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of the runaways； and vanished in the mangroves。
〃I hope there won't be any more killing；〃 Joan said； as they turned their
horses homeward。
〃I don't think so；〃 Sheldon assured her。 〃My understanding with old
Seelee is that he is paid only for live boys； so he is very careful。〃
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CHAPTER XXIIIA MESSAGE
FROM THE BUSH
Never had runaways from Berande been more zealously hunted。 The
deeds of Gogoomy and his fellows had been a bad example for the one
hundred and fifty new recruits。 Murder had been planned； a gang… boss
had been killed； and the murderers had broken their contracts by fleeing to
the bush。 Sheldon saw how imperative it was to teach his new…caught
cannibals that bad examples were disastrous things to pattern after； and he
urged Seelee on night and day； while with the Tahitians he practically
lived in the bush； leaving Joan in charge of the plantation。 To the north
Boucher did good work； twice turning the fugitives back when they
attempted to gain the coast。
One by one the boys were captured。 In the first man…drive through
the mangrove swamp Seelee caught two。 Circling around to the north； a
third was wounded in the thigh by Boucher； and this one； dragging behind
in the chase； was later gathered in by Seelee's hunters。 The three captives；
heavily ironed； were exposed each day in the compound； as good
examples of what happened to bad examples； all for the edification of the
seven score and ten half…wild Poonga…Poonga men。 Then the Minerva；
running past for Tulagi； was signalled to send a boat； and the three
prisoners were carried away to prison to await trial。
Five were still at large； but escape was impossible。 They could not
get down to the coast； nor dared they venture too far inland for fear of the
wild bushmen。 Then one of the five came in voluntarily and gave
himself up； and Sheldon learned that Gogoomy and two others were all
that were at large。 There should have been a fourth； but according to the
man who had given himself up； the fourth man had been killed and eaten。
It had been fear of a similar fate that had driven him in。 He was a Malu
man； from north…western Malaita； as likewise had been the one that was
eaten。 Gogoomy's two other companions were from Port Adams。 As for
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himself； the black declared his preference for government trial and
punishment to being eaten by his companions in the bush。
〃Close up Gogoomy kai…kai me；〃 he said。 〃My word； me no like boy
kai…kai me。〃
Three days later Sheldon caught one of the boys； helpless from swamp
fever； and unable to fight or run away。 On the same day Seelee caught
the second boy in similar condition。 Gogoomy alone remained at large；
and； as the pursuit closed in on him； he conquered his fear of the bushmen
and headed straight in for the mountainous backbone of the island。
Sheldon with four Tahitians； and Seelee with thirty of his hunters；
followed Gogoomy's trail a dozen miles into the open grass…lands； and
then Seelee and his people lost heart。 He confessed that neither he nor
any of his tribe had ever ventured so far inland before； and he narrated； for
Sheldon's benefit； most horrible tales of the horrible bushmen。 In the old
days； he said； they had crossed the grasslands and attacked the salt…water
natives； but since the coming of the white men to the coast they had
remained in their interior fastnesses； and no salt…water native had ever
seen them again。
〃Gogoomy he finish along them fella bushmen；〃 he assured Sheldon。
〃My word； he finish close up； kai…kai altogether。〃
So the expedition turned back。 Nothing could persuade the coast
natives to venture farther； and Sheldon； with his four Tahitians； knew that
it was madness to go on alone。 So he stood waist…deep in the grass and
looked regretfully across the rolling savannah and the soft…swelling
foothills to the Lion's Head； a massive peak of rock that upreared into the
azure from the midmost centre of Guadalcanar； a landmark used for
bearings by every coasting mariner； a mountain as yet untrod by the foot
of a white man。
That night； after dinner； Sheldon and Joan were playing billiards； when
Satan barked in the compound； and Lalaperu； sent to see； brought back a
tired and travel…stained native； who wanted to talk with the 〃big fella white
marster。〃 It was only the man's insistence that procured him admittance
at such an hour。 Sheldon went out on the veranda to see him； and at first
glance at the gaunt features and wasted body of the man knew that his
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errand was likely to prove important。 Nevertheless； Sheldon demanded
roughly； …
〃What name you come along house belong me sun he go down？〃
〃Me Charley；〃 the man muttered apologetically and wearily。 〃Me
stop along Binu。〃
〃Ah； Binu Charley； eh？ Well； what name you talk along me？ What
place big fella marster along white man he stop？〃
Joan and Sheldon together listened to the tale Binu Charley had
brought。 He described Tudor's expedition up the Balesuna； the dragging
of the boats up the rapids； the passage up the river where it threaded the
grass…lands； the innumerable washings of gravel by the white men in
search of gold； the first rolling foothills； the man…traps of spear…staked pits
in the jungle trails； the first meeting with the bushmen； who had never
seen tobacco； and knew not the virtues of smoking； their friendliness； the
deeper penetration of the interior around the flanks of the Lion's Head； the
bush… sores and the fevers of the white men； and their madness in trusting
the bushmen。
〃Allee time I talk along white fella marster；〃 he said。 〃Me talk； 'That
fella bushman he look 'm eye belong him。 He savvee too much。 S'pose
musket he stop along you； that fella bushman