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〃You're　rising　in　the　scale；〃　I　said。　　〃What　you　seem　to　need　is　a　　first…class　clairvoyant。〃

〃And　if　I　say　that　I　am　dying　to　hear　a　Beethoven　sonata；　and　stamp　my　　foot　when　I　say　it；　he　must　know　by　that　that　what　my　soul　craves　is　　salted　almonds；　and　he　will　have　them　ready　in　his　pocket。〃

〃Now；〃　said　I；　〃I　am　at　a　loss。　　I　do　not　know　whether　your　soul's　　affinity　is　to　be　an　impresario　or　a　fancy　grocer。〃

Chole　turned　her　pearly　smile　upon　me。

〃Take　less　than　half　of　what　I　said　as　a　jest；〃　she　went　on。　　〃And　　don't　think　too　lightly　of　the　little　things；　Boy。　　Be　a　paladin　if　　you　must；　but　don't　let　it　show　on　you。　　Most　women　are　only　very　big　　children；　and　most　men　are　only　very　little　ones。　　Please　us；　don't　　try　to　overpower　us。　　When　we　want　a　hero　we　can　make　one　out　of　even　　a　plain　grocer　the　third　time　he　catches　our　handkerchief　before　it　　falls　to　the　ground。〃

That　evening　I　was　taken　down　with　pernicious　fever。　　That　is　a　kind　　of　coast　fever　with　improvements　and　high…geared　attachments。　　Your　　temperature　goes　up　among　the　threes　and　fours　and　remains　there；　　laughing　scornfully　and　feverishly　at　the　cinchona　trees　and　the　coal…　tar　derivatives。　　Pernicious　fever　is　a　case　for　a　simple　　mathematician　instead　of　a　doctor。　　It　is　merely　this　formula：　　　Vitality　＋　the　desire　to　livethe　duration　of　the　fever　the　result。

I　took　to　my　bed　in　the　two…roomed　thatched　hut　where　I　had　been　　comfortably　established；　and　sent　for　a　gallon　of　rum。　　That　was　not　　for　myself。　　Drunk；　Stamford　was　the　best　doctor　between　the　Andes　and　　the　Pacific。　　He　came；　sat　at　my　bedside；　and　drank　himself　into　　condition。

〃My　boy；〃　said　he；　〃my　lily…white　and　reformed　Romeo；　medicine　will　do　　you　no　good。　　But　I　will　give　you　quinine；　which；　being　bitter；　will　　arouse　in　you　hatred　and　anger…two　stimulants　that　will　add　ten　per　　cent。　　to　your　chances。　　You　are　as　strong　as　a　caribou　calf；　and　you　　will　get　well　if　the　fever　doesn't　get　in　a　knockout　blow　when　you're　　off　your　guard。〃

For　two　weeks　I　lay　on　my　back　feeling　like　a　Hindoo　widow　on　a　　burning　ghat。　　Old　Atasca；　an　untrained　Indian　nurse；　sat　near　the　　door　like　a　petrified　statue　of　What's…the…Use；　attending　to　her　　duties；　which　were；　mainly；　to　see　that　time　went　by　without　slipping　　a　cog。　　Sometimes　I　would　fancy　myself　back　in　the　Philippines；　or；　at　　worse　times；　sliding　off　the　horsehair　sofa　in　Sleepytown。

One　afternoon　I　ordered　Atasca　to　vamose；　and　got　up　and　dressed　　carefully。　　I　took　my　temperature；　which　I　was　pleased　to　find　104。　　I　　paid　almost　dainty　attention　to　my　dress；　choosing　solicitously　a　　necktie　of　a　dull　and　subdued　hue。　　The　mirror　showed　that　I　was　　looking　little　the　worse　from　my　illness。　　The　fever　gave　brightness　　to　my　eyes　and　color　to　my　face。　　And　while　I　looked　at　my　reflection　　my　color　went　and　came　again　as　I　thought　of　Chloe　Greene　and　the　　millions　of　eons　that　had　passed　since　I'd　seen　her；　and　of　Louis　　Devoe　and　the　time　he　had　gained　on　me。

I　went　straight　to　her　house。　　I　seemed　to　float　rather　than　walk；　I　　hardly　felt　the　ground　under　my　feet；　I　thought　pernicious　fever　must　　be　a　great　boon　to　make　one　feel　so　strong。

I　found　Chloe　and　Louis　Devoe　sitting　under　the　awning　in　front　of　the　　house。　　She　jumped　up　and　met　me　with　a　double　handshake。

〃I'm　glad；　glad；　glad　to　see　you　out　again！〃　she　cried；　every　word　a　　pearl　strung　on　the　string　of　her　sentence。　　〃You　are　well；　Tommyor　　better；　of　course。　　I　wanted　to　come　to　see　you；　but　they　wouldn't　let　　me。

