adventure(冒险)-第11部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
first place； the steamer from Australia was not due for three weeks。
〃One thing is evident： you don't want me here；〃 she said。 〃I'll man
the whale…boat to…morrow and go over to Tulagi。〃
〃But as I told you before； that is impossible；〃 he cried。 〃There is no
one there。 The Resident Commissioner is away in Australia。 Them is
only one white man； a third assistant understrapper and ex… sailora
common sailor。 He is in charge of the government of the Solomons； to
say nothing of a hundred or so niggersprisoners。 Besides； he is such a
fool that he would fine you five pounds for not having entered at Tulagi；
which is the port of entry； you know。 He is not a nice man； and； I repeat； it
is impossible。〃
40
… Page 41…
ADVENTURE
〃There is Guvutu；〃 she suggested。
He shook his head。
〃There's nothing there but fever and five white men who are drinking
themselves to death。 I couldn't permit it。〃
〃Oh thank you；〃 she said quietly。 〃I guess I'll start to…day。 Viaburi！
You go along Noa Noah； speak 'm come along me。〃
Noa Noah was her head sailor； who had been boatswain of the Miele。
〃Where are you going？〃 Sheldon asked in surprise。〃Vlaburi！ You
stop。〃
〃To Guvutuimmediately；〃 was her reply。
〃But I won't permit it。〃
〃That is why I am going。 You said it once before； and it is something
I cannot brook。〃
〃What？〃 He was bewildered by her sudden anger。 〃If I have
offended in any way〃
〃Viaburi； you fetch 'm one fella Noa Noah along me；〃 she
commanded。
The black boy started to obey。
〃Viaburi！ You no stop I break 'm head belong you。 And now； Miss
Lackland； I insistyou must explain。 What have I said or done to merit
this？〃
〃You have presumed； you have dared〃
She choked and swallowed； and could not go on。
Sheldon looked the picture of despair。
〃I confess my head is going around with it all；〃 he said。 〃If you could
only be explicit。〃
〃As explicit as you were when you told me that you would not permit
me to go to Guvutu？〃
〃But what's wrong with that？〃
〃But you have no rightno man has the rightto tell me what he will
permit or not permit。 I'm too old to have a guardian； nor did I sail all the
way to the Solomons to find one。〃
〃A gentleman is every woman's guardian。〃
〃Well； I'm not every womanthat's all。 Will you kindly allow me to
41
… Page 42…
ADVENTURE
send your boy for Noa Noah？ I wish him to launch the whale… boat。 Or
shall I go myself for him？〃
Both were now on their feet； she with flushed cheeks and angry eyes；
he； puzzled； vexed； and alarmed。 The black boy stood like a statuea
plum…black statuetaking no interest in the transactions of these
incomprehensible whites； but dreaming with calm eyes of a certain bush
village high on the jungle slopes of Malaita； with blue smoke curling up
from the grass houses against the gray background of an oncoming
mountain…squall。
〃But you won't do anything so foolish〃 he began。
〃There you go again；〃 she cried。
〃I didn't mean it that way； and you know I didn't。〃 He was speaking
slowly and gravely。 〃And that other thing； that not permittingit is only
a manner of speaking。 Of course I am not your guardian。 You know
you can go to Guvutu if you want to〃〃or to the devil；〃 he was almost
tempted to add。 〃Only； I should deeply regret it； that is all。 And I am
very sorry that I should have said anything that hurt you。 Remember； I
am an Englishman。〃
Joan smiled and sat down again。
〃Perhaps I have been hasty；〃 she admitted。 〃You see； I am intolerant
of restraint。 If you only knew how I have been compelled to fight for my
freedom。 It is a sore point with me； this being told what I am to do or not
do by you self…constituted lords of creation。…Viaburi I You stop along
kitchen。 No bring 'm Noa Noah。And now； Mr。 Sheldon； what am I to
do？ You don't want me here； and there doesn't seem to be any place for
me to go。〃
〃That is unfair。 Your being wrecked here has been a godsend to me。 I
was very lonely and very sick。 I really am not certain whether or not I
