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wrecking business。 Everybody says you're a crackerjack sailor…man'that's
what she said； 'crackerjack。' And I went； in her whale…boat； Adamu
Adam steering and looking as solemn as a funeral。
〃On the way she told me about the Martha； and how she'd bought her；
and was going to float her。 She said she'd chartered the Emily； and was
sailing as soon as I could get the Flibberty underway。 It struck me that
her gammon was reasonable enough； and I agreed to pull out for Berande
right O； and get your orders to go along to Poonga…Poonga。 But she said
there wasn't a second to be lost by any such foolishness； and that I was to
sail direct for Poonga… Poonga； and that if I couldn't take her word that she
was your partner； she'd get along without me and the Flibberty。 And right
there's where she fooled me。
〃Down in the Emily's cabin was them three soaksyou know them
Fowler and Curtis and that Brahms chap。 'Have a drink；' says she。 I
thought they looked surprised when she unlocked the whisky locker and
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sent a nigger for the glasses and water…monkey。 But she must have
tipped them off unbeknownst to me； and they knew just what to do。
'Excuse me；' she says； 'I'm going on deck a minute。' Now that minute
was half an hour。 I hadn't had a drink in ten days。 I'm an old man and
the fever has weakened me。 Then I took it on an empty stomach； too；
and there was them three soaks setting me an example； they arguing for
me to take the Flibberty to Poonga…Poonga； an' me pointing out my duty to
the contrary。 The trouble was； all the arguments were pointed with
drinks； and me not being a drinking man； so to say； and weak from
fever 。 。 。
〃Well； anyway； at the end of the half…hour down she came again and
took a good squint at me。 'That'll do nicely；' I remember her saying； and
with that she took the whisky bottles and hove them overside through the
companionway。 'That's the last； she said to the three soaks； 'till the
Martha floats and you're back in Guvutu。 It'll be a long time between
drinks。' And then she laughed。
〃She looked at me and saidnot to me； mind you； but to the soaks： 'It's
time this worthy man went ashore'me！ worthy man！ 'Fowler；' she said
you know； just like a straight order； and she didn't MISTER himit was
plain Fowler'Fowler；' she said； 'just tell Adamu Adam to man the whale…
boat； and while he's taking Captain Oleson ashore have your boat put me
on the Flibberty。 The three of you sail with me； so pack your dunnage。
And the one of you that shows up best will take the mate's billet。 Captain
Oleson doesn't carry a mate； you know。'
〃I don't remember much after that。 All hands got me over the side；
and it seems to me I went to sleep； sitting in the stern…sheets and watching
that Adamu steer。 Then I saw the Flibberty's mainsail hoisting； and heard
the clank of her chain coming in； and I woke up。 'Here； put me on the
Flibberty；' I said to Adamu。 'I put you on the beach；' said he。 'Missie
Lackalanna say beach plenty good for you。' Well； I let out a yell and
reached for the steering… sweep。 I was doing my best by my owners； you
see。 Only that Adamu gives me a shove down on the bottom…boards； puts
one foot on me to hold me down； and goes on steering。 And that's all。
The shock of the whole thing brought on fever。 And now I've come to
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find out whether I'm skipper of the Flibberty； or that chit of yours with her
pirating； heathen boat's…crew。〃
〃Never mind； skipper。 You can take a vacation on pay。〃 Sheldon
spoke with more assurance than he felt。 〃If Miss Lackland； who is my
partner； has seen fit to take charge of the Flibberty…Gibbet； why； it is all
right。 As you will agree； there was no time to be lost if the Martha was to
be got off。 It is a bad reef； and any considerable sea would knock her
bottom out。 You settle down here； skipper； and rest up and get the fever
out of your bones。 When the Flibberty…Gibbet comes back； you'll take
charge again； of course。〃
After Dr。 Welshmere and the Apostle departed and Captain Oleson had
turned in for a sleep in a veranda hammock； Sheldon opened Joan's letter。
DEAR MR。 SHELDON；Please forgive me for stealing the
Flibberty… Gibbet。 I simply had to。 The Martha means everything to us。
Think of it； only fifty…five pounds for her； two hundred and seventy…five
dollars。 If I don't save her； I know I shall be able to pay all expenses out
of her gear； which the natives will not have carried off。 And if I do save
her； it is the haul of a life… time。 And if I don't save her； I'll fill the Emily
and the Flibberty…Gibbet with recruits。 Recruits are needed right now on
Berande more than anything else。
And please； please don't be angry with me。 You said I shouldn't go
recruiting on the Flibberty； and I won't。 I'll go on the Emily。
I bought two cows this afternoon。 That trader at Nogi died of fever；
and I bought them from his partner； Sam Willis his name is； who agrees to
deliver themmost likely by the Minerva next time she is down that way。
Berande has been long enough on tinned milk。
And Dr。 Welshmere has agreed to get me some orange and lime trees
from the mission station at Ulava。 He will deliver them the next trip of
the Apostle。 If the Sydney steamer arrives before I get back； plant the
sweet corn she will bring between the young trees on the high bank of the
Balesuna。 The current is eating in against that bank； and you should do
something to save it。
I have ordered some fig…trees and loquats； too； from Sydney。 Dr。
Welshmere will bring some mango…seeds。 They are big trees and require
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plenty of room。
The Martha is registered 110 tons。 She is the biggest schooner in the
Solomons； and the best。 I saw a little of her lines and guess the rest。
She will sail l