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place big fella marster along white man he stop？〃
Joan and Sheldon together listened to the tale Binu Charley had
brought。 He described Tudor's expedition up the Balesuna； the dragging
of the boats up the rapids； the passage up the river where it threaded the
grass…lands； the innumerable washings of gravel by the white men in
search of gold； the first rolling foothills； the man…traps of spear…staked pits
in the jungle trails； the first meeting with the bushmen； who had never
seen tobacco； and knew not the virtues of smoking； their friendliness； the
deeper penetration of the interior around the flanks of the Lion's Head； the
bush… sores and the fevers of the white men； and their madness in trusting
the bushmen。
〃Allee time I talk along white fella marster；〃 he said。 〃Me talk； 'That
fella bushman he look 'm eye belong him。 He savvee too much。 S'pose
musket he stop along you； that fella bushman he too much good friend
along you。 Allee time he look sharp eye belong him。 S'pose musket he
no stop along you； my word； that fella bushman he chop 'm off head
belong you。 He kai…kai you altogether。'〃
But the patience of the bushmen had exceeded that of the white men。
The weeks had gone by； and no overt acts had been attempted。 The
bushmen swarmed in the camp in increasing numbers； and they were
always making presents of yams and taro； of pig and fowl； and of wild
fruits and vegetables。 Whenever the gold…hunters moved their camp； the
bushmen volunteered to carry the luggage。 And the white men waxed
ever more careless。 They grew weary prospecting； and at the same time
carrying their rifles and the heavy cartridge…belts； and the practice began
of leaving their weapons behind them in camp。
〃I tell 'm plenty fella white marster look sharp eye belong him。 And
plenty fella white marster make 'm big laugh along me； say Binu Charley
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allee same pickaninnymy word； they speak along me allee same
pickaninny。〃
Came the morning when Binu Charley noticed that the women and
children had disappeared。 Tudor； at the time； was lying in a stupor with
fever in a late camp five miles away； the main camp having moved on
those five miles in order to prospect an outcrop of likely quartz。 Binu
Charley was midway between the two camps when the absence of the
women and children struck him as suspicious。
〃My word；〃 he said； 〃me t'ink like hell。 Him black Mary； him
pickaninny； walk about long way big bit。 What name？ Me savvee too
much trouble close up。 Me fright like hell。 Me run。 My word； me
run。〃
Tudor； quite unconscious； was slung across his shoulder； and carried a
mile down the trail。 Here； hiding new trail； Binu Charley had carried him
for a quarter of a mile into the heart of the deepest jungle； and hidden him
in a big banyan tree。 Returning to try to save the rifles and personal
outfit； Binu Charley had seen a party of bushmen trotting down the trail；
and had hidden in the bush。 Here； and from the direction of the main
camp； he had heard two rifle shots。 And that was all。 He had never
seen the white men again； nor had he ventured near their old camp。 He
had gone back to Tudor； and hidden with him for a week； living on wild
fruits and the few pigeons and cockatoos he had been able to shoot with
bow and arrow。 Then he had journeyed down to Berande to bring the
news。 Tudor； he said； was very sick； lying unconscious for days at a time；
and； when in his right mind； too weak to help himself。
〃What name you no kill 'm that big fella marster？〃 Joan demanded。
〃He have 'm good fella musket； plenty calico； plenty tobacco； plenty knife…
fee； and two fella pickaninny musket shoot quick； bang…bang…bangjust
like that。〃
The black smiled cunningly。
〃Me savvee too much。 S'pose me kill 'm big fella marster； bimeby
plenty white fella marster walk about Binu cross like hell。 'What name
this fellow musket？' those plenty fella white marster talk 'm along me。
My word； Binu Charley finish altogether。 S'pose me kill 'm him； no good
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along me。 Plenty white fella marster cross along me。 S'pose me no kill
'm him； bimeby he give me plenty tobacco； plenty calico； plenty
everything too much。〃
〃There is only the one thing to do；〃 Sheldon said to Joan。
She drummed with her hand and waited； while Binu Charley gazed
wearily at her with unblinking eyes。
〃I'll start the first thing in the morning；〃 Sheldon said。
〃We'll start；〃 she corrected。 〃I can get twice as much out of my
Tahitians as you can； and； besides； one white should never be alone under
such circumstances。〃
He shrugged his shoulders in token； not of consent； but of surrender；
knowing the uselessness of attempting to argue the question with her； and
consoling himself with the reflection that heaven alone knew what
adventures she was liable to engage in if left alone on Berande for a week。
He clapped his hands； and for the next quarter of an hour the house…boys
were kept busy carrying messages to the barracks。 A man was sent to
Balesuna village to command old Seelee's immediate presence。 A boat's…
crew was started in a whale…boat with word for Boucher to come down。
Ammunition was issued to the Tahitians； and the storeroom overhauled for
a few days' tinned provisions。 Viaburi turned yellow when told that he
was to accompany the expedition； and； to everybody's surprise； Lalaperu
volunteered to take his place。
Seelee arrived； proud in his importance that the great master of
Berande should summon him in the night…time for council； and firm in his
refusal to step one inch within the dread domain of the bushmen。 As he
said； if his opinion had been asked when the gold… hunters started； he
would have foretold their disastrous end。 There was only one thing that
happened to any one who ventured into the bushmen's territory； and that
was that he was eaten。 And he would further say； without being asked；
that if Sheldon went up into the bush he would be eaten too。
Sheldon sent for a gang…boss and told him to bring ten of the biggest；
best； and strongest Poonga…Poonga men。
〃Not salt…water boys；〃 Sheldon cautioned； 〃but bush boysleg belong
him strong fella leg。 Boy no savvee musket； no good。 You bring 'm boy
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shoot musket strong fella。〃
They were ten picked men that filed up on the veranda and stood in the
glare of the lanterns。 Their heavy； muscular legs advertised that they
were bushmen。 Each claimed long experience in bush… fighting； most of
them showed scars of bullet or spear…thrust in proof； and all were wild for
a chance to break the humdrum monotony of plantation labour by going
on a killing expedition。 Killing was their natural vocation； not wood…
cutting； and while they would not have ventured the Guadalcanar bush
alone； with a white man like Sheldon behind them； and a white Mary such
as they knew Joan to be； they could expect a safe and delightful time。
Besides； the great master had told them that the eight gigantic Tahitians
were going along。
The Poonga…Poonga volunteers stood with glistening eyes and
grinning faces； naked save for their loin…cloths； and barbarously
ornamented。 Each wore a flat； turtle…shell ring suspended through his
nose； and each carried a clay pipe in an ear…hole or thrust inside a beaded
biceps armlet。 A pair of mag