should have pulled through had you not happened along。 But that is not
the point。 Personally； purely selfishly personally； I should be sorry to see
you go。 But I am not considering myself。 I am considering you。 Itit
is hardly the proper thing； you know。 If I were marriedif there were
some woman of your own race herebut as it is〃
She threw up her hands in mock despair。
42
… Page 43…
ADVENTURE
〃I cannot follow you；〃 she said。 〃In one breath you tell me I must go；
and in the next breath you tell me there is no place to go and that you will
not permit me to go。 What is a poor girl to do？〃
〃That's the trouble；〃 he said helplessly。
〃And the situation annoys you。〃
〃Only for your sake。〃
〃Then let me save your feelings by telling you that it does not annoy
me at allexcept for the row you are making about it。 I never allow what
can't be changed to annoy me。 There is no use in fighting the inevitable。
Here is the situation。 You are here。 I am here。 I can't go elsewhere；
by your own account。 You certainly can't go elsewhere and leave me
here alone with a whole plantation and two hundred woolly cannibals on
my hands。 Therefore you stay； and I stay。 It is very simple。 Also； it is
adventure。 And furthermore； you needn't worry for yourself。 I am not
matrimonially inclined。 I came to the Solomons for a plantation； not a
husband。〃
Sheldon flushed； but remained silent。
〃I know what you are thinking；〃 she laughed gaily。 〃That if I were a
man you'd wring my neck for me。 And I deserve it； too。 I'm so sorry。
I ought not to keep on hurting your feelings。〃
〃I'm afraid I rather invite it；〃 he said； relieved by the signs of the
tempest subsiding。
〃I have it；〃 she announced。 〃Lend me a gang of your boys for to… day。
I'll build a grass house for myself over in the far corner of the compound
on piles； of course。 I can move in to…night。 I'll be comfortable and safe。
The Tahitians can keep an anchor watch just as aboard ship。 And then I'll
study cocoanut planting。 In return； I'll run the kitchen end of your
household and give you some decent food to eat。 And finally； I won't
listen to any of your protests。 I know all that you are going to say and
offer your giving the bungalow up to me and building a grass house for
yourself。 And I won't have it。 You may as well consider everything
settled。 On the other hand； if you don't agree； I will go across the river；
beyond your jurisdiction； and build a village for myself and my sailors；
whom I shall send in the whale…boat to Guvutu for provisions。 And now
43
… Page 44…
ADVENTURE
I want you to teach me billiards。〃
44
… Page 45…
ADVENTURE
CHAPTER VIIA HARD…BITTEN
GANG
Joan took hold of the household with no uncertain grip；
revolutionizing things till Sheldon hardly recognized the place。 For the
first time the bungalow was clean and orderly。 No longer the house…boys
loafed and did as little as they could； while the cook complained that
〃head belong him walk about too much；〃 from the strenuous course in
cookery which she put him through。 Nor did Sheldon escape being
roundly lectured for his laziness in eating nothing but tinned provisions。
She called him a muddler and a slouch； and other invidious names； for his
slackness and his disregard of healthful food。
She sent her whale…boat down the coast twenty miles for limes and
oranges； and wanted to know scathingly why said fruits had not long since
been planted at Berande； while he was beneath contempt because there
was no kitchen garden。 Mummy apples； which he had regarded as weeds；
under her guidance appeared as appetizing breakfast fruit； and； at dinner；
were metamorphosed into puddings that elicited his unqualified
admiration。 Bananas； foraged from the bush； were served； cooked and
raw； a dozen different ways； each one of which he declared was better than
any other。 She or her sailors dynamited fish daily； while the Balesuna
natives were paid tobacco for bringing in oysters from the mangrove
swamps。 Her achievements
