按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Poonga…Poonga man's shoulder was going down slowly； but Arahu still
limped on his thorn…poisoned foot。
Two days later they rejoined the boats at Carli； and at high noon of the
third day； travelling with the current and shooting the rapids； the
expedition arrived at Berande。 Joan； with a sigh； unbuckled her revolver…
belt and hung it on the nail in the living… room； while Sheldon； who had
been lurking about for the sheer joy of seeing her perform that particular
home…coming act； sighed； too； with satisfaction。 But the home…coming
was not all joy to him； for Joan set about nursing Tudor； and spent much
time on the veranda where he lay in the hammock under the mosquito…
netting。
181
… Page 182…
ADVENTURE
CHAPTER XXVIBURNING
DAYLIGHT
The ten days of Tudor's convalescence that followed were peaceful
days on Berande。 The work of the plantation went on like clock… work。
With the crushing of the premature outbreak of Gogoomy and his
following； all insubordination seemed to have vanished。 Twenty more of
the old…time boys； their term of service up； were carried away by the
Martha； and the fresh stock of labour； treated fairly； was proving of
excellent quality。 As Sheldon rode about the plantation； acknowledging
to himself the comfort and convenience of a horse and wondering why he
had not thought of getting one himself； he pondered the various
improvements for which Joan was responsiblethe splendid Poonga…
Poonga recruits； the fruits and vegetables； the Martha herself； snatched
from the sea for a song and earning money hand over fist despite old
Kinross's slow and safe method of running her； and Berande； once more
financially secure； approaching each day nearer the dividend…paying time；
and growing each day as the black toilers cleared the bush； cut the cane…
grass； and planted more cocoanut palms。
In these and a thousand ways Sheldon was made aware of how much
he was indebted for material prosperity to Joanto the slender； level…
browed girl with romance shining out of her gray eyes and adventure
shouting from the long…barrelled Colt's on her hip； who had landed on the
beach that piping gale； along with her stalwart Tahitian crew； and who had
entered his bungalow to hang with boy's hands her revolver…belt and
Baden…Powell hat on the nail by the billiard table。 He forgot all the early
exasperations； remembering only her charms and sweetnesses and
glorying much in the traits he at first had disliked mosther boyishness
and adventurousness； her delight to swim and risk the sharks； her desire to
go recruiting； her love of the sea and ships； her sharp authoritative words
when she launched the whale…boat and； with firestick in one hand and
182
… Page 183…
ADVENTURE
dynamite…stick in the other； departed with her picturesque crew to shoot
fish in the Balesuna； her super…innocent disdain for the commonest
conventions； her juvenile joy in argument； her fluttering； wild…bird love of
freedom and mad passion for independence。 All this he now loved； and
he no longer desired to tame and hold her； though the paradox was the
winning of her without the taming and the holding。
There were times when he was dizzy with thought of her and love of
her； when he would stop his horse and with closed eyes picture her as he
had seen her that first day； in the stern…sheets of the whale…boat； dashing
madly in to shore and marching belligerently along his veranda to remark
that it was pretty hospitality this letting strangers sink or swim in his front
yard。 And as he opened his eyes and urged his horse onward； he would
ponder for the ten thousandth time how possibly he was ever to hold her
when she was so wild and bird…like that she was bound to flutter out and
away from under his hand。
It was patent to Sheldon that Tudor had become interested in Joan。
That convalescent visitor practically lived on the veranda； though； while
preposterously weak and shaky in the legs； he had for some time insisted
on coming in to join them at the table at meals。 The first warning
Sheldon had of the other's growing interest in the girl was when Tudor
eased down and finally ceased pricking him with his habitual sharpness of
quip and speech。 This cessation of verbal sparring was like the breaking
off of diplomatic relations between countries at the beginning of war； and；
once Sheldon's suspicions were aroused； he was not long in finding other
confirmations。 Tudor too obviously joyed in Joan's presence； too
obviously laid himself out to amuse and fascinate her with his own
glorious and adventurous personality。 Often； after his morning ride over
the plantation； or coming in from the store or from inspection of the copra…
drying； Sheldon found the pair of them together on the veranda； Joan
listening； intent and excited； and Tudor deep in some recital of personal
adventure at the ends of the earth。
Sheldon noticed； too； the way Tudor looked at her and followed her
about with his eyes； and in those eyes he noted a certain hungry look； and
on the face a certain wistful expression； and he wondered if on his own
183
… Page 184…
ADVENTURE
face he carried a similar involuntary advertisement。 He was sure of several
things： first； that Tudor was not the right man for Joan and could not
possibly make her permanently happy； next； that Joan was too sensible a
girl really to fall in love with a man of such superficial stamp； and； finally；
that Tudor would blunder his love…making somehow。 And at the same
time； with true lover's anxiety； Sheldon feared that the other might
somehow fail to blunder； and win the girl with purely fortuitous and
successful meretricious show。 But of the one thing Sheldon was sure：
Tudor had no intimate knowledge of her and was unaw