Then，too，shewassomany-sided。Herknowledgeofliteratureandartsurprisedhim，whiledeepdownwasthefeelingthatagirlwhoknewsuchthingshadnorighttoknowhowtorigtackles，heaveupanchors，andsailschoonersaroundtheSouthSeas。Suchthingsinherbrainwerelikesomanyoathsonherlips。WhileforsuchagirltoinsistthatshewasgoingonarecruitingcruisearoundMalaitawaspositiveself-sacrilege。
　　Healwaysperturbedlyharkedbacktoherfeminineness。Shecouldplaythepianofarbetterthanhissistersathome，andwithfarfinerappreciation——thepianothatpoorHughiehadsoheroicallylabouredovertokeepincondition。Andwhenshestrummedtheguitarandsangliquid，velvetyHawaiianhulas，hesatentranced。
　　Thenshewasallwoman，andthemagicofsexkidnappedtheirritationsofthedayandmadehimforgetthebigrevolver，theBaden-Powell，andalltherest。Butwhatright，thenextthoughtinhisbrainwouldwhisper，hadsuchagirltoswaggeraroundlikeamanandexultthatadventurewasnotdead？Womanthatadventuredwereadventuresses，andtheconnotationwasnotnice。Besides，hewasnotenamouredofadventure。Notsincehewasaboyhaditappealedtohim——thoughitwouldhavedrivenhimhardtoexplainwhathadbroughthimfromEnglandtotheSolomonsifithadnotbeenadventure。
　　Sheldoncertainlywasnothappy。Theunconventionalstateofaffairswastoomuchforhisconservativedispositionandtraining。
　　Berande，inhabitedbyonelonewhiteman，wasnoplaceforJoanLackland。Yetherackedhisbrainforawayout，andeventalkeditoverwithher。Inthefirstplace，thesteamerfromAustraliawasnotdueforthreeweeks。
　　"Onethingisevident:youdon'twantmehere，"shesaid。"I'llmanthewhale-boatto-morrowandgoovertoTulagi。"
　　"ButasItoldyoubefore，thatisimpossible，"hecried。"Thereisnoonethere。TheResidentCommissionerisawayinAustralia。
　　Themisonlyonewhiteman，athirdassistantunderstrapperandex-
　　sailor——acommonsailor。HeisinchargeofthegovernmentoftheSolomons，tosaynothingofahundredorsoniggers——prisoners。
　　Besides，heissuchafoolthathewouldfineyoufivepoundsfornothavingenteredatTulagi，whichistheportofentry，youknow。
　　Heisnotaniceman，and，Irepeat，itisimpossible。"
　　"ThereisGuvutu，"shesuggested。
　　Heshookhishead。
　　"There'snothingtherebutfeverandfivewhitemenwhoaredrinkingthemselvestodeath。Icouldn'tpermitit。"
　　"Ohthankyou，"shesaidquietly。"IguessI'llstartto-day——
　　Viaburi!YougoalongNoaNoah，speak'mcomealongme。"
　　NoaNoahwasherheadsailor，whohadbeenboatswainoftheMiele。
　　"Whereareyougoing？"Sheldonaskedinsurprise——"Vlaburi!Youstop。"
　　"ToGuvutu——immediately，"washerreply。
　　"ButIwon'tpermitit。"
　　"ThatiswhyIamgoing。Yousaiditoncebefore，anditissomethingIcannotbrook。"
　　"What？"Hewasbewilderedbyhersuddenanger。"IfIhaveoffendedinanyway——"
　　"Viaburi，youfetch'monefellaNoaNoahalongme，"shecommanded。
　　Theblackboystartedtoobey。
　　"Viaburi!YounostopIbreak'mheadbelongyou。Andnow，MissLackland，Iinsist——youmustexplain。WhathaveIsaidordonetomeritthis？"
　　"Youhavepresumed，youhavedared——"
　　Shechokedandswallowed，andcouldnotgoon。
　　Sheldonlookedthepictureofdespair。
　　"Iconfessmyheadisgoingaroundwithitall，"hesaid。"Ifyoucouldonlybeexplicit。"
　　"AsexplicitasyouwerewhenyoutoldmethatyouwouldnotpermitmetogotoGuvutu？"
　　"Butwhat'swrongwiththat？"
　　"Butyouhavenoright——nomanhastheright——totellmewhathewillpermitornotpermit。I'mtoooldtohaveaguardian，nordidIsailallthewaytotheSolomonstofindone。"
　　"Agentlemaniseverywoman'sguardian。"
　　"Well，I'mnoteverywoman——that'sall。WillyoukindlyallowmetosendyourboyforNoaNoah？Iwishhimtolaunchthewhale-
　　boat。OrshallIgomyselfforhim？"
　　Bothwerenowontheirfeet，shewithflushedcheeksandangryeyes，he，puzzled，vexed，andalarmed。Theblackboystoodlikeastatue——aplum-blackstatue——takingnointerestinthetransactionsoftheseincomprehensiblewhites，butdreamingwithcalmeyesofacertainbushvillagehighonthejungleslopesofMalaita，withbluesmokecurlingupfromthegrasshousesagainstthegraybackgroundofanoncomingmountain-squall。
　　"Butyouwon'tdoanythingsofoolish——"hebegan。
　　"Thereyougoagain，"shecried。
