She'scertainlyahustler，thatlittlegirlofyours。"
　　"Sheismypartner，"Sheldoncorrected。
　　"Well，she'sagoodone，that'sall，andacoolone。Myword!awhitewomanonMalaita，andatPoonga-Poongaofallplaces!Oh，I
　　forgottotellyou——shepalaveredBurnettintolendinghereightriflesforhermen，andthreecasesofdynamite。You'dlaughtoseethewayshemakesthatGuvutugangstandaround。Andtoseethembeingpoliteandtryingtogiveadvice!Lord，Lord，man，thatlittlegirl'sawonder，amarvel，a——a——acatastrophe。That'swhatsheis，acatastrophe。She'sgonethroughGuvutuandTulagilikeahurricane；everylastswineoftheminlovewithher——exceptRaff。
　　He'ssoreovertheauction，andhespranghisrecruitingcontractwithMunsteronher。Andwhatdoesshedobutthankhim，andreaditover，andpointoutthatwhileMunsterwaspledgedtodeliverallrecruitstoMorganandRaff，therewasnoclauseinthedocumentforbiddinghimfromcharteringtheEmily。
　　"'There'syourcontract，'saysshe，passingitback。'Andaverygoodcontractitis。Thenexttimeyoudrawoneup，insertaclausethatwillfitemergencieslikethepresentone。'And，Lord，Lord，shehadhim，too。
　　"Butthere'sthebreeze，andI'moff。Good-bye，oldman。Hopethelittlegirlsucceeds。TheMartha'sawhackingfineboat，andshe'dtaketheplaceoftheJessie。"
　　CHAPTERXVII——"YOUR"MISSLACKLAND
　　ThenextmorningSheldoncameinfromtheplantationtobreakfast，tofindthemissionketch，Apostle，atanchor，hercrewswimmingtwomaresandafillyashore。SheldonrecognizedtheanimalsasbelongingtotheResidentCommissioner，andheimmediatelywonderedifJoanhadboughtthem。ShewascertainlylivinguptoherthreatofrattlingthedrybonesoftheSolomons，andhewaspreparedforanything。
　　"MissLacklandsentthem，"saidWelshmere，themissionarydoctor，steppingashoreandshakinghandswithhim。"There'salsoaboxofsaddlesonboard。Andthisletterfromher。AndtheskipperoftheFlibberty-Gibbet。"
　　Thenextmoment，andbeforehecouldgreethim，Olesonsteppedfromtheboatandbegan。
　　"She'sstolentheFlibberty，Mr。Sheldon。Runcleanawaywithher。
　　She'sawildone。Shegavemethefever。Broughtitonbyshock。
　　Andgotmedrunk，aswell——rottendrunk。"
　　Dr。Welshmerelaughedheartily。
　　"Nevertheless，sheisnotanunmitigatedevil，yourMissLackland。
　　She'sswornthreemenofftheirdrink，or，tothesamepurpose，shutofftheirwhisky。Youknowthem——Brahms，Curtis，andFowler。
　　SheshippedthemontheFlibberty-Gibbetalongwithher。"
　　"She'stheskipperoftheFlibbertynow，"Olesonbrokein。"Andshe'llwreckherassureasGoddidn'tmaketheSolomons。"
　　Dr。Welshmeretriedtolookshocked，butlaughedagain。
　　"Shehasquiteawaywithher，"hesaid。"Itriedtobackoutofbringingthehorsesover。SaidIcouldn'tchargefreight，thattheApostlewasunderayachtlicense，thatIwasgoingaroundbySavoandtheupperendofGuadalcanar。Butitwasnouse。'Botherthecharge，'saidshe。'Youtakethehorseslikeagoodman，andwhenIfloattheMarthaI'llreturntheservicesomeday。'"
　　"And'botheryourorders，'saidshetome，"Olesoncried。"'I'myourbossnow，'saidshe，'andyoutakeyourordersfromme。'
　　'Lookatthatloadofivorynuts，'Isaid。'Botherthem，'saidshe；'I'mplayin'forsomethingbiggerthanivorynuts。We'lldumpthemoversideassoonaswegetunderway。'"
　　Sheldonputhishandstohisears。
　　"Idon'tknowwhathashappened，andyouaretryingtotellmethetalebackwards。Comeuptothehouseandgetintheshadeandbeginatthebeginning。"
　　"WhatIwanttoknow，"Olesonbegan，whentheywereseated，"isIS
　　sheyourpartnerorain'tshe？That'swhatIwanttoknow。"
　　"Sheis，"Sheldonassuredhim。
　　"Well，who'dhavebelievedit!"OlesonglancedappealinglyatDr。
　　Welshmere，andbackagainatSheldon。"I'veseenafewunlikelythingsintheseSolomons——ratstwofeetlong，butterfliestheCommissionerhuntswithashot-gun，ear-ornamentsthatwouldshamethedevil，andhead-huntingdevilsthatmakethedevillooklikeanangel。I'veseenthemandgotusedtothem，butthisyoungwomanofyours——"
　　"MissLacklandismypartnerandpart-ownerofBerande，"Sheldoninterrupted。
　　"Soshesaid，"theirateskipperdashedon。"Butshehadnopaperstoshowforit。HowwasItoknow？Andthentherewasthatloadofivorynuts-eighttonsofthem。"
　　"Forheaven'ssakebeginatthe——"Sheldontriedtointerrupt。
　　"Andthenshe'shiredthemdrunkenloafers，threeoftheworstscoundrelsthateverdisgracedtheSolomons——fifteenquidamontheach——whatd'yethinkofthat？Andsailedawaywiththem，too!
