As he stood looking over the water to the camping place he saw Isbel. She had come out on the sands and she was standing1 with her hand shading her eyes. She must have been a witness of the whole tragedy, and she stood, motionless as a figure carved from stone—for a moment. Then she turned, and just as though something were in pursuit of her, she ran, making for the grove2, into which she disappeared.
Floyd swore under his breath. That the girl should have been allowed to see such a thing struck him as a monstrous3 fact. Gentle, kindly4, and willing she had been, almost unknown to himself, the one bright spot in his life on the island. The one human thing to keep life warm. Schumer had been a companion who had never grown into anything more than an acquaintance; Isbel, though he had talked to her as little as he would have talked to a dog, had been a friend. He did not[Pg 104] understand her at all; she had lived her own life, thought her own thoughts, and said little; a child living in a child's world of which he knew nothing, but she had somehow kept his heart warm, and now she had been allowed to see this, the doing to death of one of her own people in the broad light of day.
What could she know of the justice of the case? He turned to Schumer, who had come toward him now that everything was finished, and, taking him by the arm, led him to the weather rail; they leaned over the rail as they talked.
"Do you know," said Floyd, "that child has seen the whole of this business?"
"What child?"
"Isbel."
"Well, what of that?"
"What of that? She stood there watching it all, and then she ran off as if some one were going to kill her. It was brutal5 to let her see it; goodness knows she has stuck to us and done everything for us a mortal could do, and now we repay her by letting her see us hanging one of her own people."
Schumer seemed disturbed and irritated by this news.
"One cannot think of everything," said he; "you speak as though you were accusing me. Am I to do all the thinking? Well, she has seen what she has seen, and it cannot be helped, though I would not have had it for a good deal. That girl may be very useful to us yet, and we do not want to make an enemy of her. She will brood over this and say nothing, and then maybe let us have it in the back some time. Well, we cannot help it; we must remedy it somehow. There is no use[Pg 105] in talking about it with the business we have to do before us. First we must bring stores and some canvas to make tents for those labor6 men. Come, we will get the stuff together now and take it to them in the whaleboat; we will take two of the crew with us to help to row."
They rousted out some spare canvas from the sail room of the schooner7, and had it sent into the whaleboat, which was still alongside, with the two Solomon Islanders who had rowed her out sitting on the thwarts8 and staring up at the form dangling9 overhead.
It seemed to fill them with curiosity, nothing more; yet Floyd noticed that when Schumer spoke10 to them they jumped to attention as though they had been addressed by some powerful chief. The crew also ran about at his least sign, hauled with all their energy, and hung on his words.
Schumer did not go to the cache for provisions; he opened the schooner's lazaret. She was well supplied. Though the mutineers had killed their officers they had not sacked the provision room and broached11 the liquor as they would have done had they been Europeans.
"They were helpless, you see, like a duck with a broken wing," said Schumer. "Didn't know where they were; didn't know who would catch them. Kanakas will drink, but they don't fly to drink like our chaps; it's not grained in them."
They made a selection of tins and had them brought on deck and hoisted12 into the boat. Schumer added some sticks of tobacco, and they pushed off and rowed for the fishing ground.
The laborers13 waiting on the beach helped them to land. They were a very subdued14 lot indeed; the sight[Pg 106] of the hanging seemed to have put them under a spell as far as the white men were concerned, and they worked at the unlading of the stores without a word, yet with all their energy.
When the stuff was landed, Schumer began to talk to them. He asked them to choose a foreman, and, having consulted together for a few minutes, they picked out one of their number—a man with a huge shell ring through his nostrils15, split ear lobes16, and scar marks on his chest and all down his left arm.
Sru was the name of this individual, and Schumer, as he watched him step out from the ranks, regretted the choice. He suspected that they had chosen him, not because he was a favorite, but because he was feared. This is always bad, because in dealing17 with a mass of natives—and the same holds good for Europeans—authority has most to fear from the individual. It is the one man who makes the bother, and the man who is feared, if he is placed in a position of supremacy18, is more likely to make trouble than the man who is loved.
However, they had chosen a foreman at Schumer's request, and it was not for him to interfere19 with their choice. He set to and gave them directions as to how they were to make their camp, placed the provisions and tobacco under charge of the foreman, ordered them to be ready for work next morning at sunup, and then returned to the schooner, leaving the two laborers behind with the others.
On board he gave an order for the body to be lowered and cast in the lagoon20, where the sharks were patiently waiting for their prey21; then with Floyd he[Pg 107] returned to the camping ground, rowing themselves across in the ship's dinghy.
They had left on board the whole native crew with Joe to supervise them.
They beached the dinghy by the quarter boat, and walked up to the tent. Isbel was nowhere to be seen.
Schumer looked round for her, called, received no answer, and then, with his own hands, prepared to light the fire and make the supper.