　　"Ididn'tmeanitthatway，andyouknowIdidn't。"Hewasspeakingslowlyandgravely。"Andthatotherthing，thatnotpermitting——itisonlyamannerofspeaking。OfcourseIamnotyourguardian。YouknowyoucangotoGuvutuifyouwantto"——"ortothedevil，"hewasalmosttemptedtoadd。"Only，Ishoulddeeplyregretit，thatisall。AndIamverysorrythatIshouldhavesaidanythingthathurtyou。Remember，IamanEnglishman。"
　　Joansmiledandsatdownagain。
　　"PerhapsIhavebeenhasty，"sheadmitted。"Yousee，Iamintolerantofrestraint。IfyouonlyknewhowIhavebeencompelledtofightformyfreedom。Itisasorepointwithme，thisbeingtoldwhatIamtodoornotdobyyouself-constitutedlordsofcreation-ViaburiIYoustopalongkitchen。Nobring'mNoaNoah——Andnow，Mr。Sheldon，whatamItodo？Youdon'twantmehere，andtheredoesn'tseemtobeanyplaceformetogo。"
　　"Thatisunfair。Yourbeingwreckedherehasbeenagodsendtome。
　　Iwasverylonelyandverysick。IreallyamnotcertainwhetherornotIshouldhavepulledthroughhadyounothappenedalong。
　　Butthatisnotthepoint。Personally，purelyselfishlypersonally，Ishouldbesorrytoseeyougo。ButIamnotconsideringmyself。Iamconsideringyou。It——itishardlytheproperthing，youknow。IfIweremarried——ifthereweresomewomanofyourownracehere——butasitis——"
　　Shethrewupherhandsinmockdespair。
　　"Icannotfollowyou，"shesaid。"InonebreathyoutellmeImustgo，andinthenextbreathyoutellmethereisnoplacetogoandthatyouwillnotpermitmetogo。Whatisapoorgirltodo？"
　　"That'sthetrouble，"hesaidhelplessly。
　　"Andthesituationannoysyou。"
　　"Onlyforyoursake。"
　　"Thenletmesaveyourfeelingsbytellingyouthatitdoesnotannoymeatall——exceptfortherowyouaremakingaboutit。I
　　neverallowwhatcan'tbechangedtoannoyme。Thereisnouseinfightingtheinevitable。Hereisthesituation。Youarehere。I
　　amhere。Ican'tgoelsewhere，byyourownaccount。Youcertainlycan'tgoelsewhereandleavemeherealonewithawholeplantationandtwohundredwoollycannibalsonmyhands。Thereforeyoustay，andIstay。Itisverysimple。Also，itisadventure。Andfurthermore，youneedn'tworryforyourself。Iamnotmatrimoniallyinclined。IcametotheSolomonsforaplantation，notahusband。"
　　Sheldonflushed，butremainedsilent。
　　"Iknowwhatyouarethinking，"shelaughedgaily。"ThatifIwereamanyou'dwringmyneckforme。AndIdeserveit，too。I'msosorry。Ioughtnottokeeponhurtingyourfeelings。"
　　"I'mafraidIratherinviteit，"hesaid，relievedbythesignsofthetempestsubsiding。
　　"Ihaveit，"sheannounced。"Lendmeagangofyourboysforto-
　　day。I'llbuildagrasshouseformyselfoverinthefarcornerofthecompound——onpiles，ofcourse。Icanmoveinto-night。I'llbecomfortableandsafe。TheTahitianscankeepananchorwatchjustasaboardship。AndthenI'llstudycocoanutplanting。Inreturn，I'llrunthekitchenendofyourhouseholdandgiveyousomedecentfoodtoeat。Andfinally，Iwon'tlistentoanyofyourprotests。Iknowallthatyouaregoingtosayandoffer——
　　yourgivingthebungalowuptomeandbuildingagrasshouseforyourself。AndIwon'thaveit。Youmayaswellconsidereverythingsettled。Ontheotherhand，ifyoudon'tagree，Iwillgoacrosstheriver，beyondyourjurisdiction，andbuildavillageformyselfandmysailors，whomIshallsendinthewhale-boattoGuvutuforprovisions。AndnowIwantyoutoteachmebilliards。"
　　CHAPTERVII——AHARD-BITTENGANG
　　Joantookholdofthehouseholdwithnouncertaingrip，revolutionizingthingstillSheldonhardlyrecognizedtheplace。
　　Forthefirsttimethebungalowwascleanandorderly。Nolongerthehouse-boysloafedanddidaslittleastheycould；whilethecookcomplainedthat"headbelonghimwalkabouttoomuch，"fromthestrenuouscourseincookerywhichsheputhimthrough。NordidSheldonescapebeingroundlylecturedforhislazinessineatingnothingbuttinnedprovisions。Shecalledhimamuddlerandaslouch，andotherinvidiousnames，forhisslacknessandhisdisregardofhealthfulfood。
