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corner of the compound； and one evening； idly knocking the balls about
on the billiard table； he came to himself to find himself standing staring at
the nail upon which from the first she had hung her Stetson hat and her
revolver…belt。
Why should he care for her？ he demanded of himself angrily。 She
was certainly the last woman in the world he would have thought of
choosing for himself。 Never had he encountered one who had so
thoroughly irritated him； rasped his feelings； smashed his conventions； and
violated nearly every attribute of what had been his ideal of woman。 Had
he been too long away from the world？ Had he forgotten what the race
of women was like？ Was it merely a case of propinquity？ And she
wasn't really a woman。 She was a masquerader。 Under all her seeming
of woman； she was a boy； playing a boy's pranks； diving for fish amongst
sharks； sporting a revolver； longing for adventure； and； what was more；
going out in search of it in her whale…boat； along with her savage islanders
and her bag of sovereigns。 But he loved herthat was the point of it all；
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and he did not try to evade it。 He was not sorry that it was so。 He loved
herthat was the overwhelming； astounding fact。
Once again he discovered a big enthusiasm for Berande。 All the
bubble…illusions concerning the life of the tropical planter had been
pricked by the stern facts of the Solomons。 Following the death of
Hughie； he had resolved to muddle along somehow with the plantation；
but this resolve had not been based upon desire。 Instead； it was based upon
the inherent stubbornness of his nature and his dislike to give over an
attempted task。
But now it was different。 Berande meant everything。 It must
succeednot merely because Joan was a partner in it； but because he
wanted to make that partnership permanently binding。 Three more years
and the plantation would be a splendid…paying investment。 They could
then take yearly trips to Australia； and oftener； and an occasional run
home to Englandor Hawaii； would come as a matter of course。
He spent his evenings poring over accounts； or making endless
calculations based on cheaper freights for copra and on the possible
maximum and minimum market prices for that staple of commerce。 His
days were spent out on the plantation。 He undertook more clearing of
bush； and clearing and planting went on； under his personal supervision； at
a faster pace than ever before。 He experimented with premiums for extra
work performed by the black boys； and yearned continually for more of
them to put to work。 Not until Joan could return on the schooner would
this be possible； for the professional recruiters were all under long
contracts to the Fulcrum Brothers； Morgan and Raff； and the Fires； Philp
Company； while the Flibberty…Gibbet was wholly occupied in running
about among his widely scattered trading stations； which extended from
the coast of New Georgia in one direction to Ulava and Sikiana in the
other。 Blacks he must have； and； if Joan were fortunate in getting a
schooner； three months at least must elapse before the first recruits could
be landed on Berande。
A week after the Upolu's departure； the Malakula dropped anchor and
her skipper came ashore for a game of billiards and to gossip until the land
breeze sprang up。 Besides； as he told his super…cargo； he simply had to
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come ashore； not merely to deliver the large package of seeds with full
instructions for planting from Joan； but to shock Sheldon with the little
surprise born of information he was bringing with him。
Captain Auckland played the billiards first； and it was not until he was
comfortably seated in a steamer…chair； his second whisky securely in his
hand； that he let off his bomb。
〃A great piece； that Miss Lackland of yours；〃 he chuckled。 〃Claims
to be a part…owner of Berande。 Says she's your partner。 Is that
straight？〃
Sheldon nodded coldly。
〃You don't say？ That is a surprise！ Well； she hasn't convinced
Guvutu or Tulagi of it。 They're pretty used to irregular things over there；
butha！ ha！… 〃 he stopped to have his laugh out and to mop his bald head
with a trade handkerchief。 〃But that partnership yarn of hers was too big
to swallow； though it gave them the excuse for a few more drinks。〃
〃There is nothing irregular about it。 It is an ordinary business
transaction。〃 Sheldon strove to act as though such transactions were
quite the commonplace thing on plantations in the Solomons。 〃She
invested something like fifteen hundred pounds in Berande〃
〃So she said。〃
〃And she has gone to Sydney on business for the plantation。〃
〃Oh； no； she hasn't。〃
〃I beg pardon？〃 Sheldon queried。
〃I said she hasn't； that's all。〃
〃But didn't the Upolu sail？ I could have sworn I saw her smoke last
Tuesday afternoon； late； as she passed Savo。〃
〃The Upolu sailed all right。〃 Captain Auckland sipped his whisky
with provoking slowness。 〃Only Miss Lackland wasn't a passenger。〃
〃Then where is she？〃
〃At Guvutu； last I saw of her。 She was going to Sydney to buy a
schooner； wasn't she？〃
〃Yes； yes。〃
〃That's what she said。 Well； she's bought one； though I wouldn't give
her ten shillings for it if a nor'wester blows up； and it's about time we had
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one。 This has been too long a spell of good weather to last。〃
〃If you came here to excite my curiosity； old man；〃 Sheldon said；
〃you've certainly succeeded。 Now go ahead and tell me in a
straightforward way what has happened。 What schooner？ Where