"Telepasse，youoldreprobate，tell'mboysclearoutalongbeach。
　　Myword，Inogammonalongyou。"
　　"Menogammon，"saidthechief。"Mewant'mpaywhiteMarybang'mheadb'longGogoomy。"
　　"I'llcomedownthereandbang'mheadb'longyou，"Sheldonreplied，leaningtowardtherailingasifabouttoleapover。
　　Anangrymurmurarose，andtheblackssurgedrestlessly。Themuzzlesofmanygunswererisingfromthehips。Joanwaspressingthelightedendofthecigarettetothefuse。ASniderwentoffwiththeroarofabomb-gun，andSheldonheardapaneofwindow-
　　glasscrashbehindhim。AtthesamemomentJoanflungthedynamite，thefusehissingandspluttering，intothethickoftheblacks。Theyscatteredbackintoogreathastetodoanymoreshooting。Satan，arousedbytheoneshot，wassnarlingandpantingtobeletout。Joanheard，andrantolethimout；andthereatthetragedywasaverted，andthecomedybegan。
　　Riflesandspearsweredroppedorflungasideinawildscramblefortheprotectionofthecocoanutpalms。Satanmultipliedhimself。Neverhadhebeenfreetotearandrendsuchaquantityofblackfleshbefore，andhebitandsnappedandrushedtheflyinglegstillthelastpairwereabovehishead。AllweretreedexceptTelepasse，whowastoooldandfat，andhelayproneandwithoutmovementwherehehadfallen；whileSatan，withtoogreatahearttoworryanenemythatdidnotmove，dashedfranticallyfromtreetotree，barkingandspringingatthosewhoclungonlowestdown。
　　"Ifancyyouneedalessonortwoininsertingfuses，"Sheldonremarkeddryly。
　　Joan'seyeswerescornful。
　　"Therewasnodetonatoronit，"shesaid。"Besides，thedetonatorisnotyetmanufacturedthatwillexplodethatcharge。It'sonlyabottleofchlorodyne。"
　　Sheputherfingersintohermouth，andSheldonwincedashesawherblow，likeaboy，asharp，imperiouswhistle——thecallshealwaysusedforhersailors，andthatalwaysmadehimwince。
　　"They'regoneuptheBalesuna，shootingfish，"heexplained。"ButtherecomesOlesonwithhisboat's-crew。He'sanoldwar-horsewhenhegetsstarted。Seehimbangingtheboys。Theydon'tpullfastenoughforhim。"
　　"Andnowwhat'stobedone？"sheasked。"You'vetreedyourgame，butyoucan'tkeepittreed。"
　　"No；butIcanteachthemalesson。"
　　Sheldonwalkedovertothebigbell。
　　"Itisallright，"herepliedtohergestureofprotest。"Myboysarepracticallyallbushmen，whilethesechapsaresalt-watermen，andthere'snolovelostbetweenthem。Youwatchthefun。"
　　Herangageneralcall，andbythetimethetwohundredlabourerstroopedintothecompoundSatanwasoncemorepennedintheliving-
　　room，complainingtohighheavenathisabominabletreatment。Theplantationhandsweredancingwar-dancesaroundthebaseofeverytreeandfillingtheairwithabuseandvituperationoftheirhereditaryenemies。TheskipperoftheFlibberty-Gibbetarrivedinthethickofit，inthefirstthroesofoncomingfever，staggeringashewalked，andshiveringsoseverelythathecouldscarcelyholdtheriflehecarried。Hisfacewasghastlyblue，histeethclickedandchattered，andtheviolentsunshinethroughwhichhewalkedcouldnotwarmhim。
　　"I'lls-s-sitdown，andk-k-keepaguardon'em，"hechattered。
　　"D-d-dashitall，Ialwaysg-getf-feverwhenthere'sanyexcitement。W-w-wh-whatareyougoingtodo？"
　　"Gatherupthegunsfirstofall。"
　　UnderSheldon'sdirectionthehouse-boysandgang-bossescollectedthescatteredarmsandpiledtheminaheapontheveranda。Themodernrifles，stolenfromLunga，Sheldonsetaside；theSnidershesmashedintofragments；thepileofspears，clubs，andtomahawkshepresentedtoJoan。
　　"Areallyuniqueadditiontoyourcollection，"hesmiled；"pickeduprightonthebattlefield。"
　　Downonthebeachhebuiltabonfireoutofthecontentsofthecanoes，hisblackssmashing，breaking，andlootingeverythingtheylaidhandson。Thecanoesthemselves，splinteredandbroken，filledwithsandandcoral-boulders，weretowedouttotenfathomsofwaterandsunk。
　　"Tenfathomswillbedeepenoughforthemtoworkin，"Sheldonsaid，astheywalkedbacktothecompound。
　　HereaSaturnaliahadbrokenloose。Thewar-songsanddancesweremoreunrestrained，and，fromabuse，theplantationblackshadturnedtopeltingtheirhelplessfoeswithpiecesofwood，handfulsofpebbles，andchunksofcoral-rock。Andtheseventy-fivelustycannibalsclungstoicallytotheirtree-perches，enduringtherainofmissilesandsnarlingdownpromisesofvengeance。
