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in the smooth； round wrist undisfigured by the netted veins that come to
youth when youth is gone。 The fingers were brown with tan and looked
exceedingly boyish。 Then； and without effort； the concept came to him。
Yes； that was it。 He had stumbled upon the clue to her tantalizing
personality。 Her fingers； sunburned and boyish； told the story。 No
wonder she had exasperated him so frequently。 He had tried to treat with
her as a woman； when she was not a woman。 She was a mere girland a
boyish girl at thatwith sunburned fingers that delighted in doing what
boys' fingers did； with a body and muscles that liked swimming and
violent endeavour of all sorts； with a mind that was daring； but that dared
no farther than boys' adventures； and that delighted in rifles and revolvers；
Stetson hats； and a sexless camaraderie with men。
Somehow； as he pondered and watched her； it seemed as if he sat in
church at home listening to the choir…boys chanting。 She reminded him
of those boys； or their voices； rather。 The same sexless quality was there。
In the body of her she was woman； in the mind of her she had not grown
up。 She had not been exposed to ripening influences of that sort。 She
had had no mother。 Von； her father； native servants； and rough island life
had constituted her training。 Horses and rifles had been her toys； camp
and trail her nursery。 From what she had told him； her seminary days had
been an exile； devoted to study and to ceaseless longing for the wild riding
and swimming of Hawaii。 A boy's training； and a boy's point of view！
That explained her chafe at petticoats； her revolt at what was only decently
conventional。 Some day she would grow up； but as yet she was only in
the process。
Well； there was only one thing for him to do。 He must meet her on
her own basis of boyhood； and not make the mistake of treating her as a
woman。 He wondered if he could love the woman she would be when
her nature awoke； and he wondered if he could love her just as she was
and himself wake her up。 After all； whatever it was； she had come to fill
quite a large place in his life； as he had discovered that afternoon while
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scanning the sea between the squalls。 Then he remembered the accounts
of Berande； and the cropper that was coming； and scowled。
He became aware that she was speaking。
〃I beg pardon；〃 he said。 〃What's that you were saying？〃
〃You weren't listening to a wordI knew it；〃 she chided。 〃I was
saying that the condition of the Flibberty…Gibbet was disgraceful； and that
to…morrow； when you've told the skipper and not hurt his feelings； I am
going to take my men out and give her an overhauling。 We'll scrub her
bottom； too。 Why； there's whiskers on her copper four inches long。 I
saw it when she rolled。 Don't forget； I'm going cruising on the Flibberty
some day； even if I have to run away with her。〃
While at their coffee on the veranda； Satan raised a commotion in the
compound near the beach gate； and Sheldon finally rescued a mauled and
frightened black and dragged him on the porch for interrogation。
〃What fella marster you belong？〃 he demanded。 〃What name you
come along this fella place sun he go down？〃
〃Me b'long Boucher。 Too many boy belong along Port Adams stop
along my fella marster。 Too much walk about。〃
The black drew a scrap of notepaper from under his belt and passed it
over。 Sheldon scanned it hurriedly。
〃It's from Boucher；〃 he explained； 〃the fellow who took Packard's
place。 Packard was the one I told you about who was killed by his
boat's…crew。 He says the Port Adams crowd is outfifty of them； in big
canoesand camping on his beach。 They've killed half a dozen of his
pigs already； and seem to be looking for trouble。 And he's afraid they
may connect with the fifteen runaways from Lunga。〃
〃In which case？〃 she queried。
〃In which case Billy Pape will be compelled to send Boucher's
successor。 It's Pape's station； you know。 I wish I knew what to do。 I
don't like to leave you here alone。〃
〃Take me along then。〃
He smiled and shook his head。
〃Then you'd better take my men along；〃 she advised。 〃They're good
shots； and they're not afraid of anythingexcept Utami； and he's afraid of
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ghosts。〃
The big bell was rung； and fifty black boys carried the whale…boat
down to the water。 The regular boat's…crew manned her； and Matauare
and three other Tahitians； belted with cartridges and armed with rifles； sat
in the stern…sheets where Sheldon stood at the steering…oar。
〃My； I wish I could go with you；〃 Joan said wistfully； as the boat
shoved off。
Sheldon shook his head。
〃I'm as good as a man；〃 she urged。
〃You really are needed here；〃 he replied。
〃There's that Lunga crowd； they might reach the coast right here； and
with both of us absent rush the plantation。 Good…bye。 We'll get back in
the morning some time。 It's only twelve miles。〃
When Joan started to return to the house； she was compelled to pass
among the boat…carriers； who lingered on the beach to chatter in queer；
ape…like fashion about the events of the night。 They made way for her；
but there came to her； as she was in the midst of them； a feeling of her own
helplessness。 There were so many of them。 What was to prevent them
from dragging her down if they so willed？ Then she remembered that
one cry of hers would fetch Noa Noah and her remaining sailors； each one
of whom was worth a dozen blacks in a struggle。 As she opened the gate；
one of the boys stepped up to her。 In the darkness she could not make
him out。
〃What name？〃 she asked sharply。 〃What name belong you？〃
〃Me Aroa；〃 he said。
She remembered him as one of the two sick boys she had nursed at the
hospital。 The other one had died。
〃Me take 'm plenty fella medicine too much；〃 Aroa was saying。
〃Well； and you all right now；〃 she answered。
〃Me want 'm tobacco； plent