　　Shesentherwhale-boatdownthecoasttwentymilesforlimesandoranges，andwantedtoknowscathinglywhysaidfruitshadnotlongsincebeenplantedatBerande，whilehewasbeneathcontemptbecausetherewasnokitchengarden。Mummyapples，whichhehadregardedasweeds，underherguidanceappearedasappetizingbreakfastfruit，and，atdinner，weremetamorphosedintopuddingsthatelicitedhisunqualifiedadmiration。Bananas，foragedfromthebush，wereserved，cookedandraw，adozendifferentways，eachoneofwhichhedeclaredwasbetterthananyother。Sheorhersailorsdynamitedfishdaily，whiletheBalesunanativeswerepaidtobaccoforbringinginoystersfromthemangroveswamps。Herachievementswithcocoanutswerearevelation。Shetaughtthecookhowtomakeyeastfromthemilk，that，inturn，raisedlightandairybread。Fromthetip-topheartofthetreesheconcoctedadelicioussalad。Fromthemilkandthemeatofthenutshemadevarioussaucesanddressings，sweetandsour，thatwereserved，accordingtopreparation，withdishesthatrangedfromfishtopudding。ShetaughtSheldonthesuperiorityofcocoanutcreamovercondensedcream，foruseincoffee。Fromtheoldandsproutingnutsshetookthesolid，spongycentresandturnedthemintosalads。Herforteseemedtobesalads，andsheastonishedhimwiththedeliciousnessofasaladmadefromyoungbambooshoots。Wildtomatoes，whichhadgonetoseedorbeenremorselesslyhoedoutfromthebeginningofBerande，wereforagedforsalads，soups，andsauces。Thechickens，whichhadalwaysgoneintothebushandhiddentheireggs，weregivenlaying-bins，andJoanwentoutherselftoshootwildduckandwildpigeonsforthetable。
　　"NotthatIliketodothissortofwork，"sheexplained，inreferencetothecookery；"butbecauseIcan'tgetawayfromDad'straining。"
　　Amongotherthings，sheburnedthepestilentialhospital，quarrelledwithSheldonoverthedead，and，inanger，setherownmentoworkbuildinganew，andwhatshecalledadecent，hospital。
　　Sherobbedthewindowsoftheirlawnandmuslincurtains，replacingthemwithgaudycalicofromthetrade-store，andmadeherselfseveralgowns。Whenshewroteoutalistofgoodsandclothingforherself，tobesentdowntoSydneybythefirststeamer，Sheldonwonderedhowlongshehadmadeuphermindtostay。
　　Shewascertainlyunlikeanywomanhehadeverknownordreamedof。
　　Sofarashewasconcernedshewasnotawomanatall。Sheneitherlanguishednorblandished。Nofemininelureswerewastedonhim。
　　Hemighthavebeenherbrother，orshehisbrother，forallsexhadtodowiththestrangesituation。Anymerepolitegallantryonhispartwasignoredorsnubbed，andhehadveryearlygivenupofferinghishandtoheringettingintoaboatorclimbingoveralog，andhehadtoacknowledgetohimselfthatshewaseminentlyfittedtotakecareofherself。Despitehiswarningsaboutcrocodilesandsharks，shepersistedinswimmingindeepwateroffthebeach；norcouldhepersuadeher，whenshewasintheboat，toletoneofthesailorsthrowthedynamitewhenshootingfish。Shearguedthatshewasatleastalittlebitmoreintelligentthanthey，andthat，therefore，therewaslessliabilityofanaccidentifshedidtheshooting。Shewastohimthemostmasculineandatthesametimethemostfemininewomanhehadevermet。
　　Asourceofcontinualtroublebetweenthemwasthedisagreementovermethodsofhandlingtheblackboys。Sheruledbysternkindness，rarelyrewarding，neverpunishing，andhehadtoconfessthatherownsailorsworshippedher，whilethehouse-boyswereherslaves，anddidthreetimesasmuchworkforherashehadevergotoutofthem。Shequicklysawtheunrestofthecontractlabourers，andwasnotblindtothedanger，alwaysimminent，thatbothsheandSheldonran。Neitherofthemeverventuredoutwithoutarevolver，andthesailorswhostoodthenightwatchesbyJoan'sgrasshousewerearmedwithrifles。ButJoaninsistedthatthisreignofterrorhadbeencausedbythereignoffearpractisedbythewhitemen。ShehadbeenbroughtupwiththegentleHawaiians，whoneverwereill-treatednorroughlyhandled，andshegeneralizedthattheSolomonIslanders，underkindtreatment，wouldgrowgentle。
　　Oneeveningaterrificuproararoseinthebarracks，andSheldon，aidedbyJoan'ssailors，succeededinrescuingtwowomenwhomtheblackswerebeatingtodeath。Tosavethemfromthevengeanceoftheblacks，theywereguardedinthecook-houseforthenight。
　　Theywerethetwowomenwhodidthecookingforthelabourers，andtheiroffencehadconsistedofoneofthemtakingabathinthebigcauldroninwhichthepotatoeswereboiled。Theblackswerenotoutragedfromthestandpointofcleanliness；theyoftentookbathsinthecauldronsthemselves。Thetroublelayinthatthebatherhadbeenalow，degraded，wretchedfemale；fortotheSolomonIslanderallfemalesarelow，degraded，andwretched。
