adventure(冒险)-第3章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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。
10
… Page 11…
ADVENTURE
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
11
… Page 12…
ADVENTURE
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 support； stood
the sick white man。 Any one of them could have knocked him over with
the blow of a little finger。 Despite his firearms； the gang could have
rushed him and delivered that blow； when his head and the plantation
would have been theirs。 Hatred and murder and lust for revenge they
possessed to overflowing。 But one thing they lacked； the thing that he
possessed； the flame of mastery that would not quench； that burned
fiercely as ever in the disease… wasted body； and that was ever ready to
flare forth and scorch and singe them with its ire。
〃Narada！ Billy！〃 Sheldon called sharply。
Two men slunk unwillingly forward and waited。
Sheldon gave the keys of the handcuffs to a house…boy； who went
under the house and loosed the prisoner。
〃You fella Narada； you fella Billy； take um this fella boy along tree
and make fast； hands high up；〃 was Sheldon's command。
While this was being done； slowly； amidst mutterings and restlessness
on the part of the onlookers； one of the house…boys fetched a heavy…
handled； heavy…lashed whip。 Sheldon began a speech。
〃This fella Arunga； me cross along him too much。 I no steal this fella
Arunga。 I no gammon。 I say； 'All right； you come along me Berande；
work three fella year。' He say； 'All right； me come along you work three
fella year。' He come。 He catch plenty good fella kai…kai； ｛2｝ plenty
good fella money。 What name he run away？ Me too much cross along
him。 I knock what name outa him fella。 I pay Seelee； big fella master
along Balesuna； one case tobacco catch that fella Arunga。 All right。
Arunga pay that fella case tobacco。 Six pounds that fella Arunga pay。
Alle same one year more that fella Arunga work Berande。 All right。
12
… Page 13…
ADVENTURE
Now he catch ten fella whip three times。 You fella Billy catch whip； give
that fella Arunga ten fella three times。 All fella boys look see； all fella
Marys ｛3｝ look see； bime bye； they like run away they think strong fella
too much； no run away。 Billy； strong fella too much ten fella three
times。〃
The house…boy extended the whip to him； but Billy did not take it。
Sheldon waited quietly。 The eyes of all the cannibals were fixed upon
him in doubt and fear and eagerness。 It was the moment of test； whereby
the lone white man was to live or be lost。
〃Ten fella three times； Billy；〃 Sheldon said encouragingly； though
there was a certain metallic rasp in his voice。
Billy scowled； looked up and looked down； but did not move。
〃Billy！〃
Sheldon's voice exploded like a pistol shot。 The savage started
physically。 Grins overspread the grotesque features of the audience； and
there was a sound of tittering。
〃S'pose you like too much lash that fella Arunga； you take him fella
Tulagi；〃 Billy said。 〃One fella government agent make plenty lash。
That um fella law。 Me savvee um fella law。〃
It was the law； and Sheldon knew it。 But he wanted to live this day
and the next day and not to die waiting for the law to operate the next
week or the week after。
〃Too much talk along you！〃 he cried angrily。 〃What name eh？
What name？〃
〃Me savvee law；〃 the savage repeated stubbornly。
〃Astoa！〃
Another man stepped forward in almost a sprightly way and glanced
insolently up。 Sheldon was selecting the worst characters for the lesson。
〃You fella Astoa； you fella Narada； tie up that fella Billy alongside
other fella same fella way。〃
〃Strong fella tie；〃 he cautioned them。
〃You fella Astoa take that fella whip。 Plenty strong big fella too
much ten fella three times。 Savvee！〃
〃No；〃 Astoa grunted。
13
… Page 14…
ADVENTURE
Sheldon picked up the rifle that had leaned against the rail； and cocked
it。
〃I know you； Astoa；〃 he said calmly。 〃You work along Queensland
six years。〃
〃Me fella missionary；〃 the black interrupted with deliberate insolence。
〃Queensland you stop jail one fella year。 White fella master damn
fool no hang you。 You too much bad fella。 Queensland you stop jail six
months two fella time。 Two fella time you steal。 All right； you
missionary。 You savvee one fella prayer？〃
〃Yes； me savvee prayer；〃 was the reply。
〃All right； then you pray now； short time little bit。 You say one fella
prayer damn quick； then me kill you。〃
Sheldon held the rifle on him and waited。 The black glanced around
at his fellows； but none moved to aid him。 They were intent upon the
coming spectacle； staring fascinated at the white man with death in his
hands who stood alone on the great veranda。 Sheldon has won； and he
knew it。 Astoa changed his weight irresolutely from one foot to the other。
He looked at the white man； and saw his eyes gle
