adventure-第23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！


nside　half　an　hour；　and　five　thousand　bushmen　on　the　beach。　　Said　you　couldn't　see　Malaita　for　the　smoke　of　the　signal　fires。　　Anyway；　they　cleared　out　for　Tulagi。〃

〃But　why　didn't　they　fight？〃　Sheldon　asked。

〃It　was　funny　they　didn't；　but　they　got　separated。　　You　see；　two…　thirds　of　them　were　in　the　boats；　without　weapons；　running　anchors　and　never　dreaming　the　natives　would　attack。　　They　found　out　their　mistake　too　late。　　The　natives　had　charge。　　That's　the　trouble　of　new　chums　on　the　coast。　　It　would　never　have　happened　with　you　or　me　or　any　old…timer。〃

〃But　what　is　Miss　Lackland　intending　to　do？〃　Captain　Auckland　grinned。

〃She's　going　to　try　to　get　the　Martha　off；　I　should　say。　　Or　else　why　did　she　pay　fifty…five　quid　for　her？　　And　if　she　fails；　she'll　try　to　get　her　money　back　by　saving　the　gearspars；　you　know；　and　patent　steering…gear；　and　winches；　and　such　things。　　At　least　that's　what　I'd　do　if　I　was　in　her　place。　　When　I　sailed；　the　little　girl　had　chartered　the　Emily'I'm　going　recruiting；'　says　Munsterhe's　the　skipper　and　owner　now。　　'And　how　much　will　you　net　on　the　cruise？'　asks　she。　　'Oh；　fifty　quid；'　says　he。　　'Good；'　says　she；　'you　bring　your　Emily　along　with　me　and　you'll　get　seventy…five。'　　You　know　that　big　ship's　anchor　and　chain　piled　up　behind　the　coal…sheds？　　She　was　just　buying　that　when　I　left。　She's　certainly　a　hustler；　that　little　girl　of　yours。〃

〃She　is　my　partner；〃　Sheldon　corrected。

〃Well；　she's　a　good　one；　that's　all；　and　a　cool　one。　　My　word！　a　white　woman　on　Malaita；　and　at　Poonga…Poonga　of　all　places！　　Oh；　I　forgot　to　tell　youshe　palavered　Burnett　into　lending　her　eight　rifles　for　her　men；　and　three　cases　of　dynamite。　　You'd　laugh　to　see　the　way　she　makes　that　Guvutu　gang　stand　around。　　And　to　see　them　being　polite　and　trying　to　give　advice！　　Lord；　Lord；　man；　that　little　girl's　a　wonder；　a　marvel；　aaa　catastrophe。　　That's　what　she　is；　a　catastrophe。　　She's　gone　through　Guvutu　and　Tulagi　like　a　hurricane；　every　last　swine　of　them　in　love　with　herexcept　Raff。　He's　sore　over　the　auction；　and　he　sprang　his　recruiting　contract　with　Munster　on　her。　　And　what　does　she　do　but　thank　him；　and　read　it　over；　and　point　out　that　while　Munster　was　pledged　to　deliver　all　recruits　to　Morgan　and　Raff；　there　was　no　clause　in　the　document　forbidding　him　from　chartering　the　Emily。

〃'There's　your　contract；'　says　she；　passing　it　back。　　'And　a　very　good　contract　it　is。　　The　next　time　you　draw　one　up；　insert　a　clause　that　will　fit　emergencies　like　the　present　one。'　　And；　Lord；　Lord；　she　had　him；　too。

〃But　there's　the　breeze；　and　I'm　off。　　Good…bye；　old　man。　　Hope　the　little　girl　succeeds。　　The　Martha's　a　whacking　fine　boat；　and　she'd　take　the　place　of　the　Jessie。〃



CHAPTER　XVII〃YOUR〃　MISS　LACKLAND



The　next　morning　Sheldon　came　in　from　the　plantation　to　breakfast；　to　find　the　mission　ketch；　Apostle；　at　anchor；　her　crew　swimming　two　mares　and　a　filly　ashore。　　Sheldon　recognized　the　animals　as　belonging　to　the　Resident　Commissioner；　and　he　immediately　wondered　if　Joan　had　bought　them。　　She　was　certainly　living　up　to　her　threat　of　rattling　the　dry　bones　of　the　Solomons；　and　he　was　prepared　for　anything。

〃Miss　Lackland　sent　them；〃　said　Welshmere；　the　missionary　doctor；　stepping　ashore　and　shaking　hands　with　him。　　〃There's　also　a　box　of　saddles　on　board。　　And　this　letter　from　her。　　And　the　skipper　of　the　Flibberty…Gibbet。〃

The　next　moment；　and　before　he　could　greet　him；　Oleson　stepped　from　the　boat　and　began。

