"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。"