adventure(冒险)-第6部分
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bow。 Two flags were stiffly undulating from the halyards like squares of
flexible sheet…iron。 One was blue； the other red。 He knew their
meaning in the Berande private code〃What are your instructions？ Shall
I attempt to land boat？〃 Tacked on the wall； between the signal locker and
the billiard rules； was the code itself； by which he verified the signal
before making answer。 On the flagstaff gaff a boy hoisted a white flag
over a red； which stood for〃Run to Neal Island for shelter。〃
That Captain Oleson had been expecting this signal was apparent by
the celerity with which the shackles were knocked out of both anchor…
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chains。 He slipped his anchors； leaving them buoyed to be picked up in
better weather。 The Jessie swung off under her full staysail； then the
foresail； double…reefed； was run up。 She was away like a racehorse；
clearing Balesuna Shoal with half a cable… length to spare。 Just before
she rounded the point she was swallowed up in a terrific squall that far
out…blew the first。
All that night； while squall after squall smote Berande； uprooting trees；
overthrowing copra…sheds； and rocking the house on its tall piles； Sheldon
slept。 He was unaware of the commotion。 He never wakened。 Nor
did he change his position or dream。 He awoke； a new man。
Furthermore； he was hungry。 It was over a week since food had passed
his lips。 He drank a glass of condensed cream； thinned with water； and
by ten o'clock he dared to take a cup of beef…tea。 He was cheered； also； by
the situation in the hospital。 Despite the storm there had been but one
death； and there was only one fresh case； while half a dozen boys crawled
weakly away to the barracks。 He wondered if it was the wind that was
blowing the disease away and cleansing the pestilential land。
By eleven a messenger arrived from Balesuna village； dispatched by
Seelee。 The Jessie had gone ashore half…way between the village and
Neal Island。 It was not till nightfall that two of the crew arrived；
reporting the drowning of Captain Oleson and of the one remaining boy。
As for the Jessie； from what they told him Sheldon could not but conclude
that she was a total loss。 Further to hearten him； he was taken by a
shivering fit。 In half an hour he was burning up。 And he knew that at
least another day must pass before he could undertake even the smallest
dose of quinine。 He crawled under a heap of blankets； and a little later
found himself laughing aloud。 He had surely reached the limit of disaster。
Barring earthquake or tidal…wave； the worst had already befallen him。
The Flibberty…Gibbet was certainly safe in Mboli Pass。 Since nothing
worse could happen； things simply had to mend。 So it was； shivering
under his blankets； that he laughed； until the house… boys； with heads
together； marvelled at the devils that were in him。
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CHAPTER IVJOAN
LACKLAND
By the second day of the northwester； Sheldon was in collapse from
his fever。 It had taken an unfair advantage of his weak state； and though
it was only ordinary malarial fever； in forty…eight hours it had run him as
low as ten days of fever would have done when he was in condition。 But
the dysentery had been swept away from Berande。 A score of
convalescents lingered in the hospital； but they were improving hourly。
There had been but one more deaththat of the man whose brother had
wailed over him instead of brushing the flies away。
On the morning of the fourth day of his fever； Sheldon lay on the
veranda； gazing dimly out over the raging ocean。 The wind was falling；
but a mighty sea was still thundering in on Berande beach； the flying spray
reaching in as far as the flagstaff mounds； the foaming wash creaming
against the gate…posts。 He had taken thirty grains of quinine； and the
drug was buzzing in his ears like a nest of hornets； making his hands and
knees tremble； and causing a sickening palpitation of the stomach。 Once；
opening his eyes； he saw what he took to be an hallucination。 Not far out；
and coming in across the Jessie's anchorage； he saw a whale…boat's nose
thrust skyward on a smoky crest and disappear naturally； as an actual
whale…boat's nose should disappear； as it slid down the back of the sea。
He knew that no whale…boat should be out there； and he was quite certain
no men in the Solomons were mad enough to be abroad in such a storm。
But the hallucination persisted。 A minute later； chancing to open his
eyes； he saw the whale…boat； full length； and saw right into it as it rose on
the face of a wave。 He saw six sweeps at work； and in the stern； clearly
outlined against the overhanging wall of white； a man who stood erect；
gigantic； swaying with his weight on the steering…sweep。 This he saw；
and an eighth man who crouched in the bow and gazed shoreward。 But
what startled Sheldon was the sight of a woman in the stern…sheets；
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between the stroke…oar and the steersman。 A woman she was； for a braid
of her hair was flying； and she was just in the act of recapturing it and
stowing it away beneath a hat that for all the world was like his own
〃Baden…Powell。〃
The boat disappeared behind the wave； and rose into view on the face
of the following one。 Again he looked into it。 The men were dark…
skinned； and larger than Solomon Islanders； but the woman； he could
plainly see； was white。 Who she was； and what she was doing there；
were thoughts that drifted vaguely through his consciousness。 He was
too sick to be vitally interested； and； besides； he had a half feeling that it
was all a dream； but he noted that the men were resting on their sweeps；
while the woman and the steersman were intently watching the run of seas
behind them。
〃Good boatmen；〃 was Sheldon's verdict； as he saw the boat leap
forward on the face of a huge breaker； the sweeps plying swiftly to keep
her on that front of the moving mountain of water that raced madly for the
shore。 It was well done。 Part full of water； the boat was flung upon the
beach； the men springing out and dragging its nose to the gate…posts。
Sheldon had called vainly to the house…boys； who； at the moment； were
dosing the remaining patients in the hospital。 He knew he was unable to
rise up and go down the path to meet the newcomers； so he lay back in the
steamer…chair； and watched for ages while they cared for the boat。 The
woman stood to one side； her hand resting on the gate。 Occasionally
surges of sea water washed over her feet； which he could see were encased
in rubber sea…boots。 She scrutinized the house sharply； and for some time
she gazed at him steadily。 At last； speaking to two of the men； who
turned and followed her； she started up the path。
Sheldon attempted to rise； got half up out of his chair； and fell back
helplessly。 He was surprised at the size of the men； who loomed like
giants behind her。 Both were six…footers； and they were heavy in
proportion。 He had never seen islanders like them。 They were not black
like the Solomon Islanders； but light brown； and their features were larger；
more regular； and even handsome。
The womanor girl； rather； he decidedwalked along the veranda
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toward him。 The two men waited at the head of the steps； watching
curiously。 The girl was angry； he could see that。 Her gray eyes were
flashing； and her lips were quivering。 That she had a temper； was his
thought。 But the eyes were striking。 He decided that they were not gray
after all； or； at least； not all gray。 They were large and wide apart； and
they looked at him from under level brows。 Her face was cameo…like； so
clear cut was it。 There were other striking things about herthe cowboy
Stetson hat； the heavy braids of brown hair； and the long…barrelled 38
Colt's revolver that hung in its holster on her hip。
〃Pretty hospitality； I must say；〃 was her greeting； 〃letting strangers
sink or swim in your front yard。〃
〃II beg your pardon；〃 he
