adventure(冒险)-第21部分
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He finish along Berande。〃
All day the examination of the plantation and the discussion went on；
and all day the skipper of the Malakula sent urgent messages ashore for
the two men to hasten。 It was not until sunset that they went down to the
boat； and even then a final talk of nearly an hour took place on the beach。
Sheldon was combating something that she could plainly see； and that
his two visitors were not giving in she could also plainly see。
〃What name？〃 she asked lightly； when Sheldon sat down to dinner。
He looked at her and smiled； but it was a very wan and wistful smile。
〃My word；〃 she went on。 〃One big fella talk。 Sun he go down
talk…talk； sun he come uptalk…talk； all the time talk…talk。 What name
that fella talk…talk？
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〃Oh； nothing much。〃 He shrugged his shoulders。 〃They were trying
to buy Berande； that was all。〃
She looked at him challengingly。
〃It must have been more than that。 It was you who wanted to sell。〃
〃Indeed； no； Miss Lackland； I assure you that I am far from desiring to
sell。〃
〃Don't let us fence about it；〃 she urged。 〃Let it be straight talk
between us。 You're in trouble。 I'm not a fool。 Tell me。 Besides； I may
be able to help； toto suggest something。〃
In the pause that followed； he seemed to debate； not so much whether
he would tell her； as how to begin to tell her。
〃I'm American； you see；〃 she persisted； 〃and our American heritage is
a large parcel of business sense。 I don't like it myself； but I know I've got
itat least more than you have。 Let us talk it over and find a way out。
How much do you owe？〃
〃A thousand pounds； and a few trifles oversmall bills； you know。
Then； too； thirty of the boys finish their time next week； and their balances
will average ten pounds each。 But what is the need of bothering your
head with it？ Really； you know〃
〃What is Berande worth？right now？〃
〃Whatever Morgan and Raff are willing to pay for it。〃 A glance at
her hurt expression decided him。 〃Hughie and I have sunk eight
thousand pounds in it； and our time。 It is a good property； and worth
more than that。 But it has three years to run before its returns begin to
come in。 That is why Hughie and I engaged in trading and recruiting。
The Jessie and our stations came very near to paying the running expenses
of Berande。〃
〃And Morgan and Raff offered you what？〃
〃A thousand pounds clear； after paying all bills。〃
〃The thieves！〃 she cried。
〃No； they're good business men； that is all。 As they told me； a thing
is worth no more than one is willing to pay or to receive。〃
〃And how much do you need to carry on Berande for three years？〃
Joan hurried on。
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〃Two hundred boys at six pounds a year means thirty…six hundred
poundsthat's the main item。〃
〃My； how cheap labour does mount up！ Thirty…six hundred pounds；
eighteen thousand dollars； just for a lot of cannibals！ Yet the place is
good security。 You could go down to Sydney and raise the money。〃
He shook his head。
〃You can't get them to look at plantations down there。 They've been
taken in too often。 But I do hate to give the place upmore for Hughie's
sake； I swear； than my own。 He was bound up in it。 You see； he was a
persistent chap； and hated to acknowledge defeat。 Itit makes me
uncomfortable to think of it myself。 We were running slowly behind； but
with the Jessie we hoped to muddle through in some fashion。〃
〃You were muddlers； the pair of you； without doubt。 But you needn't
sell to Morgan and Raff。 I shall go down to Sydney on the next steamer；
and I'll come back in a second…hand schooner。 I should be able to buy
one for five or six thousand dollars〃
He held up his hand in protest； but she waved it aside。
〃I may manage to freight a cargo back as well。 At any rate； the
schooner will take over the Jessie's business。 You can make your
arrangements accordingly； and have plenty of work for her when I get
back。 I'm going to become a partner in Berande to the extent of my bag
of sovereignsI've got over fifteen hundred of them； you know。 We'll
draw up an agreement right nowthat is； with your permission； and I
know you won't refuse it。〃
He looked at her with good…natured amusement。
〃You know I sailed here all the way from Tahiti in order to become a
planter；〃 she insisted。 〃You know what my plans were。 Now I've
changed them； that's all。 I'd rather be a part owner of Berande and get
my returns in three years； than break ground on Pari…Sulay and wait seven
years。〃
〃And thiserthis schooner。 。 。 。 〃 Sheldon changed his mind and
stopped。
〃Yes； go on。〃
〃You won't be angry？〃 he queried。
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〃No； no； this is business。 Go on。〃
〃Youeryou would run her yourself？be the captain； in short？ and
go recruiting on Malaita？〃
〃Certainly。 We would save the cost of a skipper。 Under an
agreement you would be credited with a manager's salary； and I with a
captain's。 It's quite simple。 Besides； if you won't let me be your partner；
I shall buy Pari…Sulay； get a much smaller vessel； and run her myself。 So
what is the difference？〃
〃The difference？why； all the difference in the world。 In the case of
Pari…Sulay you would be on an independent venture。 You could turn
cannibal for all I could interfere in the matter。 But on Berande； you
would be my partner； and then I would be responsible。 And of course I
couldn't permit you； as my partner； to be skipper of a recruiter。 I tell you；
the thing is what I would not permit any sister or wife of mine〃
〃But I'm not going to be your wife； thank goodnessonly your
partner。〃
〃Besides； it's all ridiculous；〃 he held on steadily。 〃Think of the
situation。 A man and a woman； both young； partners on an isolated
plantation。 Why； the only practical way out would be that I'd have to
marry you〃
〃Mine was a business proposition； not a marriage proposal；〃 she
interrupted； coldly angry。 〃I wonder if somewhere in this world there is
one man who could accept me for a comrade。〃
〃But you are a woman just the same；〃 he began； 〃and there are certain
conventions； certain decencies〃
She sprang up and stamped her foot。
〃Do you know what I'd like to say？〃 she demanded。
〃Yes；〃 he smiled； 〃you'd like to say； 'Damn petticoats！'〃
She nodded her head ruefully。
〃That's what I wanted to say； but it sounds different on your lips。 It
sounds as though you meant it yourself； and that you meant it because of
me。〃
〃Well； I am going to bed。 But do； please； think over my proposition；
and let me know in the morning。 There's no use in my discussing it now。
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You make me so angry。 You are cowardly； you know； and very egotistic。
You are afraid of what other fools will say。 No matter how honest your
motives； if others criticized your actions your feelings would be hurt。
And you think more about your own wretched feelings than you do about
mine。 And then； being a cowardall men are at heart cowardsyou
disguise your cowardice by calling it chivalry。 I thank heaven that I was
not born a man。 Good…night。 Do think it over。 And don't be foolish。
What Berande needs is good American hustle。 You don't know what that
is。 You are a muddler。 Besides； you are enervated。 I'm fresh to the
climate。 Let me be your partner； and you'll see me rattle the dry bones of
the Solomons。 Confess； I've rattled yours already。〃
〃I should say so；〃 he answered。 〃Really； you know； you have。 I
never received such a dressing…down in my life。 If any one had ever told
me that I'd be a party even to the present situation。 。 。 。 Yes； I confess； you
have rattled my dry bones pretty considerably。〃
〃But that is nothing to the rattling they are going to get；〃 she assured
him； as he rose and took her hand。 〃Good…night。 And do； do give me a
rational decision in the morning。〃
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CHAPTER XIIITHE LOGIC OF
YOUTH
〃I wish I knew
