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deliberation。 A man must be more solid； more solid and steady… going
and less effervescent。 A man of Tudor's type gets on my nerves。 One
demands more repose from a man。〃
Joan felt that she did not quite agree with his judgment； and； somehow；
Sheldon caught her feeling and was disturbed。 He remembered noting
how her eyes had brightened as she talked with the newcomerconfound
it all； was he getting jealous？ he asked himself。 Why shouldn't her eyes
brighten？ What concern was it of his？
A second boat had been lowered； and the outfit of the shore party was
landed rapidly。 A dozen of the crew put the knocked…down boats
together on the beach。 There were five of these craftlean and narrow；
with flaring sides； and remarkably long。 Each was equipped with three
paddles and several iron…shod poles。
〃You chaps certainly seem to know river…work；〃 Sheldon told one of
the carpenters。
The man spat a mouthful of tobacco…juice into the white sand； and
answered； …
〃We use 'em in Alaska。 They're modelled after the Yukon poling…
boats； and you can bet your life they're crackerjacks。 This creek'll be a
snap alongside some of them Northern streams。 Five hundred pounds in
one of them boats； an' two men can snake it along in a way that'd surprise
you。〃
At sunset the Martha broke out her anchor and got under way； dipping
her flag and saluting with a bomb gun。 The Union Jack ran up and down
the staff； and Sheldon replied with his brass signal… cannon。 The miners
pitched their tents in the compound； and cooked on the beach； while Tudor
dined with Joan and Sheldon。
Their guest seemed to have been everywhere and seen everything and
met everybody； and； encouraged by Joan； his talk was largely upon his
own adventures。 He was an adventurer of adventurers； and by his own
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account had been born into adventure。 Descended from old New
England stock； his father a consul…general； he had been born in Germany；
in which country he had received his early education and his accent。
Then； still a boy； he had rejoined his father in Turkey； and accompanied
him later to Persia； his father having been appointed Minister to that
country。
Tudor had always been a wanderer； and with facile wit and quick vivid
description he leaped from episode and place to episode and place； relating
his experiences seemingly not because they were his； but for the sake of
their bizarreness and uniqueness； for the unusual incident or the laughable
situation。 He had gone through South American revolutions； been a
Rough Rider in Cuba； a scout in South Africa； a war correspondent in the
Russo…Japanese war。 He had mushed dogs in the Klondike； washed gold
from the sands of Nome； and edited a newspaper in San Francisco。 The
President of the United States was his friend。 He was equally at home in
the clubs of London and the Continent； the Grand Hotel at Yokohama； and
the selector's shanties in the Never…Never country。 He had shot big game
in Siam； pearled in the Paumotus； visited Tolstoy； seen the Passion Play；
and crossed the Andes on mule…back； while he was a living directory of
the fever holes of West Africa。
Sheldon leaned back in his chair on the veranda； sipping his coffee and
listening。 In spite of himself he felt touched by the charm of the man
who had led so varied a life。 And yet Sheldon was not comfortable。 It
seemed to him that the man addressed himself particularly to Joan。 His
words and smiles were directed impartially toward both of them； yet
Sheldon was certain； had the two men of them been alone； that the
conversation would have been along different lines。 Tudor had seen the
effect on Joan and deliberately continued the flow of reminiscence； netting
her in the glamour of romance。 Sheldon watched her rapt attention；
listened to her spontaneous laughter； quick questions； and passing
judgments； and felt grow within him the dawning consciousness that he
loved her。
So he was very quiet and almost sad； though at times he was aware of
a distinct irritation against his guest； and he even speculated as to what
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percentage of Tudor's tale was true and how any of it could be proved or
disproved。 In this connection； as if the scene had been prepared by a
clever playwright； Utami came upon the veranda to report to Joan the
capture of a crocodile in the trap they had made for her。
Tudor's face； illuminated by the match with which he was lighting his
cigarette； caught Utami's eye； and Utami forgot to report to his mistress。
〃Hello； Tudor；〃 he said； with a familiarity that startled Sheldon。
The Polynesian's hand went out； and Tudor； shaking it； was staring into
his face。
〃Who is it？ 〃 he asked。 〃I can't see you。〃
〃Utami。〃
〃And who the dickens is Utami？ Where did I ever meet you； my
man？〃
〃You no forget the Huahine？〃 Utami chided。 〃Last time Huahine
sail？〃
Tudor gripped the Tahitian's hand a second time and shook it with
genuine heartiness。
〃There was only one kanaka who came out of the Huahine that last
voyage； and that kanaka was Joe。 The deuce take it； man； I'm glad to see
you； though I never heard your new name before。〃
〃Yes； everybody speak me Joe along the Huahine。 Utami my name
all the time； just the same。〃
〃But what are you doing here？〃 Tudor asked； releasing the sailor's
hand and leaning eagerly forward。
〃Me sail along Missie Lackalanna her schooner Miele。 We go Tahiti；
Raiatea； Tahaa； Bora…Bora； Manua； Tutuila； Apia； Savaii； and Fiji Islands
plenty Fiji Islands。 Me stop along Missie Lackalanna in Solomons。
Very soon she catch other schooner。〃
〃He and I were the two survivors of the wreck of the Huahine；〃 Tudor
explained to the others。 〃Fifty…seven all told on board when we sailed
from Huapa； a