The sun was now low down over the western roof, and the lagoon was filling with gold; the schooner, freed from the horror dangling at her yardarm, lay with her anchor chain taut22, and the golden ripples23 of the incoming tide racing24 past her sides. She made a beautiful picture with the sunset light upon her masts and spars, the gulls25 flying and flitting about her, crying as they wheeled.
It was the time of the full moon, and she rose with the dark. Schumer had gone to the tent, where he had placed the letters and papers taken from the captain's coat on board the Southern Cross. He returned with them in his hand, and, taking his seat by the embers of the fire, he began to examine them.
He did not require a lamp; one could have read the smallest print by the moonlight now flooding the world.
It was a poor enough find. There were half a dozen letters in a woman's handwriting, mostly referring to remittances26 received or expected. The addresses at the head of them told nothing. "One hundred and two North Street" was the invariable heading, and for date Monday or Tuesday, without hint of the month in which they were written. "My dear Joe," they began, and the ending was always the same, "Your loving[Pg 108] Mary." There were no envelopes to give a clew to the town they came from or the country.
"His loving Mary seemed to have a keen eye for the boodle," said Schumer. "Ah—what's this?" He had opened a letter with the printed heading: "Hakluyt & Son, Market Street, Sydney." The letter ran:
Dear Captain Walters: Owing to Captain Dennison's illness we are prepared to offer you the Southern Cross, which is now lying in harbor. If you will call upon us to-morrow at ten-thirty sharp we will be happy to talk over the matter with you and make all arrangements.
J. B. for Hakluyt & Son.
"That was written four months ago," said Schumer, looking at the date on the envelope. "They are the owners, and I believe I know Hakluyt & Son; pair of rogues27, as all shipowners are, but they are rich, if they are the people I take them for; anyhow it's a good find. We know the owners. You see, a schooner is not a thing you can pick up like a purse and put in your pocket. Unless you run her into a port where there is no law and sell her for the price of old truck what are you to do with her? Change her name? Well, what about your papers and your log, and how are you going to muzzle28 your crew, even if they are Kanakas? You have boards of trade and port officers everywhere. It's one of the troubles of civilization, but it has to be faced. Now, on the other hand, knowing the owners, we have the law not against us but on our side. The schooner is practically derelict; if we bring her into port we can claim compensation. I see a lot of clear sky ahead in this business if it is properly worked, and we must remember this: the fish-poisoning[Pg 109] business holds good; there's no use in having government inquiries29, though I don't even dread30 those; we tried our man fairly and we hanged him as an example to the others who seemed mutinous31."
"Look here," said Floyd. "I want to say something about that business. I don't deny that fellow got what he deserved, but there were others in the business, and there is no doubt at all that they had a lot of provocation32. But you hanged that man less for what he had done than for what he might do in the future."
"Exactly; and to show the others what they might expect, and to show them that they have got masters over them."
"You hanged him as a matter of policy."
"Just so. As a matter of policy first, and as a matter of punishment second."
"Well, that's where I'm against you."
"How?"
"Killing33 for policy's sake. I may be wrong, but it's against my nature to hang a chap so as to strike terror into others. However, he is hanged and done with, and there's no use saying any more on the matter."
"Not a bit," said Schumer, going on with the examination of the papers. There was nothing else of importance; some receipted bills, some old letters from chums dated four years back, an envelope with a theater program in it, and another envelope with a faded photograph of a woman in a low-necked dress, evidently the photograph of some actress that had struck Captain Walters' fancy.
"It's funny what you find among a man's belongings," said Schumer. "I've come across a Bible and a pious34 letter from his mother in the leavings of one of[Pg 110] the biggest blackguards in the world, and I met a man who told me he had gone through the gear of a parson who was laid out on a smallpox35 ship and found books and pictures that weren't holy. This Walters had an eye for a pretty girl, and sent his wife remittances pretty often; that's all his remains36 say of him. I reckon he was a poor sort, sentimental37, with a taste for the bottle and with no hold on his crew."
They put the papers away, and Schumer retired38 to bed, while Floyd, relighting his pipe, strolled over to the ocean side of the reef. At night, and especially when the moon was full, this was a place of terrific loneliness. One heard the voice of the wastes of the sea. He sat down on a lump of coral and watched the rollers coming in and the bursting of the foam39 under the moonlight.
The events of the day had depressed40 him, yet nothing could have shown better results, as regards their plans, than the day's work just finished. They wanted labor for the fishery, and labor had appeared on the island as though summoned by a genie41. They wanted a ship that would make no trouble, and here was a schooner floating in the lagoon, a vessel42 well found and seaworthy and without eyes or ears to spy on their doings.
Fortune had turned her face toward them and held out her hand, and had Floyd been listening to the story of himself and Schumer told as a yarn43 his commentary would have been "Lucky beggars!"
The reality was different, and it disclosed the brutality44 which attends success, especially the successful attempt to lift treasure that is in Nature's keeping.
