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ADVENTURE
CHAPTER IISOMETHING IS
DONE
In the morning David Sheldon decided that he was worse。 That he
was appreciably weaker there was no doubt； and there were other
symptoms that were unfavourable。 He began his rounds looking for
trouble。 He wanted trouble。 In full health； the strained situation would
have been serious enough； but as it was； himself growing helpless；
something had to be done。 The blacks were getting more sullen and
defiant； and the appearance of the men the previous night on his veranda
one of the gravest of offences on Berandewas ominous。 Sooner or later
they would get him； if he did not get them first； if he did not once again
sear on their dark souls the flaming mastery of the white man。
He returned to the house disappointed。 No opportunity had presented
itself of making an example of insolence or insubordinationsuch as had
occurred on every other day since the sickness smote Berande。 The fact
that none had offended was in itself suspicious。 They were growing
crafty。 He regretted that he had not waited the night before until the
prowlers had entered。 Then he might have shot one or two and given the
rest a new lesson； writ in red； for them to con。 It was one man against
two hundred； and he was horribly afraid of his sickness overpowering him
and leaving him at their mercy。 He saw visions of the blacks taking
charge of the plantation； looting the store； burning the buildings； and
escaping to Malaita。 Also； one gruesome vision he caught of his own
head； sun…dried and smoke…cured； ornamenting the canoe house of a
cannibal village。 Either the Jessie would have to arrive； or he would
have to do something。
The bell had hardly rung； sending the labourers into the fields； when
Sheldon had a visitor。 He had had the couch taken out on the veranda；
and he was lying on it when the canoes paddled in and hauled out on the
beach。 Forty men； armed with spears； bows and arrows； and war…clubs；
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ADVENTURE
gathered outside the gate of the compound； but only one entered。 They
knew the law of Berande； as every native knew the law of every white
man's compound in all the thousand miles of the far…flung Solomons。
The one man who came up the path； Sheldon recognized as Seelee； the
chief of Balesuna village。 The savage did not mount the steps； but stood
beneath and talked to the white lord above。
Seelee was more intelligent than the average of his kind； but his
intelligence only emphasized the lowness of that kind。 His eyes； close
together and small； advertised cruelty and craftiness。 A gee…string and a
cartridge…belt were all the clothes he wore。 The carved pearl…shell
ornament that hung from nose to chin and impeded speech was purely
ornamental； as were the holes in his ears mere utilities for carrying pipe
and tobacco。 His broken…fanged teeth were stained black by betel…nut；
the juice of which he spat upon the ground。
As he talked or listened； he made grimaces like a monkey。 He said
yes by dropping his eyelids and thrusting his chin forward。 He spoke
with childish arrogance strangely at variance with the subservient position
he occupied beneath the veranda。 He； with his many followers； was lord
and master of Balesuna village。 But the white man； without followers；
was lord and master of Berandeay； and on occasion； single…handed； had
made himself lord and master of Balesuna village as well。 Seelee did not
like to remember that episode。 It had occurred in the course of learning
the nature of white men and of learning to abominate them。 He had once
been guilty of sheltering three runaways from Berande。 They had given
him all they possessed in return for the shelter and for promised aid in
getting away to Malaita。 This had given him a glimpse of a profitable
future； in which his village would serve as the one depot on the
underground railway between Berande and Malaita。
Unfortunately； he was ignorant of the ways of white men。 This
particular white man educated him by arriving at his grass house in the
gray of dawn。 In the first moment he had felt amused。 He was so
perfectly safe in the midst of his village。 But the next moment； and
before he could cry out； a pair of handcuffs on the white man's knuckles
had landed on his mouth； knocking the cry of alarm back down his throat。
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Also； the white man's other fist had caught him under the ear and left him
without further interest in what was happening。 When he came to； he
found himself in the white man's whale…boat on the way to Berande。 At
Berande he had been treated as one of no consequence； with handcuffs on
hands and feet； to say nothing of chains。 When his tribe had returned the
three runaways； he was given his freedom。 And finally； the terrible white
man had fined him and Balesuna village ten thousand cocoanuts。 After
that he had sheltered no more runaway Malaita men。 Instead； he had
gone into the business of catching them。 It was safer。 Besides； he was
paid one case of tobacco per head。 But if he ever got a chance at that
white man； if he ever caught him sick or stood at his back when he
stumbled and fell on a bush… trailwell； there would be a head that would
fetch a price in Malaita。
Sheldon was pleased with what Seelee told him。 The seventh man of
the last batch of runaways had been caught and was even then at the gate。
He was brought in； heavy…featured and defiant； his arms bound with
cocoanut sennit； the dry blood still on his body from the struggle with his
captors。
〃Me savvee you good fella； Seelee；〃 Sheldon said； as the chief gulped
down a quarter…tumbler of raw trade…gin。 〃Fella boy belong me you
catch short time little bit。 This fella boy strong fella too much。 I give
you fella one case tobaccomy word； one case tobacco。 Then； you good
fella along me； I give you three fathom calico； one fella knife big fella too
much。〃
The tobacco and trade goods were brought from the store…room by two
house…boys and turned over to the chief of Balesuna village； who accepted
the additional reward with a non…committal grunt and went away down the
path to his canoes。 Under Sheldon's directions the house…boys
handcuffed the prisoner； by hands and feet； around one of the pile supports
of the house。 At eleven o'clock； when the labourers came in from the
field； Sheldon had them assembled in the compound before the veranda。
Every able man was there； including those who were helping about the
hospital。 Even the women and the several pickaninnies of the plantation
were lined up with the rest； two deepa horde of naked savages a trifle
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under two hundred strong。 In addition to their ornaments of bead and
shell and bone； their pierced ears and nostrils were burdened with safety…
pins； wire nails； metal hair…pins； rusty iron handles of cooking utensils；
and the patent keys for opening corned beef tins。 Some wore penknives
clasped on their kinky locks for safety。 On the chest of one a china door…
knob was suspended； on the chest of another the brass wheel of an alarm
clock。
Facing them； clinging to the railing of the veranda for sup