　　"There'llbewarsforfortyyearsonMalaitaonaccountofthis，"
　　Sheldonlaughed。"ButIalwaysfancyoldTelepassewillneveragainattempttorushaplantation。"
　　"Eh，youoldscoundrel，"headded，turningtotheoldchief，whosatgibberinginimpotentrageatthefootofthesteps。"Nowheadbelongyoubang'mtoo。Comeon，MissLackland，bang'mjustonce。
　　Itwillbethecrowningindignity。"
　　"Ugh，he'stoodirty。I'drathergivehimabath。Here，you，AdamuAdam，givethisdevil-devilawash。Soapandwater!Fillthatwash-tub。Ornfiri，runandfetch'mscrub-brush。"
　　TheTahitians，backfromtheirfishingandgrinningatthebedlamofthecompound，enteredintothejoke。
　　"Tambo!Tambo!"shriekedthecannibalsfromthetrees，appalledatsoawfuladesecration，astheysawtheirchieftumbledintothetubandthesacreddirtrubbedandsousedfromhisbody。
　　Joan，whohadgoneintothebungalow，tosseddownastripofwhitecalico，inwhicholdTelepassewaspromptlywrapped，andhestoodforth，resplendentandpurified，withalhestillspatandstrangledfromthesoap-sudswithwhichNoaNoahhadgargledhisthroat。
　　Thehouse-boysweredirectedtofetchhandcuffs，and，onebyone，theLungarunawayswerehaleddownoutoftheirtreesandmadefast。Sheldonironedtheminpairs，andranasteelchainthroughthelinksoftheirons。Gogoomywasgivenalectureforhismutinousconductandlockedupfortheafternoon。ThenSheldonrewardedtheplantationhandswithanafternoon'sholiday，and，whentheyhadwithdrawnfromthecompound，permittedthePortAdamsmentodescendfromthetrees。AndallafternoonheandJoanloafedinthecooloftheverandaandwatchedthemdivingdownandemptyingtheirsunkencanoesofthesandandrocks。Itwastwilightwhentheyembarkedandpaddledawaywithafewbrokenpaddles。Abreezehadsprungup，andtheFlibberty-GibbethadalreadysailedforLungatoreturntherunaways。
　　CHAPTERXII——MR。MORGANANDMR。RAFF
　　Sheldonwasbackintheplantationsuperintendingthebuildingofabridge，whentheschoonerMalakularanincloseanddroppedanchor。
　　Joanwatchedthetakinginofsailandtheswingingoutoftheboatwithasailor'sinterest，andherselfmetthetwomenwhocameashore。Whileoneofthehouse-boysrantofetchSheldon，shehadthevisitorsservedwithwhiskyandsoda，andsatandtalkedwiththem。
　　Theyseemedawkwardandconstrainedinherpresence，andshecaughtfirstoneandthentheotherlookingatherwithsecretcuriosity。
　　Shefeltthattheywereweighingher，appraisingher，andforthefirsttimetheanomalouspositionsheoccupiedonBerandesanksharplyhometoher。Ontheotherhand，theypuzzledher。Theywereneithertradersnorsailorsofanytypeshehadknown。Nordidtheytalklikegentlemen，despitethefactthattherewasnothingoffensiveintheirbearingandthattheveneerofordinarysocialnicetywastheirs。Undoubtedly，theyweremenofaffairs——
　　businessmenofasort；butwhataffairsshouldtheyhaveintheSolomons，andwhatbusinessonBerande？Theelderone，Morgan，wasahugeman，bronzedandmoustached，withadeepbassvoiceandanalmostgutturalspeech，andtheother，Raff，wasslightandeffeminate，withnervoushandsandwatery，washed-outgrayeyes，whospokewithafaintindefinableaccentthatwashauntinglyreminiscentoftheCockney，andthatwasyetnotCockneyofanybrandshehadeverencountered。Whatevertheywere，theywereself-mademen，sheconcluded；andshefelttheimpulsetoshudderatthoughtoffallingintotheirhandsinabusinessway。There，theywouldbemerciless。
　　ShewatchedSheldoncloselywhenhearrived，anddivinedthathewasnotparticularlydelightedtoseethem。Butseethemhemust，andsopressingwastheneedthat，afteralittleperfunctorygeneralconversation，heledthetwomenintothestuffyoffice。
　　Laterintheafternoon，sheaskedLalaperuwheretheyhadgone。
　　"Myword，"quothLalaperu；"plentywalkabout，plentylook'm。
　　Look'mtree；look'mgroundbelongtree；look'mallfellabridge；
　　look'mcopra-house；look'mgrass-land；look'mriver；look'mwhale-boat——myword，plentybigfellalook'mtoomuch。"
　　"Whatfellamanthemtwofella？"shequeried。