〃Oh　yes；〃　said　I；　carelessly；　〃it　was　nothing。　　Merely　a　little　fever。　　　I　am　out　again；　as　you　see。〃

We　three　sat　there　and　talked　for　half　an　hour　or　so。　　Then　Chloe　　looked　out　yearningly　and　almost　piteously　across　the　ocean。　　I　could　　see　in　her　sea…blue　eyes　some　deep　and　intense　desire。　　Devoe；　curse　　him！　saw　it　too。

〃What　is　it？〃　we　asked；　in　unison。

〃Cocoanut…pudding；〃　said　Chloe；　pathetically。　　〃I've　wanted　someoh；　　so　badly；　for　two　days。　　It's　got　beyond　a　wish；　it's　an　obsession。

〃The　cocoanut　season　is　over；〃　said　Devoe；　in　that　voice　of　his　that　　gave　thrilling　interest　to　his　most　commonplace　words。　　〃I　hardly　　think　one　could　be　found　in　Mojada。　　The　natives　never　use　them　except　　when　they　are　green　and　the　milk　is　fresh。　　They　sell　all　the　ripe　　ones　to　the　fruiterers。〃

〃Wouldn't　a　broiled　lobster　or　a　Welsh　rabbit　do　as　well？〃　I　remarked；　　with　the　engaging　idiocy　of　a　pernicious…fever　convalescent。

Chloe　came　as　near　to　pouting　as　a　sweet　disposition　and　a　perfect　　profile　would　allow　her　to　come。

The　Reverend　Homer　poked　his　ermine…lined　face　through　the　doorway　and　　added　a　concordance　to　the　conversation。

〃Sometimes；〃　said　he；　〃old　Campos　keeps　the　dried　nuts　in　his　little　　store　on　the　hill。　　But　it　would　be　far　better；　my　daughter；　to　　restrain　unusual　desires；　and　partake　thankfully　of　the　daily　dishes　　that　the　Lord　has　set　before　us。〃

〃Stuff！〃　said　I。

〃How　was　that？〃　asked　the　Reverend　Homer；　sharply。

〃I　say　it's　tough；〃　said　I；　〃to　drop　into　the　vernacular；　that　Miss　　Greene　should　be　deprived　of　the　food　she　desires…a　simple　thing　like　　kalsomine…pudding。　　Perhaps；〃　I　continued；　solicitously；　〃some　pickled　　walnuts　or　a　fricassee　of　Hungarian　butternuts　would　do　as　well。〃

Every　one　looked　at　me　with　a　slight　exhibition　of　curiosity。

Louis　Devoe　arose　and　made　his　adieus。　　I　watched　him　until　he　had　　sauntered　slowly　and　grandiosely　to　the　corner；　around　which　he　turned　　to　reach　his　great　warehouse　and　store。　　Chloe　made　her　excuses；　and　　went　inside　for　a　few　minutes　to　attend　to　some　detail　affecting　the　　seven…o'clock　dinner。　　She　was　a　passed　mistress　in　housekeeping。　　I　　had　tasted　her　puddings　and　bread　with　beatitude。

When　all　had　gone；　I　turned　casually　and　saw　a　basket　made　of　plaited　　green　withes　hanging　by　a　nail　outside　the　door…jamb。　　With　a　rush　　that　made　my　hot　temples　throb　there　came　vividly　to　my　mind　　recollections　of　the　head…huntersthose　grim；　flinty；　relentless　　little　men；　never　seen；　but　chilling　the　warmest　noonday　by　the　subtle　　terror　of　their　concealed　presence。　　。　　。　　。　　From　time　to　time；　as　　vanity　or　ennui　or　love　or　jealousy　or　ambition　may　move　him；　one　　creeps　forth　with　his　snickersnee　and　takes　up　the　silent　trail。　　。　　。　　　。　　Back　he　comes；　triumphant；　bearing　the　severed；　gory　head　of　his　　victim　。　　。　　。　　His　particular　brown　or　white　maid　lingers；　with　　fluttering　bosom；　casting　soft　tiger's　eyes　at　the　evidence　of　his　　love　for　her。

I　stole　softly　from　the　house　and　returned　to　my　hut。　　From　its　　supporting　nails　in　the　wall　I　took　a　machete　as　heavy　as　a　butcher's　　cleaver　and　sharper　than　a　safety…razor。　　And　then　I　chuckled　softly　　to　myself；　and　set　out　to　the　fastidiously　appointed　private　office　of　　Monsieur　Louis　Devoe；　usurper　to　the　hand　of　the　Pearl　of　the　Pacific。

