Chapter 16

CHAPTER XVI--THE GIRL WHO HAD NOT GROWN UP

News, as usual, Christian Young brought--news of the drinking at
Guvutu, where the men boasted that they drank between drinks; news
of the new rifles adrift on Ysabel, of the latest murders on
Malaita, of Tom Butler's sickness on Santa Ana; and last and most
important, news that the Matambo had gone on a reef in the
Shortlands and would be laid off one run for repairs.

"That means five weeks more before you can sail for Sydney,"
Sheldon said to Joan.

"And that we are losing precious time," she added ruefully.

"If you want to go to Sydney, the Upolu sails from Tulagi to-morrow
afternoon," Young said.

"But I thought she was running recruits for the Germans in Samoa,"
she objected. "At any rate, I could catch her to Samoa, and change
at Apia to one of the Weir Line freighters. It's a long way
around, but still it would save time."

"This time the Upolu is going straight to Sydney," Young explained.
"She's going to dry-dock, you see; and you can catch her as late as
five to-morrow afternoon--at least, so her first officer told me."

"But I've got to go to Guvutu first." Joan looked at the men with
a whimsical expression. "I've some shopping to do. I can't wear
these Berande curtains into Sydney. I must buy cloth at Guvutu and
make myself a dress during the voyage down. I'll start
immediately--in an hour. Lalaperu, you bring 'm one fella Adamu
Adam along me. Tell 'm that fella Ornfiri make 'm kai-kai take
along whale-boat." She rose to her feet, looking at Sheldon. "And
you, please, have the boys carry down the whale-boat--my boat, you
know. I'll be off in an hour."

Both Sheldon and Tudor looked at their watches.

"It's an all-night row," Sheldon said. "You might wait till
morning--"

"And miss my shopping? No, thank you. Besides, the Upolu is not a
regular passenger steamer, and she is just as liable to sail ahead
of time as on time. And from what I hear about those Guvutu
sybarites, the best time to shop will be in the morning. And now
you'll have to excuse me, for I've got to pack."

"I'll go over with you," Sheldon announced.

"Let me run you over in the Minerva," said Young.

She shook her head laughingly.

"I'm going in the whale-boat. One would think, from all your
solicitude, that I'd never been away from home before. You, Mr.
Sheldon, as my partner, I cannot permit to desert Berande and your
work out of a mistaken notion of courtesy. If you won't permit me
to be skipper, I won't permit your galivanting over the sea as
protector of young women who don't need protection. And as for
you, Captain Young, you know very well that you just left Guvutu
this morning, that you