　　"Bigfellamarsteralongwhiteman，"wastheextentofhisdescription。
　　ButJoandecidedthattheyweremenofimportanceintheSolomons，andthattheirexaminationoftheplantationandofitsaccountswasofsinistersignificance。
　　Atdinnernowordwasdroppedthatgaveahintoftheirerrand。
　　Theconversationwasongeneraltopics；butJoancouldnothelpnoticingthetroubled，absentexpressionthatoccasionallycameintoSheldon'seyes。Aftercoffee，sheleftthem；andatmidnight，fromacrossthecompound，shecouldhearthelowmurmuroftheirvoicesandseeglowingthefieryendsoftheircigars。Upearlyherself，shefoundtheyhadalreadydepartedonanothertrampovertheplantation。
　　"Whatyouthink？"sheaskedViaburi。
　　"Sheldonmarsterhegoalongfinishshorttimelittlebit，"wastheanswer。
　　"Whatyouthink？"sheaskedOrnfiri。
　　"SheldonmarsterbigfellawalkaboutalongSydney。Yes，met'inkso。HefinishalongBerande。"
　　Alldaytheexaminationoftheplantationandthediscussionwenton；andalldaytheskipperoftheMalakulasenturgentmessagesashoreforthetwomentohasten。Itwasnotuntilsunsetthattheywentdowntotheboat，andeventhenafinaltalkofnearlyanhourtookplaceonthebeach。Sheldonwascombatingsomething——
　　thatshecouldplainlysee；andthathistwovisitorswerenotgivinginshecouldalsoplainlysee。
　　"Whatname？"sheaskedlightly，whenSheldonsatdowntodinner。
　　Helookedatherandsmiled，butitwasaverywanandwistfulsmile。
　　"Myword，"shewenton。"Onebigfellatalk。Sunhegodown——
　　talk-talk；sunhecomeup——talk-talk；allthetimetalk-talk。Whatnamethatfellatalk-talk？
　　"Oh，nothingmuch。"Heshruggedhisshoulders。"TheyweretryingtobuyBerande，thatwasall。"
　　Shelookedathimchallengingly。
　　"Itmusthavebeenmorethanthat。Itwasyouwhowantedtosell。"
　　"Indeed，no，MissLackland；IassureyouthatIamfarfromdesiringtosell。"
　　"Don'tletusfenceaboutit，"sheurged。"Letitbestraighttalkbetweenus。You'reintrouble。I'mnotafool。Tellme。
　　Besides，Imaybeabletohelp，to——tosuggestsomething。"
　　Inthepausethatfollowed，heseemedtodebate，notsomuchwhetherhewouldtellher，ashowtobegintotellher。
　　"I'mAmerican，yousee，"shepersisted，"andourAmericanheritageisalargeparcelofbusinesssense。Idon'tlikeitmyself，butI
　　knowI'vegotit——atleastmorethanyouhave。Letustalkitoverandfindawayout。Howmuchdoyouowe？"
　　"Athousandpounds，andafewtriflesover——smallbills，youknow。
　　Then，too，thirtyoftheboysfinishtheirtimenextweek，andtheirbalanceswillaveragetenpoundseach。Butwhatistheneedofbotheringyourheadwithit？Really，youknow——"
　　"WhatisBerandeworth？——rightnow？"
　　"WhateverMorganandRaffarewillingtopayforit。"Aglanceatherhurtexpressiondecidedhim。"HughieandIhavesunkeightthousandpoundsinit，andourtime。Itisagoodproperty，andworthmorethanthat。Butithasthreeyearstorunbeforeitsreturnsbegintocomein。ThatiswhyHughieandIengagedintradingandrecruiting。TheJessieandourstationscameveryneartopayingtherunningexpensesofBerande。"
　　"AndMorganandRaffofferedyouwhat？"
　　"Athousandpoundsclear，afterpayingallbills。"
　　"Thethieves!"shecried。
　　"No，they'regoodbusinessmen，thatisall。Astheytoldme，athingisworthnomorethanoneiswillingtopayortoreceive。"
　　"AndhowmuchdoyouneedtocarryonBerandeforthreeyears？"
　　Joanhurriedon。
　　"Twohundredboysatsixpoundsayearmeansthirty-sixhundredpounds——that'sthemainitem。"
　　"My，howcheaplabourdoesmountup!Thirty-sixhundredpounds，eighteenthousanddollars，justforalotofcannibals!Yettheplaceisgoodsecurity。YoucouldgodowntoSydneyandraisethemoney。"
　　Heshookhishead。
　　"Youcan'tgetthemtolookatplantationsdownthere。They'vebeentakenintoooften。ButIdohatetogivetheplaceup——moreforHughie'ssake，Iswear，thanmyown。Hewasboundupinit。
　　Yousee，hewasapersistentchap，andhatedtoacknowledgedefeat。
　　It——itmakesmeuncomfortabletothinkofitmyself。Wewererunningslowlybehind，butwiththeJessiewehopedtomuddlethroughinsomefashion。"
　　"Youweremuddlers，thepairofyou，withoutdoubt。Butyouneedn'tselltoMorganandRaff。IshallgodowntoSydneyonthenextsteamer，andI'llcomebackinasecond-handschooner。I