　　Phew!——Youmightgivemeadrink。Themissionarywon'tmind。I'vebeenonhisteetotalhookerfourdaysnow，andI'mperishing。"
　　Dr。WelshmerenoddedinreplytoSheldon'slookofinquiry，andViaburiwasdispatchedforthewhiskyandsiphons。
　　"Itisevident，CaptainOleson，"Sheldonremarkedtothatrefreshedmariner，"thatMissLacklandhasrunawaywithyourboat。Nowpleasegiveaplainstatementofwhatoccurred。"
　　"RightO；heregoes。I'djustcomeinontheFlibberty。ShewasonboardbeforeIdroppedthehook——inthatwhale-boatofherswithhergangofTahitiheathens——thatbigAdamuAdamandtherest。
　　'Don'tdroptheanchor，CaptainOleson，'shesangout。'IwantyoutogetunderwayforPoonga-Poonga。'Ilookedtoseeifshe'dbeendrinking。WhatwasItothink？Iwasroundingupatthetime，alongsidetheshoal——aticklishplace——headsailsrunningdownandlosingway，soIsays，'Excuseme，MissLackland，'andyellsfor'ard，'Letgo!'
　　"'Youmighthavelistenedtomeandsavedyourselftrouble，'saysshe，climbingovertherailandsquintingalongfor'ardandseeingthefirstshackleflipoutandstop。'There'sfifteenfathom，'
　　saysshe；'youmayaswellturnyourmentoandheaveup。'
　　"Andthenwehaditout。Ididn'tbelieveher。Ididn'tthinkyou'dtakeheronasapartner，andItoldherasmuchandwantedproof。Shegothighandmighty，andItoldherIwasoldenoughtobehergrandfatherandthatIwouldn'ttakegammonfromachitlikeher。AndthenIorderedherofftheFlibberty。'CaptainOleson，'
　　shesays，sweetasyouplease，'I'veafewminutestospareonyou，andI'vegotsomegoodwhiskyoverontheEmily。Comeonalong。
　　Besides，Iwantyouradviceaboutthiswreckingbusiness。
　　Everybodysaysyou'reacrackerjacksailor-man'——that'swhatshesaid，'crackerjack。'AndIwent，inherwhale-boat，AdamuAdamsteeringandlookingassolemnasafuneral。
　　"OnthewayshetoldmeabouttheMartha，andhowshe'dboughther，andwasgoingtofloather。Shesaidshe'dcharteredtheEmily，andwassailingassoonasIcouldgettheFlibbertyunderway。Itstruckmethathergammonwasreasonableenough，andIagreedtopulloutforBeranderightO，andgetyourorderstogoalongtoPoonga-Poonga。Butshesaidtherewasn'tasecondtobelostbyanysuchfoolishness，andthatIwastosaildirectforPoonga-
　　Poonga，andthatifIcouldn'ttakeherwordthatshewasyourpartner，she'dgetalongwithoutmeandtheFlibberty。Andrightthere'swhereshefooledme。
　　"DownintheEmily'scabinwasthemthreesoaks——youknowthem——
　　FowlerandCurtisandthatBrahmschap。'Haveadrink，'saysshe。
　　Ithoughttheylookedsurprisedwhensheunlockedthewhiskylockerandsentaniggerfortheglassesandwater-monkey。Butshemusthavetippedthemoffunbeknownsttome，andtheyknewjustwhattodo。'Excuseme，'shesays，'I'mgoingondeckaminute。'Nowthatminutewashalfanhour。Ihadn'thadadrinkintendays。I'manoldmanandthefeverhasweakenedme。ThenItookitonanemptystomach，too，andtherewasthemthreesoakssettingmeanexample，theyarguingformetotaketheFlibbertytoPoonga-Poonga，an'mepointingoutmydutytothecontrary。Thetroublewas，alltheargumentswerepointedwithdrinks，andmenotbeingadrinkingman，sotosay，andweakfromfever……
　　"Well，anyway，attheendofthehalf-hourdownshecameagainandtookagoodsquintatme。'That'lldonicely，'Irememberhersaying；andwiththatshetookthewhiskybottlesandhovethemoversidethroughthecompanionway。'That'sthelast，shesaidtothethreesoaks，'tilltheMarthafloatsandyou'rebackinGuvutu。
　　It'llbealongtimebetweendrinks。'Andthenshelaughed。
　　"Shelookedatmeandsaid——nottome，mindyou，buttothesoaks:
　　'It'stimethisworthymanwentashore'——me!worthyman!'Fowler，'
　　shesaid——youknow，justlikeastraightorder，andshedidn'tMISTERhim——itwasplainFowler——'Fowler，'shesaid，'justtellAdamuAdamtomanthewhale-boat，andwhilehe'stakingCaptainOlesonashorehaveyourboatputmeontheFlibberty。Thethreeofyousailwithme，sopackyourdunnage。Andtheoneofyouthatshowsupbestwilltakethemate'sbillet。CaptainOlesondoesn'tcarryamate，youknow。'
　　"Idon'tremembermuchafterthat。Allhandsgotmeovertheside，anditseemstomeIwenttosleep，sittinginthestern-sheetsandwatchingthatAdamusteer。ThenIsawtheFlibberty'smainsailhoisting，andheardtheclankofherchaincomingin，andIwokeup。'Here，putmeontheFlibberty，'IsaidtoAdamu。'Iputyouonthebeach，'saidhe。'MissieLackalannasaybeachplentygoodforyou。'Well，Iletoutayellandreachedforthesteering-
