adventure(冒险)-第4部分
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him in doubt and fear and eagerness。 It was the moment of test； whereby
the lone white man was to live or be lost。
〃Ten fella three times； Billy；〃 Sheldon said encouragingly； though
there was a certain metallic rasp in his voice。
Billy scowled； looked up and looked down； but did not move。
〃Billy！〃
Sheldon's voice exploded like a pistol shot。 The savage started
physically。 Grins overspread the grotesque features of the audience； and
there was a sound of tittering。
〃S'pose you like too much lash that fella Arunga； you take him fella
Tulagi；〃 Billy said。 〃One fella government agent make plenty lash。
That um fella law。 Me savvee um fella law。〃
It was the law； and Sheldon knew it。 But he wanted to live this day
and the next day and not to die waiting for the law to operate the next
week or the week after。
〃Too much talk along you！〃 he cried angrily。 〃What name eh？
What name？〃
〃Me savvee law；〃 the savage repeated stubbornly。
〃Astoa！〃
Another man stepped forward in almost a sprightly way and glanced
insolently up。 Sheldon was selecting the worst characters for the lesson。
〃You fella Astoa； you fella Narada； tie up that fella Billy alongside
other fella same fella way。〃
〃Strong fella tie；〃 he cautioned them。
〃You fella Astoa take that fella whip。 Plenty strong big fella too
much ten fella three times。 Savvee！〃
〃No；〃 Astoa grunted。
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Sheldon picked up the rifle that had leaned against the rail； and cocked
it。
〃I know you； Astoa；〃 he said calmly。 〃You work along Queensland
six years。〃
〃Me fella missionary；〃 the black interrupted with deliberate insolence。
〃Queensland you stop jail one fella year。 White fella master damn
fool no hang you。 You too much bad fella。 Queensland you stop jail six
months two fella time。 Two fella time you steal。 All right； you
missionary。 You savvee one fella prayer？〃
〃Yes； me savvee prayer；〃 was the reply。
〃All right； then you pray now； short time little bit。 You say one fella
prayer damn quick； then me kill you。〃
Sheldon held the rifle on him and waited。 The black glanced around
at his fellows； but none moved to aid him。 They were intent upon the
coming spectacle； staring fascinated at the white man with death in his
hands who stood alone on the great veranda。 Sheldon has won； and he
knew it。 Astoa changed his weight irresolutely from one foot to the other。
He looked at the white man； and saw his eyes gleaming level along the
sights。
〃Astoa；〃 Sheldon said； seizing the psychological moment； 〃I count
three fella time。 Then I shoot you fella dead； good…bye； all finish you。〃
And Sheldon knew that when he had counted three he would drop him
in his tracks。 The black knew it； too。 That was why Sheldon did not
have to do it； for when he had counted one； Astoa reached out his hand
and took the whip。 And right well Astoa laid on the whip； angered at his
fellows for not supporting him and venting his anger with every stroke。
From the veranda Sheldon egged him on to strike with strength； till the
two triced savages screamed and howled while the blood oozed down their
backs。 The lesson was being well written in red。
When the last of the gang； including the two howling culprits； had
passed out through the compound gate； Sheldon sank down half… fainting
on his couch。
〃You're a sick man；〃 he groaned。 〃A sick man。〃
〃But you can sleep at ease to…night；〃 he added； half an hour later。
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CHAPTER IIITHE JESSIE
Two days passed； and Sheldon felt that he could not grow any weaker
and live； much less make his four daily rounds of the hospital。 The deaths
were averaging four a day； and there were more new cases than recoveries。
The blacks were in a funk。 Each one； when taken sick； seemed to make
every effort to die。 Once down on their backs they lacked the grit to
make a struggle。 They believed they were going to die； and they did their
best to vindicate that belief。 Even those that were well were sure that it
was only a mater of days when the sickness would catch them and carry
them off。 And yet； believing this with absolute conviction； they
somehow lacked the nerve to rush the frail wraith of a man with the white
skin and escape from the charnel house by the whale…boats。 They chose
the lingering death they were sure awaited them； rather than the immediate
death they were very sure would pounce upon them if they went up
against the master。 That he never slept； they knew。 That he could not
be conjured to death； they were equally surethey had tried it。 And even
the sickness that was sweeping them off could not kill him。
With the whipping in the compound； discipline had improved。 They
cringed under the iron hand of the white man。 They gave their scowls or
malignant looks with averted faces or when his back was turned。 They
saved their mutterings for the barracks at night； where he could not hear。
And there were no more runaways and no more night…prowlers on the
veranda。
Dawn of the third day after the whipping brought the Jessie's white
sails in sight。 Eight miles away； it was not till two in the afternoon that
the light air…fans enabled her to drop anchor a quarter of a mile off the
shore。 The sight of her gave Sheldon fresh courage； and the tedious
hours of waiting did not irk him。 He gave his orders to the boss…boys and
made his regular trips to the hospital。 Nothing mattered now。 His
troubles were at an end。 He could lie down and take care of himself and
proceed to get well。 The Jessie had arrived。 His partner was on board；
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vigorous and hearty from six weeks' recruiting on Malaita。 He could take
charge now； and all would be well with Berande。
Sheldon lay in the steamer…chair and watched the Jessie's whale… boat
pull in for the beach。 He wondered why only three sweeps were pulling；
and he wondered still more when； beached； there was so much delay in
getting out of the boat。 Then he understood。 The three blacks who had
been pulling started up the beach with a stretcher on their shoulders。 A
white man； whom he recognized as the Jessie's captain； walked in front
and opened the gate； then dropped behind to close it。 Sheldon knew that
it was Hughie Drummond who lay in the stretcher； and a mist came before
his eyes。 He felt an overwhelming desire to die。 The disappointment was
too great。 In his own state of terrible weakness he felt that it was
impossible to go on with his task of holding Berande plantation tight…
gripped in his fist。 Then the will of him flamed up again； and he directed
the blacks to lay the stretcher beside him on the floor。 Hughie
Drummond； whom he had last seen in health； was an emaciated skeleton。
His closed eyes were deep…sunken。 The shrivelled lips had fallen away
from the teeth； and the cheek…bones seemed bursting through the skin。
Sheldon sent a house…boy for his thermometer and glanced questioningly
at the captain。 〃Black…water fever；〃 the captain said。 〃He's been like
this for six days； unconscious。 And we've got dysentery on board。
What's the matter with you？〃
〃I'm burying four a day；〃 Sheldon answered； as he bent over from the
steamer…chair and inserted the thermometer under his partner's tongue。
Captain Oleson swore blasphemously； and sent a house…boy to bring
whisky and soda。 Sheldon glanced at the thermometer。
〃One hundred and seven；〃 he said。 〃Poor Hughie。〃
Captain Oleson offered him some whisky。
〃Couldn't think of itperforation； you know；〃 Sheldon said。
He sent for a boss…boy and ordered a grave to be dug； also some of the
packing…cases to be knocked together into a coffin。 The blacks did not
get coffins。 They were buried as they died； being carted on a sheet of
galvanized iron； in their nakedness； from the hospital to the hole in the
ground。 Having given the orders； Sheldon lay back in his chair with
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closed eyes。
〃It's ben fair hell； sir；〃 Captain Oleson began； then broke off to help
himself to more whisky。 〃It's ben fair hell； Mr。 Sheldon；
