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his clean…cut mobile features were an index to his slightest shades of
feeling and expression。 He bubbled with enthusiasms； and his faintest
smile or lightest laugh seemed spontaneous and genuine。 But it was only
occasionally at first that he spoke； for Von Blix told their story and stated
their errand。
They were on a gold…hunting expedition。 He was the leader； and
Tudor was his lieutenant。 All handsand there were twenty…eight were
shareholders； in varying proportions； in the adventure。 Several were sailors；
but the large majority were miners； culled from all the camps from Mexico
to the Arctic Ocean。 It was the old and ever…untiring pursuit of gold； and
they had come to the Solomons to get it。 Part of them； under the
leadership of Tudor； were to go up the Balesuna and penetrate the
mountainous heart of Guadalcanar； while the Martha； under Von Blix；
sailed away for Malaita to put through similar exploration。
〃And so；〃 said Von Blix； 〃for Mr。 Tudor's expedition we must have
some black…boys。 Can we get them from you？〃
〃Of course we will pay；〃 Tudor broke in。 〃You have only to charge
what you consider them worth。 You pay them six pounds a year； don't
you？〃
〃In the first place we can't spare them；〃 Sheldon answered。 〃We are
short of them on the plantation as it is。〃
〃WE？〃 Tudor asked quickly。 〃Then you are a firm or a partnership？ I
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understood at Guvutu that you were alone； that you had lost your partner。〃
Sheldon inclined his head toward Joan； and as he spoke she felt that he
had become a trifle stiff。
〃Miss Lackland has become interested in the plantation since then。 But
to return to the boys。 We can't spare them； and besides； they would be of
little use。 You couldn't get them to accompany you beyond Binu； which
is a short day's work with the boats from here。 They are Malaita…men； and
they are afraid of being eaten。 They would desert you at the first
opportunity。 You could get the Binu men to accompany you another
day's journey； through the grass… lands； but at the first roll of the foothills
look for them to turn back。 They likewise are disinclined to being eaten。〃
〃Is it as bad as that？〃 asked Von Blix。
〃The interior of Guadalcanar has never been explored；〃 Sheldon
explained。 〃The bushmen are as wild men as are to be found anywhere
in the world to…day。 I have never seen one。 I have never seen a man
who has seen one。 They never come down to the coast； though their
scouting parties occasionally eat a coast native who has wandered too far
inland。 Nobody knows anything about them。 They don't even use
tobaccohave never learned its use。 The Austrian expeditionscientists；
you knowgot part way in before it was cut to pieces。 The monument is
up the beach there several miles。 Only one man got back to the coast to
tell the tale。 And now you have all I or any other man knows of the
inside of Guadalcanar。〃
〃But goldhave you heard of gold？〃 Tudor asked impatiently。 〃Do
you know anything about gold？〃
Sheldon smiled； while the two visitors hung eagerly upon his words。
〃You can go two miles up the Balesuna and wash colours from the
gravel。 I've done it often。 There is gold undoubtedly back in the
mountains。〃
Tudor and Von Blix looked triumphantly at each other。
〃Old Wheatsheaf's yarn was true； then；〃 Tudor said； and Von Blix
nodded。 〃And if Malaita turns out as well〃
Tudor broke off and looked at Joan。
〃It was the tale of this old beachcomber that brought us here；〃 he
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explained。 〃Von Blix befriended him and was told the secret。〃 He
turned and addressed Sheldon。 〃I think we shall prove that white men
have been through the heart of Guadalcanar long before the time of the
Austrian expedition。〃
Sheldon shrugged his shoulders。
〃We have never heard of it down here；〃 he said simply。 Then he
addressed Von Blix。 〃As to the boys； you couldn't use them farther than
Binu； and I'll lend you as many as you want as far as that。 How many of
your party are going； and how soon will you start？〃
〃Ten；〃 said Tudor； 〃nine men and myself。〃
〃And you should be able to start day after to…morrow；〃 Von Blix said
to him。 〃The boats should practically be knocked together this afternoon。
To…morrow should see the outfit portioned and packed。 As for the
Martha； Mr。 Sheldon； we'll rush the stuff ashore this afternoon and sail by
sundown。〃
As the two men returned down the path to their boat； Sheldon regarded
Joan quizzically。
〃There's romance for you；〃 he said； 〃and adventuregold…hunting
among the cannibals。〃
〃A title for a book；〃 she cried。 〃Or； better yet； 'Gold…Hunting Among
the Head…Hunters。' My！ wouldn't it sell！〃
〃And now aren't you sorry you became a cocoanut planter？〃 he teased。
〃Think of investing in such an adventure。〃
〃If I did；〃 she retorted； 〃Von Blix wouldn't be finicky about my joining
in the cruise to Malaita。〃
〃I don't doubt but what he would jump at it。〃
〃What do you think of them？〃 she asked。
〃Oh； old Von Blix is all right； a solid sort of chap in his fashion； but
Tudor is fly…awaytoo much on the surface； you know。 If it came to being
wrecked on a desert island； I'd prefer Von Blix。〃
〃I don't quite understand；〃 Joan objected。 〃What have you against
Tudor？〃
〃You remember Browning's 'Last Duchess'？〃
She nodded。
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〃Well； Tudor reminds me of her〃
〃But she was delightful。〃
〃So she was。 But she was a woman。 One expects something
different from a manmore control； you know； more restraint； more
deliberation。 A man must be more solid； more solid and steady… going
and less effervescent。 A man of Tudor's typ