　　sweep。Iwasdoingmybestbymyowners，yousee。OnlythatAdamugivesmeashovedownonthebottom-boards，putsonefootonmetoholdmedown，andgoesonsteering。Andthat'sall。Theshockofthewholethingbroughtonfever。AndnowI'vecometofindoutwhetherI'mskipperoftheFlibberty，orthatchitofyourswithherpirating，heathenboat's-crew。"
　　"Nevermind，skipper。Youcantakeavacationonpay。"Sheldonspokewithmoreassurancethanhefelt。"IfMissLackland，whoismypartner，hasseenfittotakechargeoftheFlibberty-Gibbet，why，itisallright。Asyouwillagree，therewasnotimetobelostiftheMarthawastobegotoff。Itisabadreef，andanyconsiderableseawouldknockherbottomout。Yousettledownhere，skipper，andrestupandgetthefeveroutofyourbones。WhentheFlibberty-Gibbetcomesback，you'lltakechargeagain，ofcourse。"
　　AfterDr。WelshmereandtheApostledepartedandCaptainOlesonhadturnedinforasleepinaverandahammock，SheldonopenedJoan'sletter。
　　DEARMR。SHELDON，——PleaseforgivemeforstealingtheFlibberty-
　　Gibbet。Isimplyhadto。TheMarthameanseverythingtous。
　　Thinkofit，onlyfifty-fivepoundsforher，twohundredandseventy-fivedollars。IfIdon'tsaveher，IknowIshallbeabletopayallexpensesoutofhergear，whichthenativeswillnothavecarriedoff。AndifIdosaveher，itisthehaulofalife-
　　time。AndifIdon'tsaveher，I'llfilltheEmilyandtheFlibberty-Gibbetwithrecruits。RecruitsareneededrightnowonBerandemorethananythingelse。
　　Andplease，pleasedon'tbeangrywithme。YousaidIshouldn'tgorecruitingontheFlibberty，andIwon't。I'llgoontheEmily。
　　Iboughttwocowsthisafternoon。ThattraderatNogidiedoffever，andIboughtthemfromhispartner，SamWillishisnameis，whoagreestodeliverthem——mostlikelybytheMinervanexttimesheisdownthatway。Berandehasbeenlongenoughontinnedmilk。
　　AndDr。WelshmerehasagreedtogetmesomeorangeandlimetreesfromthemissionstationatUlava。HewilldeliverthemthenexttripoftheApostle。IftheSydneysteamerarrivesbeforeIgetback，plantthesweetcornshewillbringbetweentheyoungtreesonthehighbankoftheBalesuna。Thecurrentiseatinginagainstthatbank，andyoushoulddosomethingtosaveit。
　　Ihaveorderedsomefig-treesandloquats，too，fromSydney。Dr。
　　Welshmerewillbringsomemango-seeds。Theyarebigtreesandrequireplentyofroom。
　　TheMarthaisregistered110tons。SheisthebiggestschoonerintheSolomons，andthebest。Isawalittleofherlinesandguesstherest。Shewillsaillikeawitch。Ifshehasn'tfilledwithwater，herenginewillbeallright。Thereasonshewentashorewasbecauseitwasnotworking。Theengineerhaddisconnectedthefeed-pipestocleanouttherust。Poorbusiness，unlessatanchororwithplentyofsearoom。
　　Plantallthetreesinthecompound，evenifyouhavetocleanoutthepalmslateron。
　　Anddon'tplantthesweetcornallatonce。Letafewdayselapsebetweenplantings。
　　JOANLACKLAND。
　　Hefingeredtheletter，lingeringoveritandscrutinizingthewritinginawaythatwasnothiswont。Howcharacteristic，washisthought，ashestudiedtheboyishscrawl——cleartoread，painfully，clear，butnonethelessboyish。Theclearnessofitremindedhimofherface，ofhercleanlystencilledbrows，herstraightlychisellednose，theveryclearnessofthegazeofhereyes，thefirmlyyetdelicatelymouldedlips，andthethroat，neitherfragilenorrobust，but——butjustright，heconcluded，anadequateandbeautifulpillarforsoshapelyaburden。
　　Helookedlongatthename。JoanLackland——justanassemblageofletters，ofcommonplaceletters，butanassemblagethatgeneratedasubtleandheadymagic。Itcreptintohisbrainandtwinedandtwistedhismentalprocessesuntilallthatconstitutedhimatthatmomentwentoutinlovetothatscrawledsignature。Afewcommonplaceletters——yettheycausedhimtoknowinhimselfalackthatsweetlyhurtandthatexpresseditselfinvaguespiritualoutpouringsanddeliciousyearnings。JoanLackland!Eachtimehelookedatittherearosevisionsofherinamyriadmoodsandguises——cominginoutoftheflyingsmotherofthegalethathadwreckedherschooner；launchingawhale-boattogoa-fishing；
　　runningdrippingfromthesea，withstreaminghairandclinginggarments，tothefresh-watershower；frighteningfour-scorecannibalswithanemptychlorodynebottle；teachingOrnfirihowtomakebread；hangingherStetsonhatandrevolver-beltonthehookintheliving-room；talkinggravelyaboutwinningtohearthandsaddleofherown，orjuvenilelyrattlingonaboutromanceandadventure，bright-eyed，herfaceflushedandeagerwithenthusiasm。
　　JoanLackland!Hemusedoverthecrypticwonderofittillthesecretsofloveweremadeclearandhefeltakeensympathyforloverswhocarvedtheirnamesontreesorwrotethemonthebeach-
　　sandsofthesea。