　　shouldbeabletobuyoneforfiveorsixthousanddollars——"
　　Hehelduphishandinprotest，butshewaveditaside。
　　"Imaymanagetofreightacargobackaswell。Atanyrate，theschoonerwilltakeovertheJessie'sbusiness。Youcanmakeyourarrangementsaccordingly，andhaveplentyofworkforherwhenI
　　getback。I'mgoingtobecomeapartnerinBerandetotheextentofmybagofsovereigns——I'vegotoverfifteenhundredofthem，youknow。We'lldrawupanagreementrightnow——thatis，withyourpermission，andIknowyouwon'trefuseit。"
　　Helookedatherwithgood-naturedamusement。
　　"YouknowIsailedhereallthewayfromTahitiinordertobecomeaplanter，"sheinsisted。"Youknowwhatmyplanswere。NowI'vechangedthem，that'sall。I'dratherbeapartownerofBerandeandgetmyreturnsinthreeyears，thanbreakgroundonPari-Sulayandwaitsevenyears。"
　　"Andthis——er——thisschooner……"Sheldonchangedhismindandstopped。
　　"Yes，goon。"
　　"Youwon'tbeangry？"hequeried。
　　"No，no；thisisbusiness。Goon。"
　　"You——er——youwouldrunheryourself？——bethecaptain，inshort？——
　　andgorecruitingonMalaita？"
　　"Certainly。Wewouldsavethecostofaskipper。Underanagreementyouwouldbecreditedwithamanager'ssalary，andIwithacaptain's。It'squitesimple。Besides，ifyouwon'tletmebeyourpartner，IshallbuyPari-Sulay，getamuchsmallervessel，andrunhermyself。Sowhatisthedifference？"
　　"Thedifference？——why，allthedifferenceintheworld。InthecaseofPari-Sulayyouwouldbeonanindependentventure。YoucouldturncannibalforallIcouldinterfereinthematter。ButonBerande，youwouldbemypartner，andthenIwouldberesponsible。AndofcourseIcouldn'tpermityou，asmypartner，tobeskipperofarecruiter。Itellyou，thethingiswhatI
　　wouldnotpermitanysisterorwifeofmine——"
　　"ButI'mnotgoingtobeyourwife，thankgoodness——onlyyourpartner。"
　　"Besides，it'sallridiculous，"heheldonsteadily。"Thinkofthesituation。Amanandawoman，bothyoung，partnersonanisolatedplantation。Why，theonlypracticalwayoutwouldbethatI'dhavetomarryyou——"
　　"Minewasabusinessproposition，notamarriageproposal，"sheinterrupted，coldlyangry。"Iwonderifsomewhereinthisworldthereisonemanwhocouldacceptmeforacomrade。"
　　"Butyouareawomanjustthesame，"hebegan，"andtherearecertainconventions，certaindecencies——"
　　Shesprangupandstampedherfoot。
　　"DoyouknowwhatI'dliketosay？"shedemanded。
　　"Yes，"hesmiled，"you'dliketosay，'Damnpetticoats!'"
　　Shenoddedherheadruefully。
　　"That'swhatIwantedtosay，butitsoundsdifferentonyourlips。
　　Itsoundsasthoughyoumeantityourself，andthatyoumeantitbecauseofme。"
　　"Well，Iamgoingtobed。Butdo，please，thinkovermyproposition，andletmeknowinthemorning。There'snouseinmydiscussingitnow。Youmakemesoangry。Youarecowardly，youknow，andveryegotistic。Youareafraidofwhatotherfoolswillsay。Nomatterhowhonestyourmotives，ifotherscriticizedyouractionsyourfeelingswouldbehurt。Andyouthinkmoreaboutyourownwretchedfeelingsthanyoudoaboutmine。Andthen，beingacoward——allmenareatheartcowards——youdisguiseyourcowardicebycallingitchivalry。IthankheaventhatIwasnotbornaman。
　　Good-night。Dothinkitover。Anddon'tbefoolish。WhatBerandeneedsisgoodAmericanhustle。Youdon'tknowwhatthatis。Youareamuddler。Besides，youareenervated。I'mfreshtotheclimate。Letmebeyourpartner，andyou'llseemerattlethedrybonesoftheSolomons。Confess，I'verattledyoursalready。"
　　"Ishouldsayso，"heanswered。"Really，youknow，youhave。I
　　neverreceivedsuchadressing-downinmylife。IfanyonehadevertoldmethatI'dbeapartyeventothepresentsituation……Yes，Iconfess，youhaverattledmydrybonesprettyconsiderably。"
　　"Butthatisnothingtotherattlingtheyaregoingtoget，"sheassuredhim，asheroseandtookherhand。"Good-night。Anddo，dogivemearationaldecisioninthemorning。"
　　CHAPTERXIII——THELOGICOFYOUTH
　　"IwishIknewwhetheryouaremerelyheadstrong，orwhetheryoureallyintendtobeaSolomonplanter，"Sheldonsaidinthemorning，atbreakfast。
　　"Iwishyouweremoreadaptable，"Joanretorted。"YouhavemorepreconceivednotionsthananymanIevermet。Whyinthenameofcommonsense，inthenameof……fairplay，can'tyougetitintoyourheadthatIamdifferentfromthewomenyouhaveknown，andtreatmeaccordingly？YousurelyoughttoknowIamdifferent。I