He　was　never　slow　at　thinking；　he　gave　one　look　at　my　face　and　another　　at　the　weapon　in　my　hand　as　I　entered　his　door；　and　then　he　seemed　to　　fade　from　my　sight。　　I　ran　to　the　back　door；　kicked　it　open；　and　saw　　him　running　like　a　deer　up　the　road　toward　the　wood　that　began　two　　hundred　yards　away。　　I　was　after　him；　with　a　shout。　　I　remember　　hearing　children　and　women　screaming；　and　seeing　them　flying　from　the　　road。

He　was　fleet；　but　I　was　stronger。　　A　mile；　and　I　had　almost　come　up　　with　him。　　He　doubled　cunningly　and　dashed　into　a　brake　that　extended　　into　a　small　canon。　　I　crashed　through　this　after　him；　and　in　five　　minutes　had　him　cornered　in　an　angle　of　insurmountable　cliffs。　　There　　his　instinct　of　self…preservation　steadied　him；　as　it　will　steady　even　　animals　at　bay。　　He　turned　to　me；　quite　calm；　with　a　ghastly　smile。

〃Oh；　Rayburn！〃　he　said；　with　such　an　awful　effort　at　ease　that　I　was　　impolite　enough　to　laugh　rudely　in　his　face。　　〃Oh；　Rayburn！〃　said　he；　　〃come；　let's　have　done　with　this　nonsense。　　Of　course；　I　know　it's　the　　fever　and　you're　not　yourself；　but　collect　yourself；　man…give　me　that　　ridiculous　weapon；　now；　and　let's　go　back　and　talk　it　over。〃

〃I　will　go　back；〃　said　I；　〃carrying　your　head　with　me。　　We　will　see　　how　charmingly　it　can　discourse　when　it　lies　in　the　basket　at　her　　door。〃

〃Come；〃　said　he；　persuasively；　〃I　think　better　of　you　than　to　suppose　　that　you　try　this　sort　of　thing　as　a　joke。　　But　even　the　vagaries　of　a　　fever…crazed　lunatic　come　some　time　to　a　limit。　　What　is　this　talk　　about　heads　and　baskets？　　Get　yourself　together　and　throw　away　that　　absurd　cane…chopper。　　What　would　Miss　Greene　think　of　you？〃　he　ended；　　with　the　silky　cajolery　that　one　would　use　toward　a　fretful　child。

〃Listen；〃　said　I。　　〃At　last　you　have　struck　upon　the　right　note。　　What　　would　she　think　of　me？　Listen；〃　I　repeated。

〃There　are　women；〃　I　said；　〃who　look　upon　horsehair　sofas　and　currant　　wine　as　dross。　　To　them　even　the　calculated　modulation　of　your　well…　trimmed　talk　sounds　like　the　dropping　of　rotten　plums　from　a　tree　in　　the　night。　　They　are　the　maidens　who　walk　back　and　forth　in　the　　villages；　scorning　the　emptiness　of　the　baskets　at　the　doors　of　the　　young　men　who　would　win　them。

One　such　as　they；〃　I　said；　〃is　waiting。　　Only　a　fool　would　try　to　win　　a　woman　by　drooling　like　a　braggart　in　her　doorway　or　by　waiting　upon　　her　whims　like　a　footman。　　They　are　all　daughters　of　Herodias；　and　to　　gain　their　hearts　one　must　lay　the　heads　of　his　enemies　before　them　　with　his　own　hands。　　Now；　bend　your　neck；　Louis　Devoe。　　Do　not　be　a　　coward　as　well　as　a　chatterer　at　a　lady's　tea…table。〃

〃There；　there！〃　said　Devoe；　falteringly。　　〃You　know　me；　don't　you；　　Rayburn？〃

〃Oh　yes；〃　I　said；　〃I　know　you。　　I　know　you。　　I　know　you。　　But　the　　basket　is　empty。　　The　old　men　of　the　village　and　the　young　men；　and　　both　the　dark　maidens　and　the　ones　who　are　as　fair　as　pearls　walk　back　　and　forth　and　see　its　emptiness。　　Will　you　kneel　now；　or　must　we　have　　a　scuffle？　　It　is　not　like　you　to　make　things　go　roughly　and　with　bad　　form。　　But　the　basket　is　waiting　for　your　head。〃

With　that　he　went　to　pieces。　　I　had　to　catch　him　as　he　tried　to　　scamper　past　me　like　a　scared　rabbit。　　I　stretched　him　out　and　got　a　　foot　on　his　chest；　but　he　squirmed　like　a　worm；　although　I　appealed　　repeatedly　to　his　sense　of　propriety　and　the　duty　he　ow