　　Thenhecamebacktoreality，andhisfacehardened。EventhenshewasonthewildcoastofMalaita，andatPoonga-Poonga，ofallvillainousanddangerousportionstheworst，peopledwithateemingpopulationofhead-hunters，robbers，andmurderers。Fortheinstantheentertainedtherashthoughtofcallinghisboat's-crewandstartingimmediatelyinawhale-boatforPoonga-Poonga。Butthenextinstanttheideawasdismissed。Whatcouldhedoifhedidgo？First，shewouldresentit。Next，shewouldlaughathimandcallhimasilly；andafterallhewouldcountforonlyoneriflemore，andshehadmanyrifleswithher。Threethingsonlycouldhedoifhewent。Hecouldcommandhertoreturn；hecouldtaketheFlibberty-Gibbetawayfromher；hecoulddissolvetheirpartnership；——anyandallofwhichheknewwouldbefoolishandfutile，andhecouldhearherexplainintersesettermsthatshewaslegallyofageandthatnobodycouldsaycomeorgotoher。
　　No，hispridewouldneverpermithimtostartforPoonga-Poonga，thoughhisheartwhisperedthatnothingcouldbemorewelcomethanamessagefromheraskinghimtocomeandlendahand。Herverywords——"lendahand"；andinhisfancy，hecouldseeandhearhersayingthem。
　　Therewasmuchinherwilfulconductthatcausedhimtowinceintheheartofhim。HewasappalledbythethoughtofhershouldertoshoulderwiththedrunkenrabbleoftradersandbeachcombersatGuvutu。Itwasbadenoughforaclean，fastidiousman；butforayoungwoman，agirlatthat，itwasawful。ThetheftoftheFlibberty-Gibbetwasmerelyamusing，thoughthemeansbywhichthethefthadbeeneffectedgavehimhurt。YethefoundconsolationinthefactthatthetaskofmakingOlesondrunkhadbeenturnedovertothethreescoundrels。Andnext，andswiftly，camethevisionofher，alonewiththosesamethreescoundrels，ontheEmily，sailingouttoseafromGuvutuinthetwilightwithdarknesscomingon。
　　ThencamevisionsofAdamuAdamandNoaNoahandallherbrawnyTahitianfollowing，andhisanxietyfadedaway，beingreplacedbyirritationthatsheshouldhavebeencapableofsuchwildnessofconduct。
　　AndtheirritationwasstillonhimashegotupandwentinsidetostareatthehookonthewallandtowishthatherStetsonhatandrevolver-beltwerehangingfromit。
　　CHAPTERXVIII——MAKINGTHEBOOKSCOMETRUE
　　Severalquietweeksslippedby。Berande，aftersuchanunusualrunofvisitingvessels，driftedbackintoheroldsolitude。Sheldonwentonwiththedailyround，clearingbush，plantingcocoanuts，smokingcopra，buildingbridges，andridingabouthisworkonthehorsesJoanhadbought。Newsofherhehadnone。RecruitingvesselsonMalaitaleftthePoonga-Poongacoastseverelyalone；andtheClansman，aSamoanrecruiter，droppinganchoronesunsetforbilliardsandgossip，reportedrumoursamongsttheSionativesthattherehadbeenfightingatPoonga-Poonga。Asthisnewswouldhavehadtotravelrightacrossthebigisland，littledependencewastobeplacedonit。
　　ThesteamerfromSydney，theKammambo，brokethequietudeofBerandeforanhour，whilelandingmail，supplies，andthetreesandseedsJoanhadordered。TheMinerva，boundforCapeMarsh，broughtthetwocowsfromNogi。AndtheApostle，hurryingbacktoTulagitoconnectwiththeSydneysteamer，sentaboatashorewiththeorangeandlimetreesfromUlava。Andtheseseveralweeksmarkedaperiodofperfectweather。Thereweredaysonendwhensleekcalmsruledthebreathlesssea，anddayswhenvagrantwispsofairfannedforseveralhoursfromonedirectionoranother。Theland-breezesatnightaloneprovedregular，anditwasatnightthattheoccasionalcuttersandketchesslippedby，tooeagertotakeadvantageofthelightwindstodropanchorforanhour。
　　Thencamethelong-expectednor'wester。Foreightdaysitraged，lullingattimestoshortdurationsofcalm，thenshiftingapointortwoandragingwithrenewedviolence。Sheldonkeptaprecautionaryeyeonthebuildings，whiletheBalesuna，inflood，sosavagelyattackedthehighbankJoanhadwarnedhimabout，thathetoldoffallthegangstobattlewiththeriver。
　　Itwasinthegoodweatherthatfollowed，thathelefttheblacksatwork，onemorning，andwithashot-gunacrosshispommelrodeoffafterpigeons。Twohourslater，oneofthehouse-boys，breathlessandscratchedranhimdownwiththenewsthattheMartha，theFlibberty-Gibbet，andtheEmilywereheadinginfortheanchorage。