　　sailedmyownschoonerhere——skipper，ifyouplease。Icameheretomakemyliving。Youknowthat；I'vetoldyouoftenenough。ItwasDad'splan，andI'mcarryingitout，justasyouaretryingtocarryoutyourHughie'splan。Dadstartedtosailandsailuntilhecouldfindtheproperislandsforplanting。Hedied，andI
　　sailedandsaileduntilIarrivedhere。Well，"——sheshruggedhershoulders——"theschoonerisatthebottomofthesea。Ican'tsailanyfarther，thereforeIremainhere。AndaplanterIshallcertainlybe。"
　　"Yousee——"hebegan。
　　"Ihaven'tgottothepoint，"sheinterrupted。"LookingbackonmyconductfromthemomentIfirstsetfootonyourbeach，IcanseenofalsepretencethatIhavemadeaboutmyselformyintentions。
　　Iwasmynaturalselftoyoufromthefirst。Itoldyoumyplans；
　　andyetyousitthereandcalmlytellmethatyoudon'tknowwhetherIreallyintendtobecomeaplanter，orwhetheritisallobstinacyandpretence。Nowletmeassureyou，forthelasttime，thatIreallyandtrulyshallbecomeaplanter，thankstoyou，orinspiteofyou。Doyouwantmeforapartner？"
　　"ButdoyourealizethatIwouldbelookeduponasthemostfoolishjackanapesintheSouthSeasifItookayounggirllikeyouinwithmehereonBerande？"heasked。
　　"No；decidedlynot。Butthereyouareagain，worryingaboutwhatidiotsandthegenerallyevil-mindedwillthinkofyou。Ishouldhavethoughtyouhadlearnedself-relianceonBerande，insteadofneedingtoleanuponthemoralsupportofeverywhisky-guzzlingworthlessSouthSeavagabond。"
　　Hesmiled，andsaid，-
　　"Yes，thatistheworstofit。Youareunanswerable。Yoursisthelogicofyouth，andnomancananswerthat。Thefactsoflifecan，buttheyhavenoplaceinthelogicofyouth。Youthmusttrytoliveaccordingtoitslogic。Thatistheonlywaytolearnbetter。"
　　"Thereisnoharmintrying？"sheinterjected。
　　"Butthereis。Thatistheverypoint。Thefactsalwayssmashyouth'slogic，andtheyusuallysmashyouth'sheart，too。It'slikeplatonicfriendshipsand……andallsuchthings；theyareallrightintheory，buttheywon'tworkinpractice。Iusedtobelieveinsuchthingsonce。ThatiswhyIamhereintheSolomonsatpresent。"
　　Joanwasimpatient。Hesawthatshecouldnotunderstand。Lifewastooclearlysimpletoher。Itwasonlytheyouthwhowasarguingwithhim，theyouthwithyouth'spure-mindedandinvinciblereasoning。Herswasonlytheboy'ssoulinawoman'sbody。Helookedatherflushed，eagerface，atthegreatropesofhaircoiledonthesmallhead，attheroundedlinesofthefigureshowingplainlythroughthehome-madegown，andattheeyes——boy'seyes，undercool，levelbrows——andhewonderedwhyabeingthatwassomuchbeautifulwomanshouldbenowomanatall。Whyinthedeucewasshenotcarroty-haired，orcross-eyed，orhare-lipped？
　　"SupposewedobecomepartnersonBerande，"hesaid，atthesametimeexperiencingafeelingoffrightattheprospectthatwastangledwithacontradictoryfeelingofcharm，"eitherI'llfallinlovewithyou，oryouwithme。Propinquityisdangerous，youknow。
　　Infact，itispropinquitythatusuallygivesthefacertothelogicofyouth。"
　　"IfyouthinkIcametotheSolomonstogetmarried——"shebeganwrathfully。"Well，therearebettermeninHawaii，that'sall。
　　Really，youknow，thewayyouharponthatonestringwouldleadanunprejudicedlistenertoconcludethatyouareprurient-minded——"
　　Shestopped，appalled。Hisfacehadgoneredandwhitewithsuchabruptnessastostartleher。Hewaspatentlyveryangry。Shesippedthelastofhercoffee，andarose，saying，-
　　"I'llwaituntilyouareinabettertemperbeforetakingupthediscussionagain。Thatiswhat'sthematterwithyou。Yougetangrytooeasily。Willyoucomeswimming？Thetideisjustright。"
　　"IfshewereamanI'dbundleherofftheplantationrootandcrop，whale-boat，Tahitiansailors，sovereigns，andall，"hemutteredtohimselfaftershehadlefttheroom。
　　Butthatwasthetrouble。Shewasnotaman，andwherewouldshego，andwhatwouldhappentoher？
　　Hegottohisfeet，lightedacigarette，andherStetsonhat，hangingonthewalloverherrevolver-belt，caughthiseye。Thatwasthedevilofit，too。Hedidnotwanthertogo。Afterall，shehadnotgrownupyet。Thatwaswhyherlogichurt。Itwasonlythelogicofyouth，butitcouldhurtdamnablyattimes。Atanyrate，hewouldresolveupononething:neveragainwouldhelosehistemperwithher。Shewasachild；hemustrememberthat。
