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never come。 Thank goodness I'm of legal age and able to transact
business in my own right。 And speaking of business； how do you like my
forceful American methods？〃
〃Mr。 Raff； from what I hear； doesn't take kindly to them；〃 he
temporized； 〃and you've certainly set the dry bones rattling for many a day。
But what I want to know is if other American women are as successful in
business ventures？〃
〃Luck； 'most all luck；〃 she disclaimed modestly； though her eyes
lighted with sudden pleasure； and he knew her boy's vanity had been
touched by his trifle of tempered praise。
〃Luck be blowed！〃 broke out the long mate； Sparrowhawk； his face
shining with admiration。 〃It was hard work； that's what it was。 We
earned our pay。 She worked us till we dropped。 And we were down
with fever half the time。 So was she； for that matter； only she wouldn't
stay down； and she wouldn't let us stay down。 My word； she's a slave…
driver'Just one more heave； Mr。 Sparrowhawk； and then you can go to
bed for a week'；she to me； and me staggerin' 'round like a dead man； with
bilious…green lights flashing inside my head； an' my head just bustin'。 I
was all in； but I gave that heave right Oand then it was； 'Another heave
now； Mr。 Sparrowhawk； just another heave。' An' the Lord lumme； the
way she made love to old Kina…Kina！〃
He shook his head reproachfully； while the laughter died down in his
throat to long…drawn chuckles。
〃He was older than Telepasse and dirtier；〃 she assured Sheldon； 〃and I
am sure much wickeder。 But this isn't work。 Let us get through with
these lists。〃
She turned to the waiting black on the steps； …
〃Ogu； you finish along big marster belong white man； you go Not…
Not。Here you； Tangari； you speak 'm along that fella Ogu。 He finish he
walk about Not…Not。 Have you got that； Mr。 Munster？〃
〃But you've broken the recruiting laws；〃 Sheldon said； when the new
recruits had marched away to the barracks。 〃The licenses for the
Flibberty and the Emily don't allow for one hundred and fifty。 What did
Burnett say？〃
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〃He passed them； all of them；〃 she answered。 〃Captain Munster will
tell you what he saidsomething about being blowed； or words to that
effect。 Now I must run and wash up。 Did the Sydney orders arrive？〃
〃Yours are in your quarters；〃 Sheldon said。 〃Hurry； for breakfast is
waiting。 Let me have your hat and belt。 Do； please； allow me。 There's
only one hook for them； and I know where it is。〃
She gave him a quick scrutiny that was almost woman…like； then
sighed with relief as she unbuckled the heavy belt and passed it to him。
〃I doubt if I ever want to see another revolver；〃 she complained。 〃That
one has worn a hole in me； I'm sure。 I never dreamed I could get so
weary of one。〃
Sheldon watched her to the foot of the steps； where she turned and
called back； …
〃My！ I can't tell you how good it is to be home again。〃
And as his gaze continued to follow her across the compound to the
tiny grass house； the realization came to him crushingly that Berande and
that little grass house was the only place in the world she could call
〃home。〃
〃And Burnett said； 'Well； I'll be damnedI beg your pardon； Miss
Lackland； but you have wantonly broken the recruiting laws and you know
it；'〃 Captain Munster narrated； as they sat over their whisky； waiting for
Joan to come back。 〃And says she to him； 'Mr。 Burnett； can you show
me any law against taking the passengers off a vessel that's on a reef？'
'That is not the point；' says he。 'It's the very； precise； particular point；'
says she and you bear it in mind and go ahead and pass my recruits。 You
can report me to the Lord High Commissioner if you want； but I have
three vessels here waiting on your convenience； and if you delay them
much longer there'll be another report go in to the Lord High
Commissioner。'
〃'I'll hold you responsible； Captain Munster；' says he to me； mad
enough to eat scrap…iron。 'No； you won't；' says she； 'I'm the charterer of
the Emily； and Captain Munster has acted under my orders。'
〃What could Burnett do？ He passed the whole hundred and fifty；
though the Emily was only licensed for forty； and the Flibberty… Gibbet for
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thirty…five。〃
〃But I don't understand；〃 Sheldon said。
〃This is the way she worked it。 When the Martha was floated； we
had to beach her right away at the head of the bay； and whilst repairs were
going on； a new rudder being made； sails bent； gear recovered from the
niggers； and so forth； Miss Lackland borrows Sparrowhawk to run the
Flibberty along with Curtis； lends me Brahms to take Sparrowhawk's place；
and starts both craft off recruiting。 My word； the niggers came easy。 It
was virgin ground。 Since the Scottish Chiefs； no recruiter had ever even
tried to work the coast； and we'd already put the fear of God into the
niggers' hearts till the whole coast was quiet as lambs。 When we filled
up； we came back to see how the Martha was progressing。〃
〃And thinking we was going home with our recruits；〃 Sparrowhawk
slipped in。 〃Lord lumme； that Miss Lackland ain't never satisfied。 'I'll
take 'em on the Martha；' says she； 'and you can go back and fill up again。'〃
〃But I told her it couldn't be done；〃 Munster went on。 〃I told her the
Martha hadn't a license for recruiting。 'Oh；' she said； 'it can't be done；
eh？' and she stood and thought a few minutes。〃
〃And I'd seen her think before；〃 cried Sparrowhawk； 〃and I knew at
wunst that the thing was as good as done。〃
Munster lighted his cigarette and resumed。
〃'You see that spit；' she says to me； 'with the little ripple breaking
around it？ There's a current sets right across it and on it。 And you see
them bafflin' little cat's…paws？ It's good weather and a falling tide。 You
just start to beat out； the two of you； and all you have to do is miss stays in
the same baffling puff and the current will set you nicely aground。'〃
〃'That little wash of sea won't more than start a sheet or two of copper；'
says she； when Munster kicked；〃 Sparrowhawk explained。 〃Oh； she's no
green un； that girl。〃
〃'Then I'll rescue your recruits and sail awaysimple； ain't it？' says
she；〃 Munster continued。 〃'You hang up one tide；' says she； 'the next is
the big high water。 Then you kedge off and go after more recruits。
There's no law against recruiting when you're empty。' 'But there is
against starving 'em；' I said； 'you know yourself there ain't any kai…kai to
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speak of aboard of us； and there ain't a crumb on the Martha。'〃
〃We'd all been pretty well on native kai…kai； as it was；〃 said
Sparrowhawk。
〃'Don't let the kai…kai worry you； Captain Munster；' says she； 'if I can
find grub for eighty…four mouths on the Martha； the two of you can do as
much by your two vessels。 Now go ahead and get aground before a
steady breeze comes up and spoils the manoeuvre。 I'll send my boats the
moment you strike。 And now； good…day； gentlemen。'〃
〃And we went and did it；〃 Sparrowhawk said solemnly； and then
emitted a series of chuckling noises。 〃We laid over； starboard tack； and I
pinched the Emily against the spit。 'Go about；' Captain Munster yells at
me； 'go about； or you'll have me aground！' He yelled