　　Comingintothecompoundfromtherear，Sheldoncouldseenothinguntilherodearoundthecornerofthebungalow。Thenhesaweverythingatonce——first，aglimpseatthesea，wheretheMarthafloatedhugealongsidethecutterandtheketchwhichhadrescuedher；and，next，thegroundinfrontoftheverandasteps，whereagreatcrowdoffresh-caughtcannibalsstoodatattention。Fromthefactthateachwasattiredinanew，snow-whitelava-lava，Sheldonknewthattheywererecruits。Partwayupthesteps，oneofthemwasjustbackingdownintothecrowd，whileanother，calledoutbyname，wascomingup。ItwasJoan'svoicethathadcalledhim，andSheldonreinedinhishorseandwatched。Shesatattheheadofthesteps，behindatable，betweenMunsterandhiswhitemate，thethreeofthemcheckinglonglists，Joanaskingthequestionsandwritingtheanswersinthebig，red-covered，Berandelabour-
　　journal。
　　"Whatname？"shedemandedoftheblackmanonthesteps。
　　"Tagari，"cametheanswer，accompaniedbyagrinandarollingofcuriouseyes；foritwasthefirstwhite-man'shousetheblackhadeverseen。
　　"Whatplaceb'longyou？"
　　"Bangoora。"
　　NoonehadnoticedSheldon，andhecontinuedtosithishorseandwatch。Therewasadiscrepancybetweentheanswerandtherecordintherecruitingbooks，andaconsequentdiscussion，untilMunstersolvedthedifficulty。
　　"Bangoora？"hesaid。"That'sthelittlebeachattheheadofthebayoutofLatta。He'sdownasaLatta-man——see，thereitis，'Tagari，Latta。'"
　　"Whatplaceyougoyoufinishalongwhitemarster？"Joanasked。
　　"Bangoora，"themanreplied；andJoanwroteitdown。
　　"Ogu!"Joancalled。
　　Theblacksteppeddown，andanothermountedtotakehisplace。ButTagari，justbeforehereachedthebottomstep，caughtsightofSheldon。Itwasthefirsthorsethefellowhadeverseen，andheletoutafrightenedscreechanddashedmadlyupthesteps。Atthesamemomentthegreatmassofblackssurgedawaypanic-strickenfromSheldon'svicinity。Thegrinninghouse-boysshoutedencouragementandexplanation，andthestampedewaschecked，thenew-caughthead-huntershuddlingcloselytogetherandstaringdubiouslyatthefearfulmonster。
　　"Hello!"Joancalledout。"Whatdoyoumeanbyfrighteningallmyboys？Comeonup。"
　　"Whatdoyouthinkofthem？"sheasked，whentheyhadshakenhands。
　　"Andwhatdoyouthinkofher？"——withawaveofthehandtowardtheMartha。"Ithoughtyou'ddesertedtheplantation，andthatImightaswellgoaheadandgetthemenintobarracks。Aren'ttheybeauties？Doyouseethatonewiththesplitnose？He'stheonlymanwhodoesn'thailfromthePoonga-Poongacoast；andtheysaidthePoonga-Poonganativeswouldn'trecruit。Justlookatthemandcongratulateme。Therearenokiddiesandhalf-grownyouthsamongthem。They'remen，everylastoneofthem。IhavesuchalongstoryIdon'tknowwheretobegin，andIwon'tbeginanywaytillwe'rethroughwiththisanduntilyouhavetoldmethatyouarenotangrywithme。"
　　"Ogu——whatplaceb'longyou？"shewentonwithhercatechism。
　　ButOguwasabushman，lackingknowledgeofthealmostuniversalbeche-de-merEnglish，andhalfadozenofhisfellowswrangledtoexplain。
　　"Thereareonlytwoorthreemore，"JoansaidtoSheldon，"andthenwe'redone。Butyouhaven'ttoldmethatyouarenotangry。"
　　Sheldonlookedintohercleareyesasshefavouredhimwithadirect，untroubledgazethatthreatened，heknewfromexperience，toturnteasinglydefiantonaninstant'snotice。Andashelookedatheritcametohimthathehadneverhalf-anticipatedthegladnessherreturnwouldbringtohim。
　　"Iwasangry，"hesaiddeliberately。"Iamstillangry，veryangry——"henotedtheglintofdefianceinhereyesandthrilled——
　　"butIforgave，andInowforgivealloveragain。ThoughIstillinsist——"
　　"ThatIshouldhaveaguardian，"sheinterrupted。"Butthatdaywillnevercome。ThankgoodnessI'moflegalageandabletotransactbusinessinmyownright。Andspeakingofbusiness，howdoyoulikemyforcefulAmericanmethods？"
　　"Mr。Raff，fromwhatIhear，doesn'ttakekindlytothem，"hetemporized，"andyou'vecertainlysetthedrybonesrattlingformanyaday。ButwhatIwanttoknowisifotherAmericanwomenareassuccessfulinbusinessventures？"
　　"Luck，'mostallluck，"shedisclaimedmodestly，thoughhereyeslightedwithsuddenpleasure；andheknewherboy'svanityhadbeentouchedbyhistrifleoftemperedpraise。
　　"Luckbeblowed!"brokeoutthelongmate，Sparrowhawk，hisfaceshiningwithadmiration。"Itwashardwork，that'swhatitwas。
　　Weearnedourpay。Sheworkedustillwedropped。Andweweredownwithfeverhalfthetime。Sowasshe，forthatmatter，onlyshewouldn'tstaydown，andshewouldn'tletusstaydown。Myword，she'saslave-driver——'Justonemoreheave，Mr。Sparrowhawk，andthenyoucangotobedforaweek'，——shetome，andmestaggerin''roundlikeadeadman，withbilious-greenlightsflashinginsidemyhead，an'myheadjustbustin'。Iwasallin，butIgavethatheaverightO——andthenitwas，'Anotherheavenow，Mr。Sparrowhawk，justanotherheave。'An'theLordlumme，thewayshemadelovetooldKina-Kina!"
