，too。Itwasabouttime。Ibegantothinkyouwerenevergoingtobringupthesubjectagain。AndnowthatIhaveofferedmyselfyouhaven\'tevenaccepted。\"
Withbothhandsonhershouldersheheldheratarm\'s-lengthfromhimandlookedlongintohereyes，nolongercoolbutseeminglypervadedwithagoldenflush。Thelidsdroopedandyetbravelydidnotdroopasshereturnedhisgaze。Thenhefondlyandsolemnlydrewhertohim。
\"Andhowaboutthathearthandsaddleofyourown？\"heasked，amomentlater。
\"Iwell-nighwontothem。Thegrasshouseismyhearth，andtheMarthamysaddle，and——andlookatallthetreesI\'veplanted，tosaynothingofthesweetcorn。Andit\'sallyourfaultanyway。I
mightneverhavelovedyouifyouhadn\'tputtheideaintomyhead。\"
\"There\'stheNongasslacominginaroundthepointwithherboatsout，\"Sheldonremarkedirrelevantly。\"AndtheCommissionerisonboard。He\'sgoingdowntoSanCristovaltoinvestigatethatmissionarykilling。We\'reinluck，Imustsay。\"
\"Idon\'tseewheretheluckcomesin，\"shesaiddolefully。\"Weoughttohavethiseveningalltoourselvesjusttotalkthingsover。I\'veathousandquestionstoaskyou。\"
\"Anditwouldn\'thavebeenaman-talkeither，\"sheadded。
\"Butmyplanisbetterthanthat。\"Hedebatedwithhimselfamoment。\"Yousee，theCommissioneristheoneofficialintheislandswhocangiveusalicense。And——there\'stheluckofit——
DoctorWelshmereisheretoperformtheceremony。We\'llgetmarriedthisevening。\"
Joanrecoiledfromhiminpanic，tearingherselffromhisarmsandgoingbackwardseveralsteps。Hecouldseethatshewasreallyfrightened。
\"I……Ithought……\"shestammered。
Then，slowly，thechangecameoverher，andthebloodfloodedintoherfaceinthesameamazingblushhehadseenoncebeforethatday。Hercool，level-lookingeyeswerenolongerlevel-lookingnorcool，butwarmlydroopingandjustunabletomeethis，asshecametowardhimandnestledinthecircleofhisarms，sayingsoftly，almostinawhisper，-
\"Iamready，\"Dave。\"