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was only a mater of days when the sickness would catch them and carry
them off。 And yet； believing this with absolute conviction； they
somehow lacked the nerve to rush the frail wraith of a man with the white
skin and escape from the charnel house by the whale…boats。 They chose
the lingering death they were sure awaited them； rather than the immediate
death they were very sure would pounce upon them if they went up
against the master。 That he never slept； they knew。 That he could not
be conjured to death； they were equally surethey had tried it。 And even
the sickness that was sweeping them off could not kill him。
With the whipping in the compound； discipline had improved。 They
cringed under the iron hand of the white man。 They gave their scowls or
malignant looks with averted faces or when his back was turned。 They
saved their mutterings for the barracks at night； where he could not hear。
And there were no more runaways and no more night…prowlers on the
veranda。
Dawn of the third day after the whipping brought the Jessie's white
sails in sight。 Eight miles away； it was not till two in the afternoon that
the light air…fans enabled her to drop anchor a quarter of a mile off the
shore。 The sight of her gave Sheldon fresh courage； and the tedious
hours of waiting did not irk him。 He gave his orders to the boss…boys and
made his regular trips to the hospital。 Nothing mattered now。 His
troubles were at an end。 He could lie down and take care of himself and
proceed to get well。 The Jessie had arrived。 His partner was on board；
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vigorous and hearty from six weeks' recruiting on Malaita。 He could take
charge now； and all would be well with Berande。
Sheldon lay in the steamer…chair and watched the Jessie's whale… boat
pull in for the beach。 He wondered why only three sweeps were pulling；
and he wondered still more when； beached； there was so much delay in
getting out of the boat。 Then he understood。 The three blacks who had
been pulling started up the beach with a stretcher on their shoulders。 A
white man； whom he recognized as the Jessie's captain； walked in front
and opened the gate； then dropped behind to close it。 Sheldon knew that
it was Hughie Drummond who lay in the stretcher； and a mist came before
his eyes。 He felt an overwhelming desire to die。 The disappointment was
too great。 In his own state of terrible weakness he felt that it was
impossible to go on with his task of holding Berande plantation tight…
gripped in his fist。 Then the will of him flamed up again； and he directed
the blacks to lay the stretcher beside him on the floor。 Hughie
Drummond； whom he had last seen in health； was an emaciated skeleton。
His closed eyes were deep…sunken。 The shrivelled lips had fallen away
from the teeth； and the cheek…bones seemed bursting through the skin。
Sheldon sent a house…boy for his thermometer and glanced questioningly
at the captain。 〃Black…water fever；〃 the captain said。 〃He's been like
this for six days； unconscious。 And we've got dysentery on board。
What's the matter with you？〃
〃I'm burying four a day；〃 Sheldon answered； as he bent over from the
steamer…chair and inserted the thermometer under his partner's tongue。
Captain Oleson swore blasphemously； and sent a house…boy to bring
whisky and soda。 Sheldon glanced at the thermometer。
〃One hundred and seven；〃 he said。 〃Poor Hughie。〃
Captain Oleson offered him some whisky。
〃Couldn't think of itperforation； you know；〃 Sheldon said。
He sent for a boss…boy and ordered a grave to be dug； also some of the
packing…cases to be knocked together into a coffin。 The blacks did not
get coffins。 They were buried as they died； being carted on a sheet of
galvanized iron； in their nakedness； from the hospital to the hole in the
ground。 Having given the orders； Sheldon lay back in his chair with
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closed eyes。
〃It's ben fair hell； sir；〃 Captain Oleson began； then broke off to help
himself to more whisky。 〃It's ben fair hell； Mr。 Sheldon； I tell you。
Contrary winds and calms。 We've ben driftin' all about the shop for ten
days。 There's ten thousand sharks following us for the tucker we've ben
throwin' over to them。 They was snappin' at the oars when we started to
come ashore。 I wisht to God a nor'wester'd come along an' blow the
Solomons clean to hell。〃
〃We got it from the waterwater from Owga creek。 Filled my casks
with it。 How was we to know？ I've filled there before an' it was all
right。 We had sixty recruits…full up； and my crew of fifteen。 We've ben
buryin' them day an' night。 The beggars won't live； damn them！ They
die out of spite。 Only three of my crew left on its legs。 Five more down。
Seven dead。 Oh； hell！ What's the good of talkin'？〃
〃How many recruits left？〃 Sheldon asked。
〃Lost half。 Thirty left。 Twenty down； and ten tottering around。〃
Sheldon sighed。
〃That means another addition to the hospital。 We've got to get them
ashore somehow。Viaburi！ Hey； you； Viaburi； ring big fella bell strong
fella too much。〃
The hands； called in from the fields at that unwonted hour； were split
into detachments。 Some were sent into the woods to cut timber for
house…beams； others to cutting cane…grass for thatching； and forty of them
lifted a whale…boat above their heads and carried it down to the sea。
Sheldon had gritted his teeth； pulled his collapsing soul together； and taken
Berande plantation into his fist once more。
〃Have you seen the barometer？〃 Captain Oleson asked； pausing at the
bottom of the steps on his way to oversee the disembarkation of the sick。
〃No；〃 Sheldon answered。 〃Is it down？〃
〃It's going down。〃
〃Then you'd better sleep aboard to…night；〃 was Sheldon's ju