〃She's　stolen　the　Flibberty；　Mr。　Sheldon。　　Run　clean　away　with　her。　She's　a　wild　one。　　She　gave　me　the　fever。　　Brought　it　on　by　shock。　And　got　me　drunk；　as　wellrotten　drunk。〃

Dr。　Welshmere　laughed　heartily。

〃Nevertheless；　she　is　not　an　unmitigated　evil；　your　Miss　Lackland。　She's　sworn　three　men　off　their　drink；　or；　to　the　same　purpose；　shut　off　their　whisky。　　You　know　themBrahms；　Curtis；　and　Fowler。　She　shipped　them　on　the　Flibberty…Gibbet　along　with　her。〃

〃She's　the　skipper　of　the　Flibberty　now；〃　Oleson　broke　in。　　〃And　she'll　wreck　her　as　sure　as　God　didn't　make　the　Solomons。〃

Dr。　Welshmere　tried　to　look　shocked；　but　laughed　again。

〃She　has　quite　a　way　with　her；〃　he　said。　　〃I　tried　to　back　out　of　bringing　the　horses　over。　　Said　I　couldn't　charge　freight；　that　the　Apostle　was　under　a　yacht　license；　that　I　was　going　around　by　Savo　and　the　upper　end　of　Guadalcanar。　　But　it　was　no　use。　　'Bother　the　charge；'　said　she。　　'You　take　the　horses　like　a　good　man；　and　when　I　float　the　Martha　I'll　return　the　service　some　day。'〃

〃And　'bother　your　orders；'　said　she　to　me；〃　Oleson　cried。　　〃'I'm　your　boss　now；'　said　she；　'and　you　take　your　orders　from　me。'　'Look　at　that　load　of　ivory　nuts；'　I　said。　　'Bother　them；'　said　she；　'I'm　playin'　for　something　bigger　than　ivory　nuts。　　We'll　dump　them　overside　as　soon　as　we　get　under　way。'〃

Sheldon　put　his　hands　to　his　ears。

〃I　don't　know　what　has　happened；　and　you　are　trying　to　tell　me　the　tale　backwards。　　Come　up　to　the　house　and　get　in　the　shade　and　begin　at　the　beginning。〃

〃What　I　want　to　know；〃　Oleson　began；　when　they　were　seated；　〃is　IS　she　your　partner　or　ain't　she？　　That's　what　I　want　to　know。〃

〃She　is；〃　Sheldon　assured　him。

〃Well；　who'd　have　believed　it！〃　　Oleson　glanced　appealingly　at　Dr。　Welshmere；　and　back　again　at　Sheldon。　　〃I've　seen　a　few　unlikely　things　in　these　Solomonsrats　two　feet　long；　butterflies　the　Commissioner　hunts　with　a　shot…gun；　ear…ornaments　that　would　shame　the　devil；　and　head…hunting　devils　that　make　the　devil　look　like　an　angel。　　I've　seen　them　and　got　used　to　them；　but　this　young　woman　of　yours〃

〃Miss　Lackland　is　my　partner　and　part…owner　of　Berande；〃　Sheldon　interrupted。

〃So　she　said；〃　the　irate　skipper　dashed　on。　　〃But　she　had　no　papers　to　show　for　it。　　How　was　I　to　know？　　And　then　there　was　that　load　of　ivory　nuts…eight　tons　of　them。〃

〃For　heaven's　sake　begin　at　the〃　Sheldon　tried　to　interrupt。

〃And　then　she's　hired　them　drunken　loafers；　three　of　the　worst　scoundrels　that　ever　disgraced　the　Solomonsfifteen　quid　a　month　eachwhat　d'ye　think　of　that？　　And　sailed　away　with　them；　too！　Phew！You　might　give　me　a　drink。　　The　missionary　won't　mind。　　I've　been　on　his　teetotal　hooker　four　days　now；　and　I'm　perishing。〃

Dr。　Welshmere　nodded　in　reply　to　Sheldon's　look　of　inquiry；　and　Viaburi　was　dispatched　for　the　whisky　and　siphons。

〃It　is　evident；　Captain　Oleson；〃　Sheldon　remarked　to　that　refreshed　mariner；　〃that　Miss　Lackland　has　run　away　with　your　boat。　　Now　please　give　a　plain　statement　of　what　occurred。〃

〃Right　O；　here　goes。　　I'd　just　come　in　on　the　Flibberty。　　She　was　on　board　before　I　dropped　the　hookin　that　whale…boat　of　hers　with　her　gang　of　Tahiti　heathensthat　big　Adamu　Adam　and　the　rest。　'Don't　drop　the　anchor；　Captain　Oleson；'　she　sang　out。　　'I　want　you　to　get　under　way　for　Poonga…Poonga。'　　I　looked　to　see　if　she'd　been　drinking。　　What　was　I　to　think？　　I　was　rounding　up　at　the　time；　alongside　the　shoala　ticklish　placeheadsails　running　down　and　losing　way；　so　I　says；　'Excuse　me；　Miss　Lackland；'　and　yells　for'ard；　'Let　go！'

