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！
To eat their kind and take heads is good morality for them。〃
〃But they should be taught not to take white men's heads；〃 Sheldon
argued。
She nodded approval； and said； 〃If we find one head we'll burn the
village。 Hey； you； Charley！ What fella place head he stop？〃
〃S'pose he stop along devil…devil house；〃 was the answer。 〃That big
178
… Page 179…
ADVENTURE
fella house； he devil…devil。〃
It was the largest house in the village； ambitiously ornamented with
fancy…plaited mats and king…posts carved into obscene and monstrous
forms half…human and half…animal。 Into it they went； in the obscure light
stumbling across the sleeping…logs of the village bachelors and knocking
their heads against strings of weird votive… offerings； dried and shrivelled；
that hung from the roof…beams。 On either side were rude gods； some
grotesquely carved； others no more than shapeless logs swathed in rotten
and indescribably filthy matting。 The air was mouldy and heavy with
decay； while strings of fish…tails and of half…cleaned dog and crocodile
skulls did not add to the wholesomeness of the place。
In the centre； crouched before a slow…smoking fire； in the littered ashes
of a thousand fires； was an old man who blinked apathetically at the
invaders。 He was extremely oldso old that his withered skin hung
about him in loose folds and did not look like skin。 His hands were bony
claws； his emaciated face a sheer death's…head。 His task； it seemed； was to
tend the fire； and while he blinked at them he added to it a handful of dead
and mouldy wood。 And hung in the smoke they found the object of their
search。 Joan turned and stumbled out hastily； deathly sick； reeling into
the sunshine and clutching at the air for support。
〃See if all are there；〃 she called back faintly； and tottered aimlessly on
for a few steps； breathing the air in great draughts and trying to forget the
sight she had seen。
Upon Sheldon fell the unpleasant task of tallying the heads。 They
were all there； nine of them； white men's heads； the faces of which he had
been familiar with when their owners had camped in Berande compound
and set up the poling…boats。 Binu Charley； hugely interested； lent a hand；
turning the heads around for identification； noting the hatchet…strokes； and
remarking the distorted expressions。 The Poonga…Poonga men gloated as
usual； and as usual the Tahitians were shocked and angry； several of them
cursing and muttering in undertones。 So angry was Matapuu； that he
strode suddenly over to the fire…tender and kicked him in the ribs；
whereupon the old savage emitted an appalling squeal； pig…like in its wild…
animal fear； and fell face downward in the ashes and lay quivering in
179
… Page 180…
ADVENTURE
momentary expectation of death。
Other heads； thoroughly sun…dried and smoke…cured； were found in
abundance； but； with two exceptions； they were the heads of blacks。 So
this was the manner of hunting that went on in the dark and evil forest；
Sheldon thought； as he regarded them。 The atmosphere of the place was
sickening； yet he could not forbear to pause before one of Binu Charley's
finds。
〃Me savvee black Mary； me savvee white Mary；〃 quoth Binu Charley。
〃Me no savvee that fella Mary。 What name belong him？〃
Sheldon looked。 Ancient and withered； blackened by many years of
the smoke of the devil…devil house； nevertheless the shrunken； mummy…
like face was unmistakably Chinese。 How it had come there was the
mystery。 It was a woman's head； and he had never heard of a Chinese
woman in the history of the Solomons。 From the ears hung two…inch…
long ear…rings； and at Sheldon's direction the Binu man rubbed away the
accretions of smoke and dirt； and from under his fingers appeared the
polished green of jade； the sheen of pearl； and the warm red of Oriental
gold。 The other head； equally ancient； was a white man's； as the heavy
blond moustache； twisted and askew on the shrivelled upper lip； gave
sufficient advertisement； and Sheldon wondered what forgotten beche…de…
mer fisherman or sandalwood trader had gone to furnish that ghastly
trophy。
Telling Binu Charley to remove the ear…rings； and directing the
Poonga…Poonga men to carry out the old fire…tender； Sheldon cleared the
devil…devil house and set fire to it。 Soon every house was blazing merrily；
while the ancient fire…tender sat upright in the sunshine blinking at the
destruction of his village。 From the heights above； where were evidently
other villages； came the booming of drums and a wild blowing of war…
conchs； but Sheldon had dared all he cared to with his small following。
Besides； his mission was accomplished。 Every member of Tudor's
expedition was accounted for； and it was a long； dark way out of the head…
hunters' country。 Releasing their two prisoners； who leaped away like
startled deer； they plunged down the steep path into the steaming jungle。
Joan； still shocked by what she had seen； walked on in front of
180
… Page 181…
ADVENTURE
Sheldon； subdued and silent。 At the end of half an hour she turned to him
with a wan smile and said； …
〃I don't think I care to visit the head…hunters any more。 It's adventure；
I know； but there is such a thing as having too much of a good thing。
Riding around the plantation will henceforth be good enough for me； or
perhaps salving another Martha； but the bushmen of Guadalcanar need
never worry for fear that I shall visit them again。 I shall have nightmares
for months to come； I know I shall。 Ugh！the horrid beasts！〃
That night found them back in camp with Tudor； who； while improved；
would still have to be carried down on a stretcher。 The swelling of the
Poonga…Poonga man's shoulder was going down slowly； but Arahu still
limped on his thorn…poisoned foot。
Two days later they rejoined the boats at Carli； and at high noon of the
third day； travelling with the current and shooting the rapids； the
expedition arrived at Berande。 Joan； with a sigh； unbuckled her revolver…
belt and hung it on the nail in the living… room； while Sheldon； who had
been lurking about for the sheer joy of seeing her perform that particular
home…coming act； sighed； too； with satisfaction。 But the home…coming
was not all joy to him； for Joan set about nursing Tudor； and spent much
time on the veranda where he lay in the hammock under the mosquito…
netting。
181
… Page 182…
ADVENTURE
CHAPTER XXVIBURNING
DAYLIGHT
The ten days of Tudor's convalescence that followed were peaceful
days on Berande。 The work of the plantation went on like clock… work。
With the crushing of the premature outbreak of Gogoomy and his
following； all insubordination seemed to have vanished。 Twenty more of
the old…time boys； their term of service up； were carried away by the
Martha； and the fresh stock of labour； treated fairly； was proving of
excellent quality。 As Sheldon rode about the plantation； acknowledging
to himself the comfort and convenience of a horse and wondering why he
had not thought of getting one himself； he pondered the various
improvements for which Joan was responsiblethe splendid Poonga…
Poonga recruits； the fruits and vegetables； the Martha herself； snatched
from the sea for a song and earn