Chapter 6 - Page 2

sex kidnapped the
irritations of the day and made him forget the big revolver, the
Baden-Powell, and all the rest. But what right, the next thought
in his brain would whisper, had such a girl to swagger around like
a man and exult that adventure was not dead? Woman that adventured
were adventuresses, and the connotation was not nice. Besides, he
was not enamoured of adventure. Not since he was a boy had it
appealed to him--though it would have driven him hard to explain
what had brought him from England to the Solomons if it had not
been adventure.

Sheldon certainly was not happy. The unconventional state of
affairs was too much for his conservative disposition and training.
Berande, inhabited by one lone white man, was no place for Joan
Lackland. Yet he racked his brain for a way out, and even talked
it over with her. In the first place, the steamer from Australia
was not due for three weeks.

"One thing is evident: you don't want me here," she said. "I'll
man the whale-boat to-morrow and go over to Tulagi."

"But as I told you before, that is impossible," he cried. "There
is no one there. The Resident Commissioner is away in Australia.
Them is only one white man, a third assistant understrapper and ex-
sailor--a common sailor. He is in charge of the government of the
Solomons, to say nothing of a hundred or so niggers--prisoners.
Besides, he is such a fool that he would fine you five pounds for
not having entered at Tulagi, which is the port of entry, you know.
He is not a nice man, and, I repeat, it is impossible."

"There is Guvutu," she suggested.

He shook his head.

"There's nothing there but fever and five white men who are
drinking themselves to death. I couldn't permit it."

"Oh thank you," she said quietly. "I guess I'll start to-day.--
Viaburi! You go along Noa Noah, speak 'm come along me."

Noa Noah was her head sailor, who had been boatswain of the Miele.

"Where are you going?" Sheldon asked in surprise.--"Vlaburi! You
stop."

"To Guvutu--immediately," was her reply.

"But I won't permit it."

"That is why I am going. You said it once before, and it is
something I cannot brook."

"What?" He was bewildered by her sudden anger. "If I have
offended in any way--"

"Viaburi, you fetch 'm one fella Noa Noah along me," she commanded.

The black boy started to obey.

"Viaburi! You no stop I break 'm head belong you. And now, Miss
Lackland, I insist--you must explain. What have I said or done to
merit this?"

"You have presumed, you have dared--"

She choked and swallowed, and could not go on.

Sheldon looked the picture of despair.

"I confess my head is going around