　　Nextmorning，JoanandSheldon，atbreakfast，werearousedbyaswellingmurmurofangryvoices。ThefirstruleofBerandehadbeenbroken。Thecompoundhadbeenenteredwithoutpermissionorcommand，andallthetwohundredlabourers，withtheexceptionoftheboss-boys，wereguiltyoftheoffence。Theycrowdedup，threateningandshouting，closeunderthefrontveranda。Sheldonleanedovertheverandarailing，lookingdownuponthem，whileJoanstoodslightlyback。Whentheuproarwasstilled，twobrothersstoodforth。Theywerelargemen，splendidlymuscled，andwithfacesunusuallyferocious，evenforSolomonIslanders。OnewasCarin-Jama，otherwiseTheSilent；andtheotherwasBellin-Jama，TheBoaster。BothhadservedontheQueenslandplantationsintheolddays，andtheywereknownasevilcharacterswhereverwhitemenmetandgammed。
　　"Wefellaboywewant'mthemdamtwoblackfellaMary，"saidBellin-Jama。
　　"WhatyoudoalongblackfellaMary？"Sheldonasked。
　　"Kill'm，"saidBellin-Jama。
　　"Whatnameyoufellaboytalkalongme？"Sheldondemanded，withashowofrisinganger。"Bigbellhering。Younobelongalonghere。Youbelongalongfield。Bimeby，bigfellabellhering，youstopalongkai-kai，youcometalkalongmeabouttwofellaMary。Nowallyouboygetalongoutofhere。"
　　ThegangwaitedtoseewhatBellin-Jamawoulddo，andBellin-Jamastoodstill。
　　"Menogo，"hesaid。
　　"Youwatchout，Bellin-Jama，"Sheldonsaidsharply，"orIsendyoualongTulagionebigfellalashing。Myword，youcatch'mstrongfella。"
　　Bellin-Jamaglaredupbelligerently。
　　"Youwant'mfight，"hesaid，puttinguphisfistsinapproved，returned-Queenslanderstyle。
　　Now，intheSolomons，wherewhitesarefewandblacksaremany，andwherethewhitesdotheruling，suchanoffertofightisthedeadliestinsult。Blacksarenotsupposedtodaresohighlyastooffertofightawhiteman。Atthebest，alltheycanlookforistobebeatenbythewhiteman。
　　AmurmurofadmirationatBellin-Jama'sbraverywentupfromthelisteningblacks。ButBellin-Jama'svoicewasstillringingintheair，andthemurmuringwasjustbeginning，whenSheldonclearedtherail，leapingstraightdownward。Fromthetopoftherailingtothegrounditwasfifteenfeet，andBellin-Jamawasdirectlybeneath。Sheldon'sflyingbodystruckhimandcrushedhimtoearth。Noblowswereneededtobestruck。Theblackhadbeenknockedhelpless。Joan，startledbytheunexpectedleap，sawCarin-Jama，TheSilent，reachoutandseizeSheldonbythethroatashewashalf-waytohisfeet，whilethefive-scoreblackssurgedforwardforthekilling。Herrevolverwasout，andCarin-Jamaletgohisgrip，reelingbackwardwithabulletinhisshoulder。Inthatfleetinginstantofactionshehadthoughttoshoothiminthearm，which，atthatshortdistance，mightreasonablyhavebeenachieved。Butthewaveofsavagesleapingforwardhadchangedhershottotheshoulder。Itwasamomentwhennottheslightestchancecouldbetaken。
　　Theinstanthisthroatwasreleased，Sheldonstruckoutwithhisfist，andCarin-Jamajoinedhisbrotherontheground。Themutinywasquelled，andfiveminutesmoresawthebrothersbeingcarriedtothehospital，andthemutineers，marshalledbythegang-bosses，onthewaytothefields。
　　WhenSheldoncameupontheveranda，hefoundJoancollapsedonthesteamer-chairandintears。Thesightunnervedhimastherowjustovercouldnotpossiblyhavedone。Awomanintearswastohimanembarrassingsituation；andwhenthatwomanwasJoanLackland，fromwhomhehadgrowntoexpectanythingunexpected，hewasreallyfrightened。Heglanceddownatherhelplessly，andmoistenedhislips。
　　"Iwanttothankyou，"hebegan。"Thereisn'tadoubtbutwhatyousavedmylife，andImustsay——"
　　Sheabruptlyremovedherhands，showingawrathfulandtear-stainedface。
　　"Youbrute!Youcoward!"shecried。"Youhavemademeshootaman，andInevershotamaninmylifebefore。"
　　"It'sonlyaflesh-wound，andheisn'tgoingtodie，"Sheldonmanagedtointerpolate。
　　"Whatofthat？Ishothimjustthesame。Therewasnoneedforyoutojumpdowntherethatway。Itwasbrutalandcowardly。"
　　"Oh，nowIsay——"hebegansoothingly。
　　"Goaway。Don'tyouseeIhateyou!hateyou!Oh，won'tyougoaway!"
