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to Sheldon。
The Tahitian watched Satan coolly； and when that sanguine…mouthed
creature lifted into the air in the final leap； the man's hand shot out。 It
was a fair grip on the lower jaw； and Satan described a half circle and was
flung to the rear； turning over in the air and falling heavily on his back。
Three times he leaped； and three times that grip on his jaw flung him to
defeat。 Then he contented himself with trotting at Matauare's heels；
eyeing him and sniffing him suspiciously。
〃It's all right； Satan； it's all right；〃 Sheldon assured him。 〃That good
fella belong along me。〃
But Satan dogged the Tahitian's movements for a full hour before he
made up his mind that the man was an appurtenance of the place。 Then he
turned his attention to the three house…boys； cornering Ornfiri in the
kitchen and rushing him against the hot stove； stripping the lava…lava from
Lalaperu when that excited youth climbed a veranda…post； and following
Viaburi on top the billiard… table； where the battle raged until Joan
managed a rescue。
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CHAPTER IXAS BETWEEN A
MAN AND A WOMAN
It was Satan's inexhaustible energy and good spirits that most
impressed them。 His teeth seemed perpetually to ache with desire； and in
lieu of black legs he husked the cocoanuts that fell from the trees in the
compound； kept the enclosure clear of intruding hens； and made a hostile
acquaintance with every boss…boy who came to report。 He was unable to
forget the torment of his puppyhood； wherein everlasting hatred of the
black had been woven into the fibres of consciousness； and such a terror
did he make himself that Sheldon was forced to shut him up in the living
room when； for any reason； strange natives were permitted in the
compound。 This always hurt Satan's feelings and fanned his wrath； so
that even the house…boys had to watch out for him when he was first
released。
Christian Young sailed away in the Minerva； carrying an invitation
（that would be delivered nobody knew when） to Tommy Jones to drop in
at Berande the next time he was passing。
〃What are your plans when you get to Sydney？〃 Sheldon asked； that
night； at dinner。
〃First I've heard that I'm going to Sydney；〃 Joan retorted。 〃I suppose
you've received information； by bush…telegraph； that that third assistant
understrapper and ex…sailorman at Tulagi is going to deport me as an
undesirable immigrant。〃
〃Oh； no； nothing of the sort； I assure you；〃 Sheldon began with
awkward haste； fearful of having offended； though he knew not how。 〃I
was just wondering； that was all。 You see； with the loss of the schooner
and 。 。 and all the rest 。 。 。 you understand 。 。 I was thinking that ifaif
hang it all； until you could communicate with your friends； my agents at
Sydney could advance you a loan； temporary you see； why I'd be only too
glad and all the rest； you know。 The proper〃
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But his jaw dropped and he regarded her irritably and with
apprehension。
〃What IS the matter？〃 he demanded； with a show of heat。 〃What
HAVE I done now？〃
Joan's eyes were bright with battle； the curve of her lips sharp with
mockery。
〃Certainly not the unexpected；〃 she said quietly。 〃Merely ignored me
in your ordinary； every…day； man…god； superior fashion。 Naturally it
counted for nothing； my telling you that I had no idea of going to Sydney。
Go to Sydney I must； because you； in your superior wisdom； have so
decreed。〃
She paused and looked at him curiously； as though he were some
strange breed of animal。
〃Of course I am grateful for your offer of assistance； but even that is
no salve to wounded pride。 For that matter； it is no more than one white
man should expect from another。 Shipwrecked mariners are always
helped along their way。 Only this particular mariner doesn't need any
help。 Furthermore； this mariner is not going to Sydney； thank you。〃
〃But what do you intend to do？〃
〃Find some spot where I shall escape the indignity of being patronized
and bossed by the superior sex。〃
〃Come now； that is putting it a bit too strongly。〃 Sheldon laughed；
but the strain in his voice destroyed the effect of spontaneity。 〃You know
yourself how impossible the situation is。〃
〃I know nothing of the sort； sir。 And if it is impossible； well； haven't
I achieved it？〃
〃But it cannot continue。 Really〃
〃Oh； yes； it can。 Having achieved it； I can go on achieving it。 I
intend to remain in the Solomons； but not on Berande。 To…morrow I am
going to take the whale…boat over to Pari…Sulay。 I was talking with
Captain Young about it。 He says there are at least four hundred acres；
and every foot of it good for planting。 Being an island； he says I won't
have to bother about wild pigs destroying the young trees。 All I'll have to
do is to keep the weeds hoed until the trees come into bearing。 First； I'll
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buy the island； next； get forty or fifty recruits and start clearing and
planting； and at the same time I'll run up a bungalow； and then you'll be
relieved of my embarrassing presencenow don't say that it isn't。〃
〃It is embarrassing；〃 he said bluntly。 〃But you refuse to see my point
of view； so there is no use in discussing it。 Now please forget all about it；
and consider me at your service concerning this 。 。 。 this project of yours。
I know more about cocoanut… planting than you do。 You speak like a
capitalist。 I don't know how much money you have； but I don't fancy you
are rolling in wealth； as you Americans say。 But I do know what it costs
to clear land。 Supp