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that； it was awful。 The theft of the Flibberty…Gibbet was merely amusing；
though the means by which the theft had been effected gave him hurt。
Yet he found consolation in the fact that the task of making Oleson drunk
had been turned over to the three scoundrels。 And next； and swiftly；
came the vision of her； alone with those same three scoundrels； on the
Emily； sailing out to sea from Guvutu in the twilight with darkness coming
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on。 Then came visions of Adamu Adam and Noa Noah and all her brawny
Tahitian following； and his anxiety faded away； being replaced by
irritation that she should have been capable of such wildness of conduct。
And the irritation was still on him as he got up and went inside to stare
at the hook on the wall and to wish that her Stetson hat and revolver…belt
were hanging from it。
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CHAPTER XVIIIMAKING THE
BOOKS COME TRUE
Several quiet weeks slipped by。 Berande； after such an unusual run
of visiting vessels； drifted back into her old solitude。 Sheldon went on
with the daily round； clearing bush； planting cocoanuts； smoking copra；
building bridges； and riding about his work on the horses Joan had bought。
News of her he had none。 Recruiting vessels on Malaita left the Poonga…
Poonga coast severely alone； and the Clansman； a Samoan recruiter；
dropping anchor one sunset for billiards and gossip； reported rumours
amongst the Sio natives that there had been fighting at Poonga…Poonga。
As this news would have had to travel right across the big island； little
dependence was to be placed on it。
The steamer from Sydney； the Kammambo； broke the quietude of
Berande for an hour； while landing mail； supplies； and the trees and seeds
Joan had ordered。 The Minerva； bound for Cape Marsh； brought the two
cows from Nogi。 And the Apostle； hurrying back to Tulagi to connect
with the Sydney steamer； sent a boat ashore with the orange and lime trees
from Ulava。 And these several weeks marked a period of perfect weather。
There were days on end when sleek calms ruled the breathless sea； and
days when vagrant wisps of air fanned for several hours from one
direction or another。 The land…breezes at night alone proved regular； and
it was at night that the occasional cutters and ketches slipped by； too eager
to take advantage of the light winds to drop anchor for an hour。
Then came the long…expected nor'wester。 For eight days it raged；
lulling at times to short durations of calm； then shifting a point or two and
raging with renewed violence。 Sheldon kept a precautionary eye on the
buildings； while the Balesuna； in flood； so savagely attacked the high bank
Joan had warned him about； that he told off all the gangs to battle with the
river。
It was in the good weather that followed； that he left the blacks at work；
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one morning； and with a shot…gun across his pommel rode off after
pigeons。 Two hours later； one of the house…boys； breathless and
scratched ran him down with the news that the Martha； the Flibberty…
Gibbet； and the Emily were heading in for the anchorage。
Coming into the compound from the rear； Sheldon could see nothing
until he rode around the corner of the bungalow。 Then he saw everything
at oncefirst； a glimpse at the sea； where the Martha floated huge
alongside the cutter and the ketch which had rescued her； and； next； the
ground in front of the veranda steps； where a great crowd of fresh…caught
cannibals stood at attention。 From the fact that each was attired in a new；
snow…white lava…lava； Sheldon knew that they were recruits。 Part way up
the steps； one of them was just backing down into the crowd； while
another； called out by name； was coming up。 It was Joan's voice that had
called him； and Sheldon reined in his horse and watched。 She sat at the
head of the steps； behind a table； between Munster and his white mate； the
three of them checking long lists； Joan asking the questions and writing
the answers in the big； red…covered； Berande labour… journal。
〃What name？〃 she demanded of the black man on the steps。
〃Tagari；〃 came the answer； accompanied by a grin and a rolling of
curious eyes； for it was the first white…man's house the black had ever
seen。
〃What place b'long you？〃
〃Bangoora。〃
No one had noticed Sheldon； and he continued to sit his horse and
watch。 There was a discrepancy between the answer and the record in
the recruiting books； and a consequent discussion； until Munster solved
the difficulty。
〃Bangoora？〃 he said。 〃That's the little beach at the head of the bay
out of Latta。 He's down as a Latta…mansee； there it is； 'Tagari； Latta。'〃
〃What place you go you finish along white marster？〃 Joan asked。
〃Bangoora；〃 the man replied； and Joan wrote it down。
〃Ogu！〃 Joan called。
The black stepped down； and another mounted to take his place。 But
Tagari； just before he reached the bottom step； caught sight of Sheldon。
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It was the first horse the fellow had ever seen； and he let out a frightened
screech and dashed madly up the steps。 At the same moment the great
mass of blacks surged away panic…stricken from Sheldon's vicinity。 The
grinning house…boys shouted encouragement and explanation； and the
stampede was checked； the new…caught head…hunters huddling closely
together and staring dubiously at the fearful monster。
〃Hello！〃 Joan called out。 〃What do you mean by frightening all my
boys？ Come on up。〃
〃What do you think of them？〃 she asked； when they had shaken hands。
〃And what do you think of her？〃with a wave of the hand toward the
Martha。 〃I thought you'd deserted the plantation； and that I might as well
go ahead and get the men into barracks。 Aren't they beauties？ Do you
see that one with the split nose？ He's the only man who doesn't hail from
the Poonga…Poonga coast； and they said the Poonga…Poonga natives
wouldn't recruit。 Just look at them and congratulate me。 There are no
kiddies and half…grown youths among them。 They're men； every last one
of them。 I have such a long story I don't know where to begin； and I
won't begin anyway till we're through with this and until you have told me
that you are not angry with me。〃
〃Oguwhat place b'long you？〃 she went on with her catechism。
But Ogu was a bushman； lacking knowledge of the almost universal
beche…de…mer English； and half a dozen of his fellows wrangled to
explain。
〃There are only two or three more；〃 Joan said to Sheldon； 〃and then
we're done。 But you haven't told me that you are not angry。〃
Sheldon looked into her clear eyes as she favoured him with a direct；
untroubled gaze that threatened； he knew from experience； to turn
teasingly defiant on an instant's notice。 And as he looked at her it came
to him that he had never half…anticipated the gladness her return would
bring to him。
〃I was angry；〃 he said deliberately。 〃I am still angry； very angry〃 he
noted the glint of defiance in her eyes and thrilled 〃but I forgave； and I
now forgive all over again。 Though I still insist〃
〃That I should have a guardian；〃 she interrupted。 〃But that day will
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never come。 Thank goodness I'm of legal age and