　　Sheldonwaswhitewithanger。
　　"Thenwhyinthenameofcommonsensedidyoushoot？"hedemanded。
　　"Be-be-becauseyouwereawhiteman，"shesobbed。"AndDadwouldneverhaveleftanywhitemaninthelurch。Butitwasyourfault。
　　Youhadnorighttogetyourselfinsuchaposition。Besides，itwasn'tnecessary。"
　　"IamafraidIdon'tunderstand，"hesaidshortly，turningaway。
　　"Wewilltalkitoverlateron。"
　　"LookhowIgetonwiththeboys，"shesaid，whilehepausedinthedoorway，stifflypolite，tolisten。"There'sthosetwosickboysI
　　amnursing。Theywilldoanythingformewhentheygetwell，andI
　　won'thavetokeeptheminfearoftheirlifeallthetime。Itisnotnecessary，Itellyou，allthisharshnessandbrutality。Whatiftheyarecannibals？Theyarehumanbeings，justlikeyouandme，andtheyareamenabletoreason。Thatiswhatdistinguishesallofusfromtheloweranimals。"
　　Henoddedandwentout。
　　"IsupposeI'vebeenunforgivablyfoolish，"washergreeting，whenhereturnedseveralhourslaterfromaroundoftheplantation。
　　"I'vebeentothehospital，andthemanisgettingalongallright。
　　Itisnotaserioushurt。"
　　Sheldonfeltunaccountablypleasedandhappyatthechangedaspectofhermood。
　　"Yousee，youdon'tunderstandthesituation，"hebegan。"Inthefirstplace，theblackshavetoberuledsternly。Kindnessisallverywell，butyoucan'trulethembykindnessonly。IacceptallthatyousayabouttheHawaiiansandtheTahitians。Yousaythattheycanbehandledthatway，andIbelieveyou。Ihavehadnoexperiencewiththem。Butyouhavehadnoexperiencewiththeblacks，andIaskyoutobelieveme。Theyaredifferentfromyournatives。YouareusedtoPolynesians。TheseboysareMelanesians。
　　They'reblacks。They'reniggers——lookattheirkinkyhair。Andthey'reawholelotlowerthantheAfricanniggers。Really，youknow，thereisavastdifference。"
　　"Theypossessnogratitude，nosympathy，nokindliness。Ifyouarekindtothem，theythinkyouareafool。Ifyouaregentlewiththemtheythinkyouareafraid。Andwhentheythinkyouareafraid，watchout，fortheywillgetyou。Justtoshowyou，letmestatetheoneinvariableprocessinablackman'sbrainwhen，onhisnativeheath，heencountersastranger。Hisfirstthoughtisoneoffear。Willthestrangerkillhim？Hisnextthought，seeingthatheisnotkilled，is:Canhekillthestranger？TherewasPackard，aColonialtrader，sometwelvemilesdownthecoast。Heboastedthatheruledbykindnessandneverstruckablow。Theresultwasthathedidnotruleatall。Heusedtocomedowninhiswhale-boattovisitHughieandme。Whenhisboat'screwdecidedtogohome，hehadtocuthisvisitshorttoaccompanythem。IrememberoneSundayafternoonwhenPackardhadacceptedourinvitationtostoptodinner。Thesoupwasjustserved，whenHughiesawaniggerpeeringinthroughthedoor。Hewentouttohim，foritwasaviolationofBerandecustom。Anyniggerhastosendinwordbythehouse-boys，andtokeepoutsidethecompound。
　　Thisman，whowasoneofPackard'sboat's-crew，wasontheveranda。
　　Andheknewbetter，too。'Whatname？'saidHughie。'Youtell'mwhitemancloseupwefellaboat's-crewgoalong。Henocomenow，wefellaboynowait。Wego。'AndjustthenHughiefetchedhimacloutthatknockedhimcleandownthestairsandofftheveranda。"
　　"Butitwasneedlesslycruel，"Joanobjected。"Youwouldn'ttreatawhitemanthatway。"
　　"Andthat'sjustthepoint。Hewasn'tawhiteman。Hewasalowblacknigger，andhewasdeliberatelyinsulting，notalonehisownwhitemaster，buteverywhitemasterintheSolomons。Heinsultedme。HeinsultedHughie。HeinsultedBerande。"
　　"Ofcourse，accordingtoyourlights，toyourformulaoftheruleofthestrong——"
　　"Yes，"Sheldoninterrupted，"butitwasaccordingtotheformulaoftheruleoftheweakthatPackardruled。Andwhatwastheresult？
　　Iamstillalive。Packardisdead。Hewasunswervinglykindandgentletohisboys，andhisboyswaitedtillonedayhewasdownwithfever。HisheadisoveronMalaitanow。Theycarriedawaytwowhale-boatsaswell，filledwiththelootofthestore。ThentherewasCaptainMackenzieoftheketchMinota。Hebelievedinkindness。Healsocontendedthatbetterconfidencewasestablishedbycarryingnoweapons。OnhissecondtriptoMalaita，recruiting，heranintoBina，whichisnearLangaLanga。Therifleswithwhichtheboat's-crewshouldhavebeenarmed，werelockedupinhiscabin。Whenthewhale-boatwentashoreafterrecruits，heparadedaroundthedeckwithoutevenarevolveronhim。Hewastomahawked。