　　Heshookhisheadreproachfully，whilethelaughterdieddowninhisthroattolong-drawnchuckles。
　　"HewasolderthanTelepasseanddirtier，"sheassuredSheldon，"andIamsuremuchwickeder。Butthisisn'twork。Letusgetthroughwiththeselists。"
　　Sheturnedtothewaitingblackonthesteps，-
　　"Ogu，youfinishalongbigmarsterbelongwhiteman，yougoNot-
　　Not——Hereyou，Tangari，youspeak'malongthatfellaOgu。HefinishhewalkaboutNot-Not。Haveyougotthat，Mr。Munster？"
　　"Butyou'vebrokentherecruitinglaws，"Sheldonsaid，whenthenewrecruitshadmarchedawaytothebarracks。"ThelicensesfortheFlibbertyandtheEmilydon'tallowforonehundredandfifty。
　　WhatdidBurnettsay？"
　　"Hepassedthem，allofthem，"sheanswered。"CaptainMunsterwilltellyouwhathesaid——somethingaboutbeingblowed，orwordstothateffect。NowImustrunandwashup。DidtheSydneyordersarrive？"
　　"Yoursareinyourquarters，"Sheldonsaid。"Hurry，forbreakfastiswaiting。Letmehaveyourhatandbelt。Do，please，allowme。
　　There'sonlyonehookforthem，andIknowwhereitis。"
　　Shegavehimaquickscrutinythatwasalmostwoman-like，thensighedwithreliefassheunbuckledtheheavybeltandpassedittohim。
　　"IdoubtifIeverwanttoseeanotherrevolver，"shecomplained。
　　"Thatonehaswornaholeinme，I'msure。IneverdreamedIcouldgetsowearyofone。"
　　Sheldonwatchedhertothefootofthesteps，wheresheturnedandcalledback，-
　　"My!Ican'ttellyouhowgooditistobehomeagain。"
　　Andashisgazecontinuedtofollowheracrossthecompoundtothetinygrasshouse，therealizationcametohimcrushinglythatBerandeandthatlittlegrasshousewastheonlyplaceintheworldshecouldcall"home。"
　　"AndBurnettsaid，'Well，I'llbedamned——Ibegyourpardon，MissLackland，butyouhavewantonlybrokentherecruitinglawsandyouknowit，'"CaptainMunsternarrated，astheysatovertheirwhisky，waitingforJoantocomeback。"Andsaysshetohim，'Mr。Burnett，canyoushowmeanylawagainsttakingthepassengersoffavesselthat'sonareef？''Thatisnotthepoint，'sayshe。'It'sthevery，precise，particularpoint，'sayssheandyoubearitinmindandgoaheadandpassmyrecruits。YoucanreportmetotheLordHighCommissionerifyouwant，butIhavethreevesselsherewaitingonyourconvenience，andifyoudelaythemmuchlongerthere'llbeanotherreportgointotheLordHighCommissioner。'
　　"'I'llholdyouresponsible，CaptainMunster，'sayshetome，madenoughtoeatscrap-iron。'No，youwon't，'saysshe；'I'mthechartereroftheEmily，andCaptainMunsterhasactedundermyorders。'
　　"WhatcouldBurnettdo？Hepassedthewholehundredandfifty，thoughtheEmilywasonlylicensedforforty，andtheFlibberty-
　　Gibbetforthirty-five。"
　　"ButIdon'tunderstand，"Sheldonsaid。
　　"Thisisthewaysheworkedit。WhentheMarthawasfloated，wehadtobeachherrightawayattheheadofthebay，andwhilstrepairsweregoingon，anewrudderbeingmade，sailsbent，gearrecoveredfromtheniggers，andsoforth，MissLacklandborrowsSparrowhawktoruntheFlibbertyalongwithCurtis，lendsmeBrahmstotakeSparrowhawk'splace，andstartsbothcraftoffrecruiting。
　　Myword，theniggerscameeasy。Itwasvirginground。SincetheScottishChiefs，norecruiterhadevereventriedtoworkthecoast；andwe'dalreadyputthefearofGodintotheniggers'
　　heartstillthewholecoastwasquietaslambs。Whenwefilledup，wecamebacktoseehowtheMarthawasprogressing。"
　　"Andthinkingwewasgoinghomewithourrecruits，"Sparrowhawkslippedin。"Lordlumme，thatMissLacklandain'tneversatisfied。
　　'I'lltake'emontheMartha，'saysshe，'andyoucangobackandfillupagain。'"
　　"ButItoldheritcouldn'tbedone，"Munsterwenton。"ItoldhertheMarthahadn'talicenseforrecruiting。'Oh，'shesaid，'itcan'tbedone，eh？'andshestoodandthoughtafewminutes。"
　　"AndI'dseenherthinkbefore，"criedSparrowhawk，"andIknewatwunstthatthethingwasasgoodasdone。"
　　Munsterlightedhiscigaretteandresumed。
　　"'Youseethatspit，'shesaystome，'withthelittleripplebreakingaroundit？There'sacurrentsetsrightacrossitandonit。Andyouseethembafflin'littlecat's-paws？It'sgoodweatherandafallingtide。Youjuststarttobeatout，thetwoofyou，andallyouhavetodoismissstaysinthesamebafflingpuffandthecurrentwillsetyounicelyaground。'"
　　"'Thatlittlewashofseawon'tmorethanstartasheetortwoofcopper，'saysshe，whenMunsterkicked，"Sparrowhawkexplained。
　　"Oh，she'snogreenun，thatgirl。"
　　"'ThenI'llrescueyourrecruitsandsailaway——simple，ain'tit？'
　　saysshe，"Munstercontinued。"'Youhanguponetide，'saysshe；
　　'thenextisthebighighwater。Thenyoukedgeoffandgoaftermorerecruits。There'snolawagainstrecruitingwhenyou'reempty。''Butthereisagainststarving'em，'Isaid；'youknowyourselfthereain'tanykai-kaitospeakofaboardofus，andthereain'tacrumbontheMartha。'"
　　"We'dallbeenprettywellonnativekai-kai，asitwas，"saidSparrowhawk。
　　"'Don'tletthekai-kaiworryyou，CaptainMunster，'saysshe；'ifIcanfindgrubforeighty-fourmouthsontheMartha，thetwoofyoucandoasmuchbyyourtwovessels。Nowgoaheadandgetagroundbeforeasteadybreezecomesupandspoilsthemanoeuvre。
　　I'llsendmyboatsthemomentyoustrike。Andnow，good-day，gentlemen。'"
　　"Andwewentanddidit，"Sparrowhawksaidsolemnly，andthenemittedaseriesofchucklingnoises。"Welaidover，starboardtack，andIpinchedtheEmilyagainstthespit。'Goabout，'
　　CaptainMunsteryellsatme；'goabout，oryou'llhavemeaground!'
