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〃But didn't the Upolu sail？ I could have sworn I saw her smoke last
Tuesday afternoon； late； as she passed Savo。〃
〃The Upolu sailed all right。〃 Captain Auckland sipped his whisky
with provoking slowness。 〃Only Miss Lackland wasn't a passenger。〃
〃Then where is she？〃
〃At Guvutu； last I saw of her。 She was going to Sydney to buy a
schooner； wasn't she？〃
〃Yes； yes。〃
〃That's what she said。 Well； she's bought one； though I wouldn't give
her ten shillings for it if a nor'wester blows up； and it's about time we had
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one。 This has been too long a spell of good weather to last。〃
〃If you came here to excite my curiosity； old man；〃 Sheldon said；
〃you've certainly succeeded。 Now go ahead and tell me in a
straightforward way what has happened。 What schooner？ Where is it？
How did she happen to buy it？〃
〃First； the schooner Martha；〃 the skipper answered； checking his
replies off on his fingers。 〃Second； the Martha is on the outside reef at
Poonga…Poonga； looted clean of everything portable； and ready to go to
pieces with the first bit of lively sea。 And third； Miss Lackland bought
her at auction。 She was knocked down to her for fifty…five quid by the
third…assistant…resident…commissioner。 I ought to know。 I bid fifty myself；
for Morgan and Raff。 My word； weren't they hot！ I told them to go to
the devil； and that it was their fault for limiting me to fifty quid when they
thought the chance to salve the Martha was worth more。 You see； they
weren't expecting competition。 Fulcrum Brothers had no representative
present； neither had Fires； Philp Company； and the only man to be afraid
of was Nielsen's agent； Squires； and him they got drunk and sound asleep
over in Guvutu。
〃'Twenty；' says I； for my bid。 'Twenty…five；' says the little girl。
'Thirty；' says I。 'Forty；' says she。 'Fifty；' says I。 'Fifty…five；' says she。
And there I was stuck。 'Hold on；' says I； 'wait till I see my owners。' 'No；
you don't；' says she。 'It's customary；' says I。 'Not anywhere in the
world；' says she。 'Then it's courtesy in the Solomons；' says I。
〃And d'ye know； on my faith I think Burnett'd have done it； only she
pipes up； sweet and pert as you please： 'Mr。 Auctioneer； will you kindly
proceed with the sale in the customary manner？ I've other business to
attend to； and I can't afford to wait all night on men who don't know their
own minds。' And then she smiles at Burnett； as wellyou know； one of
those fetching smiles； and damme if Burnett doesn't begin singing out：
'Goin'； goin'； goin'last bidgoin'； goin' for fifty…five sovereignsgoin'；
goin'； goneto you； Misserwhat name； please？'
〃'Joan Lackland；' says she； with a smile to me； and that's how she
bought the Martha。〃
Sheldon experienced a sudden thrill。 The Martha！a finer schooner
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than the Malakula； and； for that matter； the finest in the Solomons。 She
was just the thing for recruits； and she was right on the spot。 Then he
realized that for such a craft to sell at auction for fifty…five pounds meant
that there was small chance for saving her。
〃But how did it happen？〃 he asked。 〃Weren't they rather quick in
selling the Martha？〃
〃Had to。 You know the reef at Poonga…Poonga。 She's not worth
tuppence on it if any kind of a sea kicks up； and it's ripe for a nor'wester
any moment now。 The crowd abandoned her completely。 Didn't even
dream of auctioning her。 Morgan and Raff persuaded them to put her up。
They're a co…operative crowd； you know； an organized business
corporation； fore and aft； all hands and the cook。 They held a meeting
and voted to sell。〃
〃But why didn't they stand by and try to save her？〃
〃Stand by！ You know Malaita。 And you know Poonga…Poonga。
That's where they cut off the Scottish Chiefs and killed all hands。 There
was nothing to do but take to the boats。 The Martha missed stays going
in； and inside five minutes she was on the reef and in possession。 The
niggers swarmed over her； and they just threw the crew into the boats。 I
talked with some of the men。 They swear there were two hundred war
canoes around her inside half an hour； and five thousand bushmen on the
beach。 Said you couldn't see Malaita for the smoke of the signal fires。
Anyway； they cleared out for Tulagi。〃
〃But why didn't they fight？〃 Sheldon asked。
〃It was funny they didn't； but they got separated。 You see； two… thirds
of them were in the boats； without weapons； running anchors and never
dreaming the natives would attack。 They found out their mistake too late。
The natives had charge。 That's the trouble of new chums on the coast。
It would never have happened with you or me or any old…timer。〃
〃But what is Miss Lackland intending to do？〃 Captain Auckland
grinned。
〃She's going to try to get the Martha off； I should say。 Or else why
did she pay fifty…five quid for her？ And if she fails； she'll try to get her
money back by saving the gearspars； you know； and patent steering…gear；
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and winches； and such things。 At least that's what I'd do if I was in her
place。 When I sailed； the little girl had chartered the Emily'I'm going
recruiting；' says Munsterhe's the skipper and owner now。 'And how
much will you net on the cruise？' asks she。 'Oh； fifty quid；' says he。
'Good；' says she； 'you bring your Emily along with me and you'll get
seventy…five。' You know that big ship's anchor and chain piled up behind
the coal…sheds？ She was just buying that when I left。 She's certainly a
hustler； that little girl of yours。〃
〃She is my partner；〃 Sheldon corrected。
〃Well； she's a good one； that's all； and a cool one。 My word！ a white
woman on Malaita； and at Poonga…Poonga of all places！ Oh； I forgot to
tell youshe palavered Burnett into lending her eight rifles for her men；
and three cases of dynamite。 You'd laugh to see the way she makes that
Guvutu gang stand around。 And to see them being polite and trying to
give advice！ Lord； Lord； man； that little girl's a wonder； a marvel； aaa
catastrophe。 That's what she is； a catastrophe。 She's gone through
Guvutu and Tulagi like a hurricane； every last swine of them in love with
herexcept Raff。 He's sore over the auction； and he sprang his recruiting
contract with Munster on her。 And what does she do but thank him； and
read it over； and point out that while Munster was pledged to deliver all
recruits to Morgan and Raff； there was no clause in the document
forbidding him from chartering the Emily。
〃'There's your contract；' says she； passing it back。 'And a very good
contract it is。 The next time you draw one up； insert a clause that will fit
emergencies like the present one。' And； Lord； Lord； she had him； too。
〃But there's the breeze； and I'm off。 Good…bye； old man。 Hope the
little girl succeeds。 The Martha's a whacking fine boat； and she'd take the
place of the Jessie。〃
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CHAPTER XVII〃YOUR〃 MISS
LACKLAND
The next morning Sheldon came in from the plantation to breakfast； to
find the mission ketch； Apostle； at anchor； her crew swimming two mares
and a filly ashore。 Sheldon recognized the animals as belonging to the
Resident Commissioner； and he immediately wondered if Joan had bought
them。 She was certainly living up to her t