　　HisheadremainsinMalaita。Itwassuicide。SowasPackard'sfinishsuicide。"
　　"Igrantthatprecautionisnecessaryindealingwiththem，"Joanagreed；"butIbelievethatmoresatisfactoryresultscanbeobtainedbytreatingthemwithdiscreetkindnessandgentleness。"
　　"AndthereIagreewithYOU，butyoumustunderstandonething。
　　Berande，barnone，isbyfartheworstplantationintheSolomonssofarasthelabourisconcerned。Andhowitcametobesoprovesyourpoint。ThepreviousownersofBerandewerenotdiscreetlykind。Theywereapairofunadulteratedbrutes。Onewasadown-
　　eastYankee，asIbelievetheyarecalled，andtheotherwasaguzzlingGerman。Theywereslave-drivers。Tobeginwith，theyboughttheirlabourfromJohnnyBe-blowed，themostnotoriousrecruiterintheSolomons。Heisworkingoutatenyears'sentenceinFijinow，forthewantonkillingofablackboy。DuringhislastdaysherehehadmadehimselfsoobnoxiousthatthenativesonMalaitawouldhavenothingtodowithhim。Theonlywayhecouldgetrecruitswasbyhurryingtothespotwheneveramurderorseriesofmurdersoccurred。Themurdererswereusuallyonlytoowillingtosignonandgetawaytoescapevengeance。Downheretheycallsuchescapes，'pier-headjumps。'Thereissuddenlyaroarfromthebeach，andaniggerrunsdowntothewaterpursuedbycloudsofspearsandarrows。Ofcourse，JohnnyBe-blowed'swhale-
　　boatislyingreadytopickhimup。InhislastdaysJohnnygotnothingbutpier-headjumps。
　　"AndthefirstownersofBerandeboughthisrecruits——ahard-bittengangofmurderers。Theywereallfive-yearboys。Yousee，therecruiterhastheadvantageoveraboywhenhemakesapier-headjump。Hecouldsignhimonfortenyearsdidthelawpermit。
　　Well，that'sthegangofmurdererswe'vegotonourhandsnow。Ofcoursesomearedead，somehavebeenkilled，andthereareothersservingsentencesatTulagi。Verylittleclearingdidthosefirstownersdo，andlessplanting。Itwaswarallthetime。Theyhadonemanagerkilled。Oneofthepartnershadhisshoulderslashednearlyoffbyacane-knife。Theotherwasspearedontwodifferentoccasions。Bothwerebullies，whereforetherewasastreakofcowardiceinthem，andintheendtheyhadtogiveup。Theywerechasedaway——literallychasedaway——bytheirownniggers。AndalongcamepoorHughieandme，twonewchums，totakeholdofthathard-bittengang。Wedidnotknowthesituation，andwehadboughtBerande，andtherewasnothingtodobuthangonandmuddlethroughsomehow。
　　"Atfirstwemadethemistakeofindiscreetkindness。Wetriedtorulebypersuasionandfairtreatment。Theniggersconcludedthatwewereafraid。Iblushtothinkofwhatfoolswewereinthosefirstdays。Wewereimposedon，andthreatenedandinsulted；andweputupwithit，hopingoursquare-dealingwouldsoonmendthings。Insteadofwhicheverythingwentfrombadtoworse。ThencamethedaywhenHughiereprimandedoneoftheboysandwasnearlykilledbythegang。Theonlythingthatsavedhimwasthenumberontopofhim，whichenabledmetoreachthespotintime。
　　"Thenbegantheruleofthestronghand。Itwaseitherthatorquit，andwehadsunkaboutallourmoneyintotheventure，andwecouldnotquit。Andbesides，ourpridewasinvolved。Wehadstartedouttodosomething，andweweresomadethatwejusthadtogoonwithit。Ithasbeenahardfight，forwewere，andaretothisday，consideredtheworstplantationintheSolomonsfromthestandpointoflabour。Doyouknow，wehavebeenunabletogetwhitemenin。We'veofferedthemanagershiptohalfadozen。I
　　won'tsaytheywereafraid，fortheywerenot。Buttheydidnotconsiderithealthy——atleastthatisthewayitwasputbythelastonewhodeclinedouroffer。SoHughieandIdidthemanagingourselves。"
　　"Andwhenhediedyouwerepreparedtogoonallalone!"Joancried，withshiningeyes。
