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ADVENTURE
ADVENTURE
by Jack London
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ADVENTURE
CHAPTER ISOMETHING TO
BE DONE
He was a very sick white man。 He rode pick…a…back on a woolly…
headed； black…skinned savage； the lobes of whose ears had been pierced
and stretched until one had torn out； while the other carried a circular
block of carved wood three inches in diameter。 The torn ear had been
pierced again； but this time not so ambitiously； for the hole accommodated
no more than a short clay pipe。 The man…horse was greasy and dirty； and
naked save for an exceedingly narrow and dirty loin…cloth； but the white
man clung to him closely and desperately。 At times； from weakness； his
head drooped and rested on the woolly pate。 At other times he lifted his
head and stared with swimming eyes at the cocoanut palms that reeled and
swung in the shimmering heat。 He was clad in a thin undershirt and a
strip of cotton cloth； that wrapped about his waist and descended to his
knees。 On his head was a battered Stetson； known to the trade as a
Baden…Powell。 About his middle was strapped a belt； which carried a
large…calibred automatic pistol and several spare clips； loaded and ready
for quick work。
The rear was brought up by a black boy of fourteen or fifteen； who
carried medicine bottles； a pail of hot water； and various other hospital
appurtenances。 They passed out of the compound through a small wicker
gate； and went on under the blazing sun； winding about among new…
planted cocoanuts that threw no shade。 There was not a breath of wind；
and the superheated； stagnant air was heavy with pestilence。 From the
direction they were going arose a wild clamour； as of lost souls wailing
and of men in torment。 A long； low shed showed ahead； grass…walled and
grass…thatched； and it was from here that the noise proceeded。 There
were shrieks and screams； some unmistakably of grief； others
unmistakably of unendurable pain。 As the white man drew closer he
could hear a low and continuous moaning and groaning。 He shuddered at
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ADVENTURE
the thought of entering； and for a moment was quite certain that he was
going to faint。 For that most dreaded of Solomon Island scourges；
dysentery； had struck Berande plantation； and he was all alone to cope
with it。 Also； he was afflicted himself。
By stooping close； still on man…back； he managed to pass through the
low doorway。 He took a small bottle from his follower； and sniffed
strong ammonia to clear his senses for the ordeal。 Then he shouted；
〃Shut up！〃 and the clamour stilled。 A raised platform of forest slabs； six
feet wide； with a slight pitch； extended the full length of the shed。
Alongside of it was a yard…wide run…way。 Stretched on the platform； side
by side and crowded close； lay a score of blacks。 That they were low in
the order of human life was apparent at a glance。 They were man…eaters。
Their faces were asymmetrical； bestial； their bodies were ugly and ape…
like。 They wore nose…rings of clam…shell and turtle…shell； and from the
ends of their noses which were also pierced； projected horns of beads
strung on stiff wire。 Their ears were pierced and distended to
accommodate wooden plugs and sticks； pipes； and all manner of barbaric
ornaments。 Their faces and bodies were tattooed or scarred in hideous
designs。 In their sickness they wore no clothing； not even loin…cloths；
though they retained their shell armlets； their bead necklaces； and their
leather belts； between which and the skin were thrust naked knives。 The
bodies of many were covered with horrible sores。 Swarms of flies rose
and settled； or flew back and forth in clouds。
The white man went down the line； dosing each man with medicine。
To some he gave chlorodyne。 He was forced to concentrate with all his
will in order to remember which of them could stand ipecacuanha； and
which of them were constitutionally unable to retain that powerful drug。
One who lay dead he ordered to be carried out。 He spoke in the sharp；
peremptory manner of a man who would take no nonsense； and the well
men who obeyed his orders scowled malignantly。 One muttered deep in
his chest as he took the corpse by the feet。 The white man exploded in
speech and action。 It cost him a painful effort； but his arm shot out；
landing a back… hand blow on the black's mouth。
〃What name you； Angara？〃 he shouted。 〃What for talk 'long you； eh？
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I knock seven bells out of you； too much； quick！〃
With the automatic swiftness of a wild animal the black gathered
himself to spring。 The anger of a wild animal was in his eyes； but he saw
the white man's hand dropping to the pistol in his belt。 The spring was
never made。 The tensed body relaxed； and the black； stooping over the
corpse； helped carry it out。 This time there was no muttering。
〃Swine！〃 the white man gritted out through his teeth at the whole
breed of Solomon Islanders。
He was very sick； this white man； as sick as the black men who lay
helpless about him； and whom he attended。 He never knew； each time he
entered the festering shambles； whether or not he would be able to
complete the round。 But he did know in large degree of certainty that； if
he ever fainted there in the midst of the blacks； those who were able would
be at his throat like ravening wolves。
Part way down the line a man was dying。 He gave orders for his
removal as soon as he had breathed his last。 A black stuck his head
inside the shed door； saying； …
〃Four fella sick too much。〃
Fresh cases； still able to walk； they clustered about the spokesman。
The white man singled out the weakest； and put him in the place just
vacated by the corpse。 Also； he indicated the next weakest； telling him to
wait for a place until the next man died。 Then； ordering one of the well
men to take a squad from the field… force and build a lean…to addition to
the hospital； he continued along the run…way； administering medicine and
cracking jokes in beche…de…mer English to cheer the sufferers。 Now and
again； from the far end； a weird wail was raised。 When he arrived there
he found the noise was emitted by a boy who was not sick。 The white
man's wrath was immediate。
〃What name you sing out alla time？〃 he demanded。
〃Him fella my brother belong me；〃 was the answer。 〃Him fella die
too much。〃
〃You sing out； him fella brother belong you die too much；〃 the white
man went on in threatening tones。 〃I cross too much along you。 What
name you sing out； eh？ You fat…head make um brother belong you die
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dose up too much。 You fella finish sing out； savvee？ You fella no finish
sing out I make finish damn quick。〃
He threatened the wailer with his fist； and the black cowered down；
glaring at him with sullen eyes。
〃Sing out no good little bit；〃 the white man went on； more gently。 〃You
no sing out。 You chase um fella fly。 Too much strong fella fly。 You
catch water； washee brother belong you； washee plenty too much； bime
bye brother belong you all right。 Jump！〃 he shouted fiercely at the end；
his will penetrating the low intelligence of the black with dynamic force
that made him jump to the task of brushing the loathsome swarms of flies
away。
Again he rode out into the reeking heat。 He clutched the black's neck
tightly； and drew a long breath； but the dead air seemed to shrivel his
lungs； and he dropped his head and dozed till the house was reached。
Every effort of will was torture； yet he was called upon continually to
make efforts of will。 He gave the black he had ridden a nip of trade…gin。
Viaburi； the house…boy； brought him corrosive sublimate and water； and he
took a thorough antiseptic wash。 He dosed himself with chlorodyne；
took his own pulse； smoked a thermometer； and lay back on the couch
with a suppressed groan。 It was mid…afternoon； and he had completed his
third round that day。 He called
