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，-