　　Hesighedheavily。Butwhyinreasonablenesshadsuchachildbeenincorporatedinsuchawoman'sform？
　　Andashecontinuedtostareatherhatandthink，thehurthehadreceivedpassedaway，andhefoundhimselfcudgellinghisbrainsforsomewayoutofthemuddle——forsomemethodbywhichshecouldremainonBerande。Achaperone!Whynot？HecouldsendtoSydneyonthefirststeamerforone。Hecould-
　　Hertrillinglaughtersmoteuponhisreverie，andhesteppedtothescreen-door，throughwhichhecouldseeherrunningdownthepathtothebeach。Atherheelsrantwoofhersailors，PapeharaandMahameme，inscarletlava-lavas，withnakedsheath-knivesgleamingintheirbelts。Itwasanothersampleofherwilfulness。Despiteentreatiesandcommands，andwarningsofthedangerfromsharks，shepersistedinswimmingatanyandalltimes，andbyspecialpreference，itseemedtohim，immediatelyaftereating。
　　Hewatchedhertakethewater，divingcleanly，likeaboy，fromtheendofthelittlepier；andhewatchedherstrikeoutwithsingleoverhandstroke，herhenchmenswimmingadozenfeetoneitherside。
　　Hedidnothavemuchfaithintheirabilitytobeatoffahungryman-eater，thoughhedidbelieve，implicitly，thattheirliveswouldgobravelybeforehersincaseofanattack。
　　Straightouttheyswam，theirheadsgrowingsmallerandsmaller。
　　Therewasaslight，restlessheavetothesea，andsoonthethreeheadsweredisappearingbehinditwithgreaterfrequency。Hestrainedhiseyestokeeptheminsight，andfinallyfetchedthetelescopeontotheveranda。AsquallwasmakingoverfromthedirectionofFlorida；butthen，sheandhermenlaughedatsquallsandthewhitechoppyseaatsuchtimes。Shecertainlycouldswim，hehadlongsinceconcluded。ThatcameofhertraininginHawaii。
　　Butsharksweresharks，andhehadknownofmorethanonegoodswimmerdrownedinatide-rip。
　　Thesquallblackenedthesky，beattheoceanwhitewherehehadlastseenthethreeheads，andthenblottedoutseaandskyandeverythingwithitsdelugeofrain。Itpassedon，andBerandeemergedinthebrightsunshineasthethreeswimmersemergedfromthesea。Sheldonslippedinsidewiththetelescope，andthroughthescreen-doorwatchedherrunupthepath，shakingdownherhairassheran，tothefresh-watershowerunderthehouse。
　　Ontheverandathatafternoonhebroachedthepropositionofachaperoneasdelicatelyashecould，explainingthenecessityatBerandeforsuchabody，ahousekeepertoruntheboysandthestoreroom，andperformdiversotherusefulfunctions。Whenhehadfinished，hewaitedanxiouslyforwhatJoanwouldsay。
　　"Thenyoudon'tlikethewayI'vebeenmanagingthehouse？"washerfirstobjection。Andnext，brushinghisattemptedexplanationsaside，"Oneoftwothingswouldhappen。EitherIshouldcancelourpartnershipagreementandgoaway，leavingyoutogetanotherchaperonetochaperoneyourchaperone；orelseI'dtaketheoldhenoutinthewhale-boatanddrownher。DoyouimagineforonemomentthatIsailedmyschoonerdownheretothisrawedgeoftheearthinordertoputmyselfunderachaperone？"
　　"Butreally……er……youknowachaperoneisanecessaryevil，"heobjected。
　　"We'vegotalongverynicelysofarwithoutone。DidIhaveoneontheMiele？AndyetIwastheonlywomanonboard。ThereareonlythreethingsIamafraidof——bumble-bees，scarletfever，andchaperones。Ugh!theclucking，evil-mindedmonsters，findingwrongineverything，seeingsininthemostinnocentactions，andsuggestingsin——yes，causingsin——bytheirdiseasedimaginings。"
　　"Phew!"Sheldonleanedbackfromthetableinmockfear。
　　"Youneedn'tworryaboutyourbreadandbutter，"heventured。"Ifyoufailatplanting，youwouldbesuretosucceedasawriter——
　　novelswithapurpose，youknow。"
　　"Ididn'tthinktherewerepersonsintheSolomonswhoneededsuchbooks，"sheretaliated。"Butyouarecertainlyone——youandyourcustodiansofvirtue。"
　　Hewinced，butJoanrattledonwiththeplatitudinousoriginalityofyouth。