　　"IthoughtI'dmuddlethrough。Andnow，MissLackland，pleasebecharitablewhenIseemharsh，andrememberthatthesituationisunparalleleddownhere。We'vegotabadcrowd，andwe'remakingthemwork。You'vebeenovertheplantationandyououghttoknow。
　　AndIassureyouthattherearenobetterthree-and-four-years-oldtreesonanyotherplantationintheSolomons。Wehaveworkedsteadilytochangemattersforthebetter。We'vebeenslowlygettinginnewlabour。ThatiswhyweboughttheJessie。Wewantedtoselectourownlabour。Inanotheryearthetimewillbeupformostoftheoriginalgang。Yousee，theywererecruitedduringthefirstyearofBerande，andtheircontractsexpireondifferentmonths。Naturally，theyhavecontaminatedthenewboystoacertainextent；butthatcansoonberemedied，andthenBerandewillbearespectableplantation。"
　　Joannoddedbutremainedsilent。Shewastoooccupiedinglimpsingthevisionoftheonelonewhitemanasshehadfirstseenhim，helplessfromfever，acollapsedwraithinasteamer-chair，who，uptothelastheart-beat，bysomestrangealchemyofrace，waspledgedtomastery。
　　"Itisapity，"shesaid。"Butthewhitemanhastorule，I
　　suppose。"
　　"Idon'tlikeit，"Sheldonassuredher。"TosavemylifeIcan'timaginehowIevercamehere。ButhereIam，andIcan'trunaway。"
　　"Blinddestinyofrace，"shesaid，faintlysmiling。"Wewhiteshavebeenlandrobbersandsearobbersfromremotesttime。Itisinourblood，Iguess，andwecan'tgetawayfromit。"
　　"Ineverthoughtaboutitsoabstractly，"heconfessed。"I'vebeentoobusypuzzlingoverwhyIcamehere。"
　　CHAPTERVIII——LOCALCOLOUR
　　Atsunsetasmallketchfannedintoanchorage，andalittlelatertheskippercameashore。Hewasasoft-spoken，gentle-voicedyoungfellowoftwenty，buthewonJoan'sadmirationinadvancewhenSheldontoldherthatherantheketchallalonewithablackcrewfromMalaita。AndRomanceluredandbeckonedbeforeJoan'seyeswhenshelearnedhewasChristianYoung，aNorfolkIslander，butadirectdescendantofJohnYoung，oneoftheoriginalBountymutineers。TheblendedTahitianandEnglishbloodshowedinhissofteyesandtawnyskin；buttheEnglishhardnessseemedtohavedisappeared。Yetthehardnesswasthere，anditwaswhatenabledhimtorunhisketchsingle-handedandtowringalivelihoodoutofthefightingSolomons。
　　Joan'sunexpectedpresenceembarrassedhim，untilsheherselfputhimathiseasebyafrank，comradelymannerthatoffendedSheldon'ssenseofthefitnessofthingsfeminine。NewsfromtheworldYounghadnot，buthewasfilledwithnewsoftheSolomons。
　　FifteenboyshadstolenriflesandrunawayintothebushfromLungaplantation，whichwasfarthereastontheGuadalcanarcoast。
　　Andfromthebushtheyhadsentwordthattheywerecomingbacktowipeoutthethreewhitemenincharge，whiletwoofthethreewhitemen，inturn，werehuntingthemthroughthebush。Therewasastrongpossibility，Youngvolunteered，thatiftheywerenotcaughttheymightcirclearoundandtapthecoastatBerandeinordertostealorcaptureawhale-boat。
　　"IforgottotellyouthatyourtraderatUgihasbeenmurdered，"
　　hesaidtoSheldon。"FivebigcanoescamedownfromPortAdams。
　　Theylandedinthenight-time，andcaughtOscarasleep。Whattheydidn'tstealtheyburned。TheFlibberty-GibbetgotthenewsatMboliPass，andrandowntoUgi。IwasatMboliwhenthenewscame。"
　　"IthinkI'llhavetoabandonUgi，"Sheldonremarked。
　　"It'sthesecondtraderyou'velostthereinayear，"Youngconcurred。"Tomakeitsafethereoughttobetwowhitemenatleast。ThoseMalaitacanoesarealwaysraidingdownthatway，andyouknowwhatthatPortAdamslotis。I'vegotadogforyou。
　　TommyJonessentitupfromNealIsland。Hesaidhe'dpromisedittoyou。It'safirst-classnigger-chaser。Hadn'tbeenonboardtwominuteswhenhehadmywholeboat's-crewintherigging。TommycallshimSatan。"
　　"I'vewonderedseveraltimeswhyyouhadnodogshere，"Joansaid。
　　"Thetroubleistokeepthem。They'realwayseatenbythecrocodiles。"
　　"JackHanleywaskilledatMarovoLagoontwomonthsago，"Youngannouncedinhismildvoice。"ThenewsjustcamedownontheApostle。"
　　"WhereisMarovoLagoon？"Joanasked。
　　"NewGeorgia，acoupleofhundredmilestothewestward，"Sheldonanswered。"Bougainvilleliesjustbeyond。"
