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CHAPTER XIIMR。 MORGAN
AND MR。 RAFF
Sheldon was back in the plantation superintending the building of a
bridge； when the schooner Malakula ran in close and dropped anchor。 Joan
watched the taking in of sail and the swinging out of the boat with a
sailor's interest； and herself met the two men who came ashore。 While
one of the house…boys ran to fetch Sheldon； she had the visitors served
with whisky and soda； and sat and talked with them。
They seemed awkward and constrained in her presence； and she
caught first one and then the other looking at her with secret curiosity。 She
felt that they were weighing her； appraising her； and for the first time the
anomalous position she occupied on Berande sank sharply home to her。
On the other hand； they puzzled her。 They were neither traders nor
sailors of any type she had known。 Nor did they talk like gentlemen；
despite the fact that there was nothing offensive in their bearing and that
the veneer of ordinary social nicety was theirs。 Undoubtedly； they were
men of affairs business men of a sort； but what affairs should they have
in the Solomons； and what business on Berande？ The elder one； Morgan；
was a huge man； bronzed and moustached； with a deep bass voice and an
almost guttural speech； and the other； Raff； was slight and effeminate； with
nervous hands and watery； washed…out gray eyes； who spoke with a faint
indefinable accent that was hauntingly reminiscent of the Cockney； and
that was yet not Cockney of any brand she had ever encountered。
Whatever they were； they were self…made men； she concluded； and she felt
the impulse to shudder at thought of falling into their hands in a business
way。 There； they would be merciless。
She watched Sheldon closely when he arrived； and divined that he was
not particularly delighted to see them。 But see them he must； and so
pressing was the need that； after a little perfunctory general conversation；
he led the two men into the stuffy office。 Later in the afternoon； she asked
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Lalaperu where they had gone。
〃My word；〃 quoth Lalaperu； 〃plenty walk about； plenty look 'm。 Look
'm tree； look 'm ground belong tree； look 'm all fella bridge； look 'm copra…
house； look 'm grass…land； look 'm river； look 'm whale…boatmy word；
plenty big fella look 'm too much。〃
〃What fella man them two fella？〃 she queried。
〃Big fella marster along white man；〃 was the extent of his description。
But Joan decided that they were men of importance in the Solomons；
and that their examination of the plantation and of its accounts was of
sinister significance。
At dinner no word was dropped that gave a hint of their errand。 The
conversation was on general topics； but Joan could not help noticing the
troubled； absent expression that occasionally came into Sheldon's eyes。
After coffee； she left them； and at midnight； from across the compound；
she could hear the low murmur of their voices and see glowing the fiery
ends of their cigars。 Up early herself； she found they had already
departed on another tramp over the plantation。
〃What you think？〃 she asked Viaburi。
〃Sheldon marster he go along finish short time little bit；〃 was the
answer。
〃What you think？〃 she asked Ornfiri。
〃Sheldon marster big fella walk about along Sydney。 Yes； me t'ink so。
He finish along Berande。〃
All day the examination of the plantation and the discussion went on；
and all day the skipper of the Malakula sent urgent messages ashore for
the two men to hasten。 It was not until sunset that they went down to the
boat； and even then a final talk of nearly an hour took place on the beach。
Sheldon was combating something that she could plainly see； and that
his two visitors were not giving in she could also plainly see。
〃What name？〃 she asked lightly； when Sheldon sat down to dinner。
He looked at her and smiled； but it was a very wan and wistful smile。
〃My word；〃 she went on。 〃One big fella talk。 Sun he go down
talk…talk； sun he come uptalk…talk； all the time talk…talk。 What name
that fella talk…talk？
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〃Oh； nothing much。〃 He shrugged his shoulders。 〃They were trying
to buy Berande； that was all。〃
She looked at him challengingly。
〃It must have been more than that。 It was you who wanted to sell。〃
〃Indeed； no； Miss Lackland； I assure you that I am far from desiring to
sell。〃
〃Don't let us fence about it；〃 she urged。 〃Let it be straight talk
between us。 You're in trouble。 I'm not a fool。 Tell me。 Besides； I may
be able to help； toto suggest something。〃
In the pause that followed； he seemed to debate； not so much whether
he would tell her； as how to begin to tell her。
〃I'm American； you see；〃 she persisted； 〃and our American heritage is
a large parcel of business sense。 I don't like it myself； but I know I've got
itat least more than you have。 Let us talk it over and find a way out。
How much do you owe？〃
〃A thousand pounds； and a few trifles oversmall bills； you know。
Then； too； thirty of the boys finish their time next week； and their balances
will average ten pounds each。 But what is the need of bothering your
head with it？ Really； you know〃
〃What is Berande worth？right now？〃
〃Whatever Morgan and Raff are willing to pay for it。〃 A glance at
her hurt expression decided him。 〃Hughie and I have sunk eight
thousand pounds in it； and our time。 It is a good property； and worth
more than that。 But it has three years to run before its returns begin to
come in。 That is why Hughie and I engaged in trading and recruiting。
The Jessie and our stations came very near to paying the running expenses
of Berande。〃
〃And Morgan and Raff offered you what？〃
〃A thousand pounds clear； after paying all bills。〃
〃The thieves！〃 she cried。
〃No； they're good business men； that is all。 As they told me； a thing
is worth no more than one is willing to pay or