　　"Asifanythinggoodwereworthwhilewhenithastobeguardedandputinleg-ironsandhandcuffsinordertokeepitgood。YourdesireforachaperoneasmuchasimpliesthatIamthatsortofcreature。Iprefertobegoodbecauseitisgoodtobegood，ratherthanbecauseIcan'tbebadbecausesomeargus-eyedoldfrumpwon'tletmehaveachancetobebad。"
　　"Butit——itisnotthat，"heputin。"Itiswhatotherswillthink。"
　　"Letthemthink，thenasty-mindedwretches!Itisbecausemenlikeyouareafraidofthenasty-mindedthatyouallowtheiropinionstoruleyou。"
　　"IamafraidyouareafemaleShelley，"hereplied；"andassuch，youreallydrivemetobecomeyourpartnerinordertoprotectyou。"
　　"Ifyoutakemeasapartnerinordertoprotectme……I……I
　　shan'tbeyourpartner，that'sall。You'lldrivemeintobuyingPari-Sulayyet。"
　　"Allthemorereason——"heattempted。
　　"DoyouknowwhatI'lldo？"shedemanded。"I'llfindsomemanintheSolomonswhowon'twanttoprotectme。"
　　Sheldoncouldnotconcealtheshockherwordsgavehim。
　　"Youdon'tmeanthat，youknow，"hepleaded。
　　"Ido；Ireallydo。Iamsickandtiredofthisprotectiondodge。
　　Don'tforgetforamomentthatIamperfectlyabletotakecareofmyself。Besides，Ihaveeightofthebestprotectorsintheworld——
　　mysailors。"
　　"Youshouldhavelivedathousandyearsago，"helaughed，"orathousandyearshence。Youareveryprimitive，andequallysuper-
　　modern。Thetwentiethcenturyisnoplaceforyou。"
　　"ButtheSolomonIslandsare。YouwerelivinglikeasavagewhenI
　　camealongandfoundyou——eatingnothingbuttinnedmeatandsconesthatwouldhaveruinedthedigestionofacamel。Anyway，I'veremediedthat；andsincewearetobepartners，itwillstayremedied。Youwon'tdieofmalnutrition，besureofthat。"
　　"Ifweenterintopartnership，"heannounced，"itmustbethoroughlyunderstoodthatyouarenotallowedtoruntheschooner。
　　YoucangodowntoSydneyandbuyher，butaskipperwemusthave——
　　"
　　"Atsomuchadditionalexpense，andmostlikelyawhisky-drinking，irresponsible，andincapablemantoboot。Besides，I'dhavethebusinessmoreatheartthananymanwecouldhire。Asforcapability，ItellyouIcansailallaroundtheaveragebrokencaptainorpromotedableseamanyoufindintheSouthSeas。AndyouknowIamanavigator。"
　　"Butbeingmypartner，"hesaidcoolly，"makesyounonethelessalady。"
　　"Thankyoufortellingmethatmycontemplatedconductisunladylike。"
　　Shearose，tearsofangerandmortificationinhereyes，andwentovertothephonograph。
　　"Iwonderifallmenareasridiculousasyou？"shesaid。
　　Heshruggedhisshouldersandsmiled。Discussionwasuseless——hehadlearnedthat；andhewasresolvedtokeephistemper。Andbeforethedaywasoutshecapitulated。ShewastogotoSydneyonthefirststeamer，purchasetheschooner，andsailbackwithanislandskipperonboard。AndthensheinveigledSheldonintoagreeingthatshecouldtakeoccasionalcruisesintheislands，thoughhewasadamantwhenitcametoarecruitingtriponMalaita。
　　Thatwastheonethingbarred。
　　Andafteritwasallover，andaterseandbusiness-likeagreementbyherurgingdrawnupandsigned，Sheldonpacedupanddownforafullhour，meditatinguponhowmanydifferentkindsofafoolhehadmadeofhimself。Itwasanimpossiblesituation，andyetnomoreimpossiblethanthepreviousone，andnomoreimpossiblethantheonethatwouldhaveobtainedhadshegoneoffonherownandboughtPari-Sulay。Hehadneverseenamoreindependentwomanwhostoodmoreinneedofaprotectorthanthisboy-mindedgirlwhohadlandedonhisbeachwitheightpicturesquesavages，along-
　　barrelledrevolver，abagofgold，andagaudymerchandiseofimaginedromanceandadventure。
　　Hehadneverreadofanythingtocomparewithit。Thefictionists，asusual，wereexceededbyfact。Thewholethingwastoopreposteroustobetrue。Hegnawedhismoustacheandsmokedcigaretteaftercigarette。Satan，backfromaprowlaroundthecompound，ranuptohimandtouchedhishandwithacold，dampnose。Sheldoncaressedtheanimal'sears，thenthrewhimselfintoachairandlaughedheartily。WhatwouldtheCommissioneroftheSolomonsthink？Whatwouldhispeopleathomethink？AndintheonebreathhewasgladthatthepartnershiphadbeeneffectedandsorrythatJoanLacklandhadevercometotheSolomons。Thenhewentinsideandlookedathimselfinahand-mirror。Hestudiedthereflectionlongandthoughtfullyandwonderingly。
　　CHAPTERXIV——THEMARTHA
