adventure(冒险)-第6章
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opening his eyes； he saw what he took to be an hallucination。 Not far out；
and coming in across the Jessie's anchorage； he saw a whale…boat's nose
thrust skyward on a smoky crest and disappear naturally； as an actual
whale…boat's nose should disappear； as it slid down the back of the sea。
He knew that no whale…boat should be out there； and he was quite certain
no men in the Solomons were mad enough to be abroad in such a storm。
But the hallucination persisted。 A minute later； chancing to open his
eyes； he saw the whale…boat； full length； and saw right into it as it rose on
the face of a wave。 He saw six sweeps at work； and in the stern； clearly
outlined against the overhanging wall of white； a man who stood erect；
gigantic； swaying with his weight on the steering…sweep。 This he saw；
and an eighth man who crouched in the bow and gazed shoreward。 But
what startled Sheldon was the sight of a woman in the stern…sheets；
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between the stroke…oar and the steersman。 A woman she was； for a braid
of her hair was flying； and she was just in the act of recapturing it and
stowing it away beneath a hat that for all the world was like his own
〃Baden…Powell。〃
The boat disappeared behind the wave； and rose into view on the face
of the following one。 Again he looked into it。 The men were dark…
skinned； and larger than Solomon Islanders； but the woman； he could
plainly see； was white。 Who she was； and what she was doing there；
were thoughts that drifted vaguely through his consciousness。 He was
too sick to be vitally interested； and； besides； he had a half feeling that it
was all a dream； but he noted that the men were resting on their sweeps；
while the woman and the steersman were intently watching the run of seas
behind them。
〃Good boatmen；〃 was Sheldon's verdict； as he saw the boat leap
forward on the face of a huge breaker； the sweeps plying swiftly to keep
her on that front of the moving mountain of water that raced madly for the
shore。 It was well done。 Part full of water； the boat was flung upon the
beach； the men springing out and dragging its nose to the gate…posts。
Sheldon had called vainly to the house…boys； who； at the moment； were
dosing the remaining patients in the hospital。 He knew he was unable to
rise up and go down the path to meet the newcomers； so he lay back in the
steamer…chair； and watched for ages while they cared for the boat。 The
woman stood to one side； her hand resting on the gate。 Occasionally
surges of sea water washed over her feet； which he could see were encased
in rubber sea…boots。 She scrutinized the house sharply； and for some time
she gazed at him steadily。 At last； speaking to two of the men； who
turned and followed her； she started up the path。
Sheldon attempted to rise； got half up out of his chair； and fell back
helplessly。 He was surprised at the size of the men； who loomed like
giants behind her。 Both were six…footers； and they were heavy in
proportion。 He had never seen islanders like them。 They were not black
like the Solomon Islanders； but light brown； and their features were larger；
more regular； and even handsome。
The womanor girl； rather； he decidedwalked along the veranda
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toward him。 The two men waited at the head of the steps； watching
curiously。 The girl was angry； he could see that。 Her gray eyes were
flashing； and her lips were quivering。 That she had a temper； was his
thought。 But the eyes were striking。 He decided that they were not gray
after all； or； at least； not all gray。 They were large and wide apart； and
they looked at him from under level brows。 Her face was cameo…like； so
clear cut was it。 There were other striking things about herthe cowboy
Stetson hat； the heavy braids of brown hair； and the long…barrelled 38
Colt's revolver that hung in its holster on her hip。
〃Pretty hospitality； I must say；〃 was her greeting； 〃letting strangers
sink or swim in your front yard。〃
〃II beg your pardon；〃 he stammered； by a supreme effort dragging
himself to his feet。
His legs wobbled under him； and with a suffocating sensation he began
sinking to the floor。 He was aware of a feeble gratification as he saw
solicitude leap into her eyes； then blackness smote him； and at the moment
of smiting him his thought was that at last； and for the first time in his life；
