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congratulated himself。 It had been an easy day。 Only three had died。
He inspected the copra…drying that had been going on； and went through
the barracks to see if there were any sick lying hidden and defying his rule
of segregation。 Returned to the house； he received the reports of the
boss…boys and gave instructions for next day's work。 The boat's crew
boss also he had in； to give assurance； as was the custom nightly； that the
whale…boats were hauled up and padlocked。 This was a most necessary
precaution； for the blacks were in a funk； and a whale…boat left lying on
the beach in the evening meant a loss of twenty blacks by morning。
Since the blacks were worth thirty dollars apiece； or less； according to how
much of their time had been worked out； Berande plantation could ill
afford the loss。 Besides； whale…boats were not cheap in the Solomons；
and； also； the deaths were daily reducing the working capital。 Seven
blacks had fled into the bush the week before； and four had dragged
themselves back； helpless from fever； with the report that two more had
been killed and kai…kai'd ｛1｝ by the hospitable bushmen。 The seventh
man was still at large； and was said to be working along the coast on the
lookout to steal a canoe and get away to his own island。
Viaburi brought two lighted lanterns to the white man for inspection。
He glanced at them and saw that they were burning brightly with clear；
broad flames； and nodded his head。 One was hoisted up to the gaff of the
flagstaff； and the other was placed on the wide veranda。 They were the
leading lights to the Berande anchorage； and every night in the year they
were so inspected and hung out。
He rolled back on his couch with a sigh of relief。 The day's work was
done。 A rifle lay on the couch beside him。 His revolver was within
reach of his hand。 An hour passed； during which he did not move。 He
lay in a state of half…slumber； half…coma。 He became suddenly alert。 A
creak on the back veranda was the cause。 The room was L…shaped； the
corner in which stood his couch was dim； but the hanging lamp in the
main part of the room； over the billiard table and just around the corner； so
that it did not shine on him； was burning brightly。 Likewise the verandas
were well lighted。 He waited without movement。 The creaks were
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repeated； and he knew several men lurked outside。
〃What name？〃 he cried sharply。
The house； raised a dozen feet above the ground； shook on its pile
foundations to the rush of retreating footsteps。
〃They're getting bold；〃 he muttered。 〃Something will have to be
done。〃
The full moon rose over Malaita and shone down on Berande。
Nothing stirred in the windless air。 From the hospital still proceeded the
moaning of the sick。 In the grass…thatched barracks nearly two hundred
woolly…headed man…eaters slept off the weariness of the day's toil； though
several lifted their heads to listen to the curses of one who cursed the
white man who never slept。 On the four verandas of the house the
lanterns burned。 Inside； between rifle and revolver； the man himself
moaned and tossed in intervals of troubled sleep。
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CHAPTER IISOMETHING IS
DONE
In the morning David Sheldon decided that he was worse。 That he
was appreciably weaker there was no doubt； and there were other
symptoms that were unfavourable。 He began his rounds looking for
trouble。 He wanted trouble。 In full health； the strained situation would
have been serious enough； but as it was； himself growing helpless；
something had to be done。 The blacks were getting more sullen and
defiant； and the appearance of the men the previous night on his veranda
one of the gravest of offences on Berandewas ominous。 Sooner or later
they would get him； if he did not get them first； if he did not once again
sear on their dark souls the flaming mastery of the white man。
He returned to the house disappointed。 No opportunity had presented
itself of making an example of insolence or insubordinationsuch as had
occurred on every other day since the sickness smote Berande。 The fact
that none had offended was in itself suspicious。 They were growing
crafty。 He regretted that he had not waited the night before until the
prowlers had entered。 Then he might have shot one or two and given the
rest a new lesson； writ in red； for them to con。 It was one man against
two hundred； and he was horribly afraid of his sickness overpowering him
and leaving him at their mercy。 He saw visions of the blacks taking
charge of the plantation； looting the store； burning the buildings； and
escaping to Malaita。 Also； one gruesome vision he caught of his own
head； sun…dried and smoke…cured； ornamenting the canoe house of a
cannibal village。 Either the Jessie would have to arrive； or he would
have to do something。
The bell had hardly rung； sending the labourers into the fields； when
Sheldon had a visitor。 He had had the couch taken out on the veranda；
and he was lying on it when the canoes paddled in and hauled out on the
beach。 Forty men； armed with spears； bows and arrows； and war…clubs；
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gathered outside the gate of the compound； but only one entered。 They
knew the law of Berande； as every native knew the law of every white
man's compound in all the thousand miles of the far…flung Solomons。
The one man who came up the path； Sheldon recognized as Seelee； the
chief of Balesuna village。 The savage did not mount the steps； but stood
beneath and talked to the white lord above。