Nothing could be more fascinating than the idea of[Pg 111] raiding one of Nature's great banks where she stores her pearls, her diamonds, or her gold, nothing more trying to all the endurance and good in man than the prosecution45 of that great burglary.
The hanging business had hit Floyd a hard blow; more than that, the thought of Schumer was now beginning to threaten his peace like a phantom46.
The running away of Isbel at the sight of the hanging had suddenly cast a new light upon Schumer and incidentally upon himself.
It was as though Innocence47 had spoken, condemning48 them both. And yet the man had deserved his fate. Floyd told himself this again and again; it was the knowledge of this that had prevented him from interfering49. He told himself that, even as a matter of policy and to protect their own lives against another outbreak headed by the same leader, the action was justified50.
And yet the phantom remained to disturb his thoughts. Schumer, the man who had bound himself up so closely in his life, the man whom he did not understand in the least, the man whose personality was so powerful, whose wishes always made themselves good, and whose word was practically law on that island.
Schumer was always right; that was part of the origin of his power; he had the genius to foresee everything that was coming and the head to prepare for eventualities. His suggestions were commands based on reason; his orders were worded so as to seem suggestions; his personality suffused51 everything, dominated all things, and made Floyd feel at times as[Pg 112] though he were an automaton52 worked by strings53 instead of a living man moved by will.
Yet never had Schumer stirred resentment54 in him.
That is the most magical power in a great and dominating personality. It does not irritate; it lulls55. Your little strong man gets his will—if he gets it—by setting everybody by the ears. Your big strong man works without friction56; his men become part of him, his motives57 part of them; when they are free to think they may vaguely58 wonder at their own subservience59 and even resent it in a way, yet they come under again to the will that bends them as surely as the wheat stalks come under to the wind when it blows.
Floyd, having smoked for a while, tapped the ashes out of his pipe and rose up. As he was returning to the tent he caught the glimmer60 of something white among the outer trees of the grove and came toward it. It passed among the trees, and he followed it, pushing branches of the hibiscus aside and trampling61 down the fern that grew here in profusion62.
He was following Isbel, and there, in a little glade63 amid the ferns, with her back to an artus tree, crouched64 in the moonlight, he brought her to bay.
There was something feline65 in her attitude, as though she were about to spring, and her eyes were fixed66 on him steadfastly67 as though watching for his next move.
"Isbel," he said, speaking loud enough for her to hear, yet not loud enough to attract the possible attention of Schumer in the tent near by, "what is the matter with you? Come, I am not going to hurt you. Don't you know me?"
He held out his hand, with the finger-tips pressed[Pg 113] together, as one holds out one's hand to an animal; then he took a step toward her.
She turned and whisked away round the tree, and he heard her movements among the bushes as she vanished from sight.
He came out of the grove and went back to the tent.
Next morning when he came out of the tent the first thing that struck his eye was Isbel. She had returned, and was setting the sticks for the fire as though nothing had occurred. But when her business was done she vanished again, reappearing only in time to help in the preparation of the evening meal.
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1
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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3
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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4
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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5
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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6
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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7
schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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thwarts
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| 阻挠( thwart的第三人称单数 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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9
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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10
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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11
broached
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| v.谈起( broach的过去式和过去分词 )；打开并开始用；用凿子扩大（或修光）；（在桶上）钻孔取液体 | |
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12
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
laborers
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| n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工 | |
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14
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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15
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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16
lobes
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| n.耳垂( lobe的名词复数 )；（器官的）叶；肺叶；脑叶 | |
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17
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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18
supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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19
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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20
lagoon
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| n.泻湖，咸水湖 | |
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21
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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22
taut
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| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
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23
ripples
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| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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24
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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25
gulls
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| n.鸥( gull的名词复数 )v.欺骗某人( gull的第三人称单数 ) | |
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26
remittances
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| n.汇寄( remittance的名词复数 )；汇款，汇款额 | |
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27
rogues
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| n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽 | |
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28
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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29
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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30
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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31
mutinous
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| adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变 | |
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32
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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33
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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34
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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35
smallpox
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| n.天花 | |
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36
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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37
sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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38
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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39
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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40
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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41
genie
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| n.妖怪，神怪 | |
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42
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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43
yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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44
brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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45
prosecution
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| n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营 | |
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46
phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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47
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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48
condemning
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| v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
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49
interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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50
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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51
suffused
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| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
automaton
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| n.自动机器，机器人 | |
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53
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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54
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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55
lulls
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| n.间歇期（lull的复数形式）vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的第三人称单数形式） | |
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56
friction
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| n.摩擦，摩擦力 | |
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57
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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58
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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59
subservience
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| n.有利，有益；从属（地位），附属性；屈从，恭顺；媚态 | |
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60
glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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61
trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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62
profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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63
glade
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| n.林间空地，一片表面有草的沼泽低地 | |
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64
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
feline
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| adj.猫科的 | |
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66
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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steadfastly
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| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
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