he had fainted。
The ringing of the big bell aroused him。 He opened his eyes and
found that he was on the couch indoors。 A glance at the clock told him
that it was six； and from the direction the sun's rays streamed into the
room he knew that it was morning。 At first he puzzled over something
untoward he was sure had happened。 Then on the wall he saw a Stetson
hat hanging； and beneath it a full cartridge…belt and a long…barrelled 38
Colt's revolver。 The slender girth of the belt told its feminine story； and
he remembered the whale…boat of the day before and the gray eyes that
flashed beneath the level brows。 She it must have been who had just
rung the bell。 The cares of the plantation rushed upon him； and he sat up
in bed； clutching at the wall for support as the mosquito screen lurched
dizzily around him。 He was still sitting there； holding on； with eyes
closed； striving to master his giddiness； when he heard her voice。
〃You'll lie right down again； sir；〃 she said。
It was sharply imperative； a voice used to command。 At the same
time one hand pressed him back toward the pillow while the other caught
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him from behind and eased him down。
〃You've been unconscious for twenty…four hours now；〃 she went on；
〃and I have taken charge。 When I say the word you'll get up； and not
until then。 Now； what medicine do you take？quinine？ Here are ten
grains。 That's right。 You'll make a good patient。〃
〃My dear madame；〃 he began。
〃You musn't speak；〃 she interrupted； 〃that is； in protest。 Otherwise；
you can talk。〃
〃But the plantation〃
〃A dead man is of no use on a plantation。 Don't you want to know
about ME？ My vanity is hurt。 Here am I； just through my first
shipwreck； and here are you； not the least bit curious； talking about your
miserable plantation。 Can't you see that I am just bursting to tell
somebody； anybody； about my shipwreck？〃
He smiled； it was the first time in weeks。 And he smiled； not so
much at what she said； as at the way she said itthe whimsical expression
of her face； the laughter in her eyes； and the several tiny lines of humour
that drew in at the corners。 He was curiously wondering as to what her
age was； as he said aloud：
〃Yes； tell me； please。〃
〃That I will notnot now；〃 she retorted； with a toss of the head。 〃I'll
find somebody to tell my story to who does not have to be asked。 Also； I
want information。 I managed to find out what time to ring the bell to turn
the hands to； and that is about all。 I don't understand the ridiculous
speech of your people。 What time do they knock off？〃
〃At elevengo on again at one。〃
〃That will do； thank you。 And now； where do you keep the key to the
provisions？ I want to feed my men。〃
〃Your men！〃 he gasped。 〃On tinned goods！ No； no。 Let them go
out and eat with my boys。〃
Her eyes flashed as on the day before； and he saw again the imperative
expression on her face。
〃That I won't； my men are MEN。 I've been out to your miserable
barracks and watched them eat。 Faugh！ Potatoes！ Nothing but
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potatoes！ No salt！ Nothing！ Only potatoes！ I may have been
mistaken； but I thought I understood them to say that that was all they ever
got to eat。 Two meals a day and every day in the week？〃
He nodded。
〃Well； my men wouldn't stand that for a single day； much less a whole
week。 Where is the key？〃
〃Hanging on that clothes…hook under the clock。〃
He gave it easily enough； but as she was reaching down the key she
heard him say：
〃Fancy niggers and tinned provisions。〃
This time she really was angry。 The blood was in her cheeks as she
turned on him。
〃My men are not niggers。 The sooner you understand that the better
for our acquaintance。 As for the tinned goods； I'll pay for all they eat。
Please don't worry about that。 Worry is not good for you in your
condition。 And I won't stay any longer than I have to… …just long enough
to get you on your feet； and not go away with the feeling of having
deserted a white man。〃
〃You're American； aren't you？〃 he asked quietly。
The question disconcerted her for the moment。
〃Yes；〃 she vouchsafed； with a defiant look。 〃Why？〃
〃Nothing。 I merely thought so。〃
〃Anything further？〃
He shook his head。
〃Why？〃 he asked。
〃Oh； nothing。 I thought you might have something pleasant to say。〃
〃My name is Sheldon； David Sheldon；〃 he said； with direct relevance；
holding out a thin h