　　Heyelledotherthings，muchworse。ButIdidn'tmind。Imissedstays，prettyasyouplease，andtheFlibbertydrifteddownonhimandfouledhim，andwewentashoretogetherinasniceamessasyoueverwanttosee。MissLacklandtransferredtherecruits，andthetrickwasdone。"
　　"Butwherewassheduringthenor'wester？"Sheldonasked。
　　"AtLanga-Langa。Ranupthereasitwascomingon，andlaidtherethewholeweekandtradedforgrubwiththeniggers。WhenwegottoTulagi，thereshewaswaitingforusandscrappingwithBurnett。
　　Itellyou，Mr。Sheldon，she'sawonder，thatgirl，aperfectwonder。"
　　Munsterrefilledhisglass，andwhileSheldonglancedacrossatJoan'shouse，anxiousforhercoming，Sparrowhawktookupthetale。
　　"Gritty!She'sthegrittiestthing，manorwoman，thateverblewintotheSolomons。YoushouldhaveseenPoonga-Poongathemorningwearrived——Sniderspoppingonthebeachandinthemangroves，war-
　　drumsboominginthebush，andsignal-smokesraisingeverywhere。
　　'It'sallup，'saysCaptainMunster。"
　　"Yes，that'swhatIsaid，"declaredthatmariner。
　　"Ofcourseitwasallup。Youcouldseeitwithhalfaneyeandhearitwithoneear。"
　　"'Upyourgranny，'shesaystohim，"Sparrowhawkwenton。"'Why，wehaven'tarrivedyet，muchlessgotstarted。Waittilltheanchor'sdownbeforeyougetafraid。'"
　　"That'swhatshesaidtome，"Munsterproclaimed。"AndofcourseitmadememadsothatIdidn'tcarewhathappened。Wetriedtosendaboatashoreforapow-wow，butitwasfiredupon。Andeveryonceandawhilesomenigger'dtakealongshotatusoutofthemangroves。"
　　"Theywasonlyaquarterofamileoff，"Sparrowhawkexplained，"anditwasdamnednasty。'Don'tshootunlesstheytrytoboard，'
　　wasMissLackland'sorders；butthedirtyniggerswouldn'tboard。
　　Theyjustlayoffinthebushandpluggedaway。ThatnightweheldacouncilofwarintheFlibberty'scabin。'Whatwewant，'saysMissLackland，'isahostage。'"
　　"'That'swhattheydoinbooks，'Isaid，thinkingtolaughherawayfromherfolly，"Munsterinterrupted。"'True，'saysshe，'andhaveyouneverseenthebookscometrue？'Ishookmyhead。'Thenyou'renottoooldtolearn，'saysshe。'I'lltellyouonethingrightnow，'saysI，'andthatisI'llbeblowedifyoucatchmeashoreinthenight-timestealingniggersinaplacelikethis。'"
　　"Youdidn'tsayblowed，"Sparrowhawkcorrected。"Yousaidyou'dbedamned。"
　　"That'swhatIdid，andImeantit，too。"
　　"'Nobodyaskedyoutogoashore，'saysshe，quickaslightning，"
　　Sparrowhawkgrinned。"Andshesaidmore。Shesaid，'AndifI
　　catchyougoingashorewithoutordersthere'llbetrouble——
　　understand，CaptainMunster？'"
　　"Whoinhell'stellingthis，youorme？"theskipperdemandedwrathfully。
　　"Well，shedid，didn'tshe？"insistedthemate。
　　"Yes，shedid，ifyouwanttomakesosureofit。Andwhileyou'reaboutit，youmightaswellrepeatwhatshesaidtoyouwhenyousaidyouwouldn'trecruitonthePoonga-Poongacoastfortwiceyourscrew。"
　　Sparrowhawk'ssun-reddenedfaceflamedredder，thoughhetriedtopassthesituationoffbydiverslaughingsandchucklingsandface-
　　twistings。
　　"Goon，goon，"Sheldonurged；andMunsterresumedthenarrative。
　　"'Whatweneed，'saysshe，'isthestronghand。It'stheonlywaytohandlethem；andwe'vegottotakeholdfirmrightatthebeginning。I'mgoingashoreto-nighttofetchKina-Kinahimselfonboard，andI'mnotaskingwho'sgametogoforI'vegoteveryman'sworkarrangedwithmeforhim。I'mtakingmysailorswithme，andonewhiteman。''Ofcourse，I'mthatwhiteman，'Isaid；forbythattimeIwasmadenoughtogotohellandbackagain。'Ofcourseyou'renot，'saysshe。'You'llhavechargeofthecoveringboat。Curtisstandsbythelandingboat。Fowlergoeswithme。
　　BrahmstakeschargeoftheFlibberty，andSparrowhawkoftheEmily。
　　Andwestartatoneo'clock。'
　　"Myword，itwasatoughjoblyingthereinthecoveringboat。I
　　neverthoughtdoingnothingcouldbesuchhardwork。Westoppedaboutfiftyfathomsoff，andwatchedtheotherboatgoin。Itwassodarkunderthemangroveswecouldn'tseeathingofit。D'yeknowthatlittle，monkey-lookingnigger，Sheldon，ontheFlibberty——