　　"Hisownhouse-boysdidit，"Youngwenton；"buttheywereputuptoitbytheMarovonatives。HisSantaCruzboat's-crewescapedinthewhale-boattoChoiseul，andMather，intheLily，sailedovertoMarovo。Heburnedavillage，andgotHanley'sheadback。Hefounditinoneofthehouses，wheretheniggershaditdrying。Andthat'sallthenewsI'vegot，exceptthatthere'salotofnewLee-
　　EnfieldslooseontheeasternendofYsabel。Nobodyknowshowthenativesgotthem。Thegovernmentoughttoinvestigate。And——ohyes，awarvessel'sinthegroup，theCambrian。SheburnedthreevillagesatBina——onaccountoftheMinota，youknow——andshelledthebush。ThenshewenttoSiotostraightenoutthingsthere。"
　　Theconversationbecamegeneral，andjustbeforeYounglefttogoonboardJoanasked，-
　　"Howcanyoumanageallalone，Mr。Young？"
　　Hislarge，almostgirlisheyesrestedonherforamomentbeforehereplied，andthenitwasinthesoftestandgentlestofvoices。
　　"Oh，Igetalongprettywellwiththem。Ofcourse，thereisabitoftroubleonceinawhile，butthatmustbeexpected。Youmustneverletthemthinkyouareafraid。I'vebeenafraidplentyoftimes，buttheyneverknewit。"
　　"Youwouldthinkhewouldn'tstrikeamosquitothatwasbitinghim，"SheldonsaidwhenYounghadgoneonboard。"AlltheNorfolkIslandersthathavedescendedfromtheBountycrowdarethatway。
　　ButlookatYoung。Onlythreeyearsago，whenhefirstgottheMinerva，hewaslyinginSuu，onMalaita。TherearealotofreturnedQueenslandersthere——aroughcrowd。Theyplannedtogethishead。Thesonoftheirchief，oldOne-EyedBilly，hadrecruitedonLungaanddiedofdysentery。Thatmeantthatawhiteman'sheadwasowingtoSuu——anywhiteman，itdidn'tmatterwhosolongastheygotthehead。AndYoungwasonlyalad，andtheymadesuretogethiseasily。Theydecoyedhiswhale-boatashorewithapromiseofrecruits，andkilledallhands。Atthesameinstant，theSuugangthatwasonboardtheMinervajumpedYoung。Hewasjustpreparingadynamitestickforfish，andhelighteditandtosseditinamongstthem。Onecan'tgethimtotalkaboutit，butthefusewasshort，thesurvivorsleapedoverboard，whileheslippedhisanchorandgotaway。They'vegotonehundredfathomsofshellmoneyonhisheadnow，whichisworthonehundredpoundssterling。YethegoesintoSuuregularly。Hewasthereashorttimeago，returningthirtyboysfromCapeMarsh——that'stheFulcrumBrothers'plantation。"
　　"Atanyrate，hisnewsto-nighthasgivenmeabetterinsightintothelifedownhere，"Joansaid。"Anditiscolourfullife，tosaytheleast。TheSolomonsoughttobeprintedredonthecharts——andyellow，too，forthediseases。"
　　"TheSolomonsarenotalwayslikethis，"Sheldonanswered。"Ofcourse，Berandeistheworstplantation，andeverythingitgetsistheworst。Idoubtifevertherewasaworserunofsicknessthanwewerejustgettingoverwhenyouarrived。Justasluckwouldhaveit，theJessiecaughtthecontagionaswell。Berandehasbeenveryunfortunate。Alltheold-timersshaketheirheadsatit。
　　TheysayithaswhatyouAmericanscallahoodooonit。"
　　"Berandewillsucceed，"Joansaidstoutly。"Iliketolaughatsuperstition。You'llpullthroughandcomeoutthebigendofthehorn。Theillluckcan'tlastforever。Iamafraid，though，theSolomonsisnotawhiteman'sclimate。"
　　"Itwillbe，though。Giveusfiftyyears，andwhenallthebushisclearedoffbacktothemountains，feverwillbestampedout；
　　everythingwillbefarhealthier。Therewillbecitiesandtownshere，forthere'sanimmenseamountofgoodlandgoingtowaste。"
　　"Butitwillneverbecomeawhiteman'sclimate，inspiteofallthat，"Joanreiterated。"Thewhitemanwillalwaysbeunabletoperformthemanuallabour。"
　　"Thatistrue。"
　　"Itwillmeanslavery，"shedashedon。
　　"Yes，likeallthetropics。Theblack，thebrown，andtheyellowwillhavetodothework，managedbythewhitemen。Theblacklabouristoowasteful，however，andintimeChineseorIndiancoolieswillbeimported。Theplantersarealreadyconsideringthematter。I，forone，amheartilysickofblacklabour。"
　　"Thentheblackswilldieoff？"
　　Sheldonshruggedhisshoulders，andretorted，-