　　Theyweredeepinagameofbilliardsthenextmorning，aftertheeleveno'clockbreakfast，whenViaburienteredandannounced，-
　　"Bigfellaschoonercloseup。"
　　Evenashespoke，theyheardtherumbleofchainthroughhawse-
　　pipe，andfromtheverandasawabigblack-paintedschooner，swingingtoherjust-caughtanchor。
　　"It'saYankee，"Joancried。"Seethatbow!Lookatthatellipticalstern!Ah，Ithoughtso——"astheStarsandStripesflutteredtothemast-head。
　　NoaNoah，atSheldon'sdirection，rantheUnionJackuptheflag-
　　staff。
　　"NowwhatisanAmericanvesseldoingdownhere？"Joanasked。
　　"It'snotayacht，thoughI'llwagershecansail。Look!Hername!Whatisit？"
　　"Martha，SanFrancisco，"Sheldonread，lookingthroughthetelescope。"It'sthefirstYankeeIeverheardofintheSolomons。
　　Theyarecomingashore，whoevertheyare。And，byJove，lookatthosemenattheoars。It'sanall-whitecrew。Nowwhatreasonbringsthemhere？"
　　"They'renotpropersailors，"Joancommented。"I'dbeashamedofacrewofblack-boysthatpulledinsuchfashion。Lookatthatfellowinthebow——theonejustjumpingout；he'dbemoreathomeonacow-pony。"
　　Theboat's-crewscatteredupanddownthebeach，rangingaboutwitheagercuriosity，whilethetwomenwhohadsatinthestern-sheetsopenedthegateandcameupthepathtothebungalow。Oneofthem，atallandslenderman，wascladinwhiteducksthatfittedhimlikeasemi-militaryuniform。Theotherman，innondescriptgarmentsthatwerebothoftheseaandshore，andthatmusthavebeenuncomfortablyhot，slouchedandshambledlikeanovergrownape。Tocompletetheillusion，hisfaceseemedtosproutinalldirectionswithadense，bushymassofredwhiskers，whilehiseyesweresmallandsharpandrestless。
　　Sheldon，whohadgonetotheheadofthesteps，introducedthemtoJoan。Thebewhiskeredindividual，wholookedlikeaScotsman，hadtheTeutonicnameofVonBlix，andspokewithastrongAmericanaccent。Thetallmaninthewell-fittingducks，whogavetheEnglishnameofTudor——JohnTudor——talkedpurely-enunciatedEnglishsuchasanyculturedAmericanwouldtalk，saveforthefactthatitwasmostdelicatelyandsubtlytouchedbyafaintGermanaccent。
　　JoandecidedthatshehadbeenhelpedtoidentifytheaccentbytheshortGerman-lookingmoustachethatdidnotconcealthemouthanditsfullredlips，whichwouldhaveformedaCupid'sbowbutforsomeharshnessorseverityofspiritthathadmouldedthemmasculinely。
　　VonBlixwasroughandboorish，butTudorwasgracefullyeasyineverythinghedid，orlooked，orsaid。Hisblueeyessparkledandflashed，hisclean-cutmobilefeatureswereanindextohisslightestshadesoffeelingandexpression。Hebubbledwithenthusiasms，andhisfaintestsmileorlightestlaughseemedspontaneousandgenuine。Butitwasonlyoccasionallyatfirstthathespoke，forVonBlixtoldtheirstoryandstatedtheirerrand。
　　Theywereonagold-huntingexpedition。Hewastheleader，andTudorwashislieutenant。Allhands——andthereweretwenty-eight——
　　wereshareholders，invaryingproportions，intheadventure。
　　Severalweresailors，butthelargemajoritywereminers，culledfromallthecampsfromMexicototheArcticOcean。Itwastheoldandever-untiringpursuitofgold，andtheyhadcometotheSolomonstogetit。Partofthem，undertheleadershipofTudor，weretogouptheBalesunaandpenetratethemountainousheartofGuadalcanar，whiletheMartha，underVonBlix，sailedawayforMalaitatoputthroughsimilarexploration。
　　"Andso，"saidVonBlix，"forMr。Tudor'sexpeditionwemusthavesomeblack-boys。Canwegetthemfromyou？"
　　"Ofcoursewewillpay，"Tudorbrokein。"Youhaveonlytochargewhatyouconsiderthemworth。Youpaythemsixpoundsayear，don'tyou？"
　　"Inthefirstplacewecan'tsparethem，"Sheldonanswered。"Weareshortofthemontheplantationasitis。"
　　"WE？"Tudoraskedquickly。"Thenyouareafirmorapartnership？
　　IunderstoodatGuvututhatyouwerealone，thatyouhadlostyourpartner。"
　　SheldoninclinedhisheadtowardJoan，andashespokeshefeltthathehadbecomeatriflestiff。
　　"MissLacklandhasbecomeinterestedintheplantationsincethen。
　　Buttoreturntotheboys。Wecan'tsparethem，andbesides，theywouldbeoflittleuse。Youcouldn'tgetthemtoaccompanyyoubeyondBinu，whichisashortday'sworkwiththeboatsfromhere。