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death…defying spirit in the man himself； made them refrain and buckle
down to the task of hauling him to safety through the storm。
Wet through and exhausted； he was nevertheless surprised at the ease
with which he got into a change of clothing。 Though he was fearfully
weak； he found himself actually feeling better。 The disease had spent
itself； and the mend had begun。
〃Now if I don't get the fever；〃 he said aloud； and at the same moment
resolved to go to taking quinine as soon as he was strong enough to dare。
He crawled out on the veranda。 The rain had ceased； but the wind；
which had dwindled to a half…gale； was increasing。 A big sea had sprung
up； and the mile…long breakers； curling up to the over…fall two hundred
yards from shore； were crashing on the beach。 The Jessie was plunging
madly to two anchors； and every second or third sea broke clear over her
bow。 Two flags were stiffly undulating from the halyards like squares of
flexible sheet…iron。 One was blue； the other red。 He knew their
meaning in the Berande private code〃What are your instructions？ Shall
I attempt to land boat？〃 Tacked on the wall； between the signal locker and
the billiard rules； was the code itself； by which he verified the signal
before making answer。 On the flagstaff gaff a boy hoisted a white flag
over a red； which stood for〃Run to Neal Island for shelter。〃
That Captain Oleson had been expecting this signal was apparent by
the celerity with which the shackles were knocked out of both anchor…
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ADVENTURE
chains。 He slipped his anchors； leaving them buoyed to be picked up in
better weather。 The Jessie swung off under her full staysail； then the
foresail； double…reefed； was run up。 She was away like a racehorse；
clearing Balesuna Shoal with half a cable… length to spare。 Just before
she rounded the point she was swallowed up in a terrific squall that far
out…blew the first。
All that night； while squall after squall smote Berande； uprooting trees；
overthrowing copra…sheds； and rocking the house on its tall piles； Sheldon
slept。 He was unaware of the commotion。 He never wakened。 Nor
did he change his position or dream。 He awoke； a new man。
Furthermore； he was hungry。 It was over a week since food had passed
his lips。 He drank a glass of condensed cream； thinned with water； and
by ten o'clock he dared to take a cup of beef…tea。 He was cheered； also； by
the situation in the hospital。 Despite the storm there had been but one
death； and there was only one fresh case； while half a dozen boys crawled
weakly away to the barracks。 He wondered if it was the wind that was
blowing the disease away and cleansing the pestilential land。
By eleven a messenger arrived from Balesuna village； dispatched by
Seelee。 The Jessie had gone ashore half…way between the village and
Neal Island。 It was not till nightfall that two of the crew arrived；
reporting the drowning of Captain Oleson and of the one remaining boy。
As for the Jessie； from what they told him Sheldon could not but conclude
that she was a total loss。 Further to hearten him； he was taken by a
shivering fit。 In half an hour he was burning up。 And he knew that at
least another day must pass before he could undertake even the smallest
dose of quinine。 He crawled under a heap of blankets； and a little later
found himself laughing aloud。 He had surely reached the limit of disaster。
Barring earthquake or tidal…wave； the worst had already befallen him。
The Flibberty…Gibbet was certainly safe in Mboli Pass。 Since nothing
worse could happen； things simply had to mend。 So it was； shivering
under his blankets； that he laughed； until the house… boys； with heads
together； marvelled at the devils that were in him。
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CHAPTER IVJOAN
LACKLAND
By the second day of the northwester； Sheldon was in collapse from
his fever。 It had taken an unfair advantage of his weak state； and though
it was only ordinary malarial fever； in forty…eight hours it had run him as
low as ten days of fever would have done when he was in condition。 But
the dysentery had been swept away from Berande。 A score of
convalescents lingered in the hospital； but they were improving hourly。
There had been but one more deaththat of the man whose brother had
wailed over him instead of brushing the flies away。
On the morning of the fourth day of his fever； Sheldon lay on the
veranda； gazing dimly out over the raging ocean。 The wind was falling；
but a mighty sea was still thundering in on Berande beach； the flying spray
reaching in as far as the flagstaff mounds； the foaming wash creaming
against the gate…posts。 He had taken thirty grains of quinine； and the
drug was buzzing in his ears like a nest of hornets； making his hands and
knees tremble； and causing a sickening palpitation of the stomach。 Once；
opening his eyes； he saw what he took to be an hallucination。 Not far out；
and coming in across the Jessie's anchorage； he saw a whale…boat's nose
thrust skyward on a smoky crest and disappear naturally； as an actual
whale…boat's nose should disappear； as it slid down the back of the sea。
He knew that no whale…boat should be out there； and he was quite certain
no men in the Solomons were mad enough to be abroad in such a storm。
But the hallucination persisted。 A minute later； chancing to open his
eyes； he saw the whale…boat； full length； and saw right into it as it rose on
the face of a wave。 He saw six sweeps at work； and in the stern； clearly
outlined against the overhanging wall of white； a man who stood erect；
gigantic； swaying with his weight on the steering…sweep。 This he saw；
and an eighth man who crouched in the bow and gazed shoreward。 But
what