〃'You　might　have　listened　to　me　and　saved　yourself　trouble；'　says　she；　climbing　over　the　rail　and　squinting　along　for'ard　and　seeing　the　first　shackle　flip　out　and　stop。　　'There's　fifteen　fathom；'　says　she；　'you　may　as　well　turn　your　men　to　and　heave　up。'

〃And　then　we　had　it　out。　　I　didn't　believe　her。　　I　didn't　think　you'd　take　her　on　as　a　partner；　and　I　told　her　as　much　and　wanted　proof。　　She　got　high　and　mighty；　and　I　told　her　I　was　old　enough　to　be　her　grandfather　and　that　I　wouldn't　take　gammon　from　a　chit　like　her。　　And　then　I　ordered　her　off　the　Flibberty。　　'Captain　Oleson；'　she　says；　sweet　as　you　please；　'I've　a　few　minutes　to　spare　on　you；　and　I've　got　some　good　whisky　over　on　the　Emily。　　Come　on　along。　Besides；　I　want　your　advice　about　this　wrecking　business。　Everybody　says　you're　a　crackerjack　sailor…man'that's　what　she　said；　'crackerjack。'　　And　I　went；　in　her　whale…boat；　Adamu　Adam　steering　and　looking　as　solemn　as　a　funeral。

〃On　the　way　she　told　me　about　the　Martha；　and　how　she'd　bought　her；　and　was　going　to　float　her。　　She　said　she'd　chartered　the　Emily；　and　was　sailing　as　soon　as　I　could　get　the　Flibberty　underway。　　It　struck　me　that　her　gammon　was　reasonable　enough；　and　I　agreed　to　pull　out　for　Berande　right　O；　and　get　your　orders　to　go　along　to　Poonga…Poonga。　　But　she　said　there　wasn't　a　second　to　be　lost　by　any　such　foolishness；　and　that　I　was　to　sail　direct　for　Poonga…　Poonga；　and　that　if　I　couldn't　take　her　word　that　she　was　your　partner；　she'd　get　along　without　me　and　the　Flibberty。　　And　right　there's　where　she　fooled　me。

〃Down　in　the　Emily's　cabin　was　them　three　soaksyou　know　them　Fowler　and　Curtis　and　that　Brahms　chap。　　'Have　a　drink；'　says　she。　I　thought　they　looked　surprised　when　she　unlocked　the　whisky　locker　and　sent　a　nigger　for　the　glasses　and　water…monkey。　　But　she　must　have　tipped　them　off　unbeknownst　to　me；　and　they　knew　just　what　to　do。　　'Excuse　me；'　she　says；　'I'm　going　on　deck　a　minute。'　　Now　that　minute　was　half　an　hour。　　I　hadn't　had　a　drink　in　ten　days。　　I'm　an　old　man　and　the　fever　has　weakened　me。　　Then　I　took　it　on　an　empty　stomach；　too；　and　there　was　them　three　soaks　setting　me　an　example；　they　arguing　for　me　to　take　the　Flibberty　to　Poonga…Poonga；　an'　me　pointing　out　my　duty　to　the　contrary。　　The　trouble　was；　all　the　arguments　were　pointed　with　drinks；　and　me　not　being　a　drinking　man；　so　to　say；　and　weak　from　fever　。　。　。

〃Well；　anyway；　at　the　end　of　the　half…hour　down　she　came　again　and　took　a　good　squint　at　me。　　'That'll　do　nicely；'　I　remember　her　saying；　and　with　that　she　took　the　whisky　bottles　and　hove　them　overside　through　the　companionway。　　'That's　the　last；　she　said　to　the　three　soaks；　'till　the　Martha　floats　and　you're　back　in　Guvutu。　It'll　be　a　long　time　between　drinks。'　　And　then　she　laughed。

〃She　looked　at　me　and　saidnot　to　me；　mind　you；　but　to　the　soaks：　'It's　time　this　worthy　man　went　ashore'me！　worthy　man！　　'Fowler；'　she　saidyou　know；　just　like　a　straight　order；　and　she　didn't　MISTER　himit　was　plain　Fowler'Fowler；'　she　said；　'just　tell　Adamu　Adam　to　man　the　whale…boat；　and　while　he's　taking　Captain　Oleson　ashore　have　your　boat　put　me　on　the　Flibberty。　　The　three　of　you　sail　with　me；　so　pack