　　thecook，Imean？Well，hewascabin-boytwentyyearsagoontheScottishChiefs，andaftershewascutoffhewasaslavethereatPoonga-Poonga。AndMissLacklandhaddiscoveredthefact。Sohewastheguide。Shegavehimhalfacaseoftobaccoforthatnight'swork——"
　　"Andscaredhimfittodiebeforeshecouldgethimtocomealong，"
　　Sparrowhawkobserved。
　　"Well，Ineversawanythingsoblackasthemangroves。Istaredatthemtillmyeyeswerereadytoburst。AndthenI'dlookatthestars，andlistentothesurfsighingalongthereef。Andtherewasadogthatbarked。Rememberthatdog，Sparrowhawk？Thebrutenearlygavemeheart-failurewhenhefirstbegan。Afterawhilehestopped——wasn'tbarkingatthelandingpartyatall；andthenthesilencewasharderthanever，andthemangrovesgrewblacker，anditwasallIcoulddotokeepfromcallingouttoCurtisinthereinthelandingboat，justtomakesurethatIwasn'ttheonlywhitemanleftalive。
　　"Ofcoursetherewasarow。Ithadtocome，andIknewit；butitstartledmejustthesame。Ineverheardsuchscreechingandyellinginmylife。Theniggersmusthavejustdivedforthebushwithoutlookingtoseewhatwasup，whileherTahitiansletloose，shootingintheairandyellingtohurry'emon。Andthen，justassudden，camethesilenceagain——allexceptforsomesmallkiddiethathadgotdroppedinthestampedeandthatkeptcryinginthebushforitsmother。
　　"AndthenIheardthemcomingthroughthemangroves，andanoarstrikeonagunwale，andMissLacklandlaugh，andIkneweverythingwasallright。Wepulledonboardwithoutashotbeingfired。
　　And，byGod!shehadmadethebookscometrue，fortherewasoldKina-Kinahimselfbeinghoistedovertherail，shiveringandchatteringlikeanape。Therestwaseasy。Kina-Kina'swordwaslaw，andhewasscaredtodeath。AndwekepthimonboardissuingproclamationsallthetimewewereinPoonga-Poonga。
　　"Itwasagoodmove，too，inotherways。ShemadeKina-Kinaorderhispeopletoreturnallthegearthey'dstrippedfromtheMartha。
　　Andbackitcame，dayafterday，steeringcompasses，blocksandtackles，sails，coilsofrope，medicinechests，ensigns，signalflags——everything，infact，exceptthetradegoodsandsupplieswhichhadalreadybeenkai-kai'd。Ofcourse，shegavethemafewsticksoftobaccotokeepthemingoodhumour。"
　　"Sureshedid，"Sparrowhawkbrokeforth。"Shegavethebeggarsfivefathomsofcalicoforthebigmainsail，twosticksoftobaccoforthechronometer，andasheath-knifeworthelevenpenceha'pennyforahundredfathomsofbrandnewfive-inchmanila。ShegotoldKina-Kinawiththatstronghandonthegooff，andshekepthimgoingallthetime。She——hereshecomesnow。"
　　ItwaswithashockofsurprisethatSheldongreetedherappearance。Allthetime，whilethetaleofhappeningatPoonga-
　　Poongahadbeengoingon，hehadpicturedherasthewomanhehadalwaysknown，cladroughly，skirtmadeoutofwindow-curtainstuff，anundersizedman'sshirtforablouse，strawsandalsforfootcovering，withtheStetsonhatandtheeternalrevolvercompletinghercostume。Theready-madeclothesfromSydneyhadtransformedher。Asimpleskirtandshirt-waistofsomesortofwash-goodssetoffhertrimfigurewithahintofelegantwomanhoodthatwasnewtohim。Brownslipperspeepedoutasshecrossedthecompound，andheoncecaughtaglimpsetotheankleofbrownopen-workstockings。
　　Somehow，shehadbeenmademanytimesthewomanbythesemereextraneoustrappings；andinhismindthesewildArabianNightsadventuresofhersseemedthriceaswonderful。
　　AstheywentintobreakfasthebecameawarethatMunsterandSparrowhawkhadreceivedasimilarshock。Alltheirairofcamaraderiewasdissipated，andtheyhadbecomeabruptlyandimmenselyrespectful。
　　"I'veopenedupanewfield，"shesaid，asshebeganpouringthecoffee。"OldKina-Kinawillneverforgetme，I'msure，andIcanrecruittherewheneverIwant。IsawMorganatGuvutu。He'swillingtocontractforathousandboysatfortyshillingsperhead。DidItellyouthatI'dtakenoutarecruitinglicensefortheMartha？Idid，andtheMarthacansigneightyboyseverytrip。
　　Sheldonsmiledatriflebitterlytohimself。ThewonderfulwomanwhohadtrippedacrossthecompoundinherSydneyclotheswasgone，andhewaslisteningtotheboycomebackagain。