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〃It's going down。〃
〃Then you'd better sleep aboard to…night；〃 was Sheldon's judgment。
〃Never mind the funeral。 I'll see to poor Hughie。〃
〃A nigger was kicking the bucket when I dropped anchor。〃
The captain made the statement as a simple fact； but obviously waited
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for a suggestion。 The other felt a sudden wave of irritation rush through
him。
〃Dump him over；〃 he cried。 〃Great God； man！ don't you think I've
got enough graves ashore？〃
〃I just wanted to know； that was all；〃 the captain answered； in no wise
offended。
Sheldon regretted his childishness。
〃Oh； Captain Oleson；〃 he called。 〃If you can see your way to it；
come ashore to…morrow and lend me a hand。 If you can't； send the mate。〃
〃Right O。 I'll come myself。 Mr。 Johnson's dead； sir。 I forgot to tell
youthree days ago。〃
Sheldon watched the Jessie's captain go down the path； with waving
arms and loud curses calling upon God to sink the Solomons。 Next；
Sheldon noted the Jessie rolling lazily on the glassy swell； and beyond； in
the north…west； high over Florida Island； an alpine chain of dark…massed
clouds。 Then he turned to his partner； calling for boys to carry him into
the house。 But Hughie Drummond had reached the end。 His breathing
was imperceptible。 By mere touch； Sheldon could ascertain that the
dying man's temperature was going down。 It must have been going down
when the thermometer registered one hundred and seven。 He had burned
out。 Sheldon knelt beside him； the house…boys grouped around； their
white singlets and loin…cloths peculiarly at variance with their dark skins
and savage countenances； their huge ear…plugs and carved and glistening
nose…rings。 Sheldon tottered to his feet at last； and half…fell into the
steamer…chair。 Oppressive as the heat had been； it was now even more
oppressive。 It was difficult to breathe。 He panted for air。 The faces
and naked arms of the house…boys were beaded with sweat。
〃Marster；〃 one of them ventured； 〃big fella wind he come； strong fella
too much。〃
Sheldon nodded his head but did not look。 Much as he had loved
Hughie Drummond； his death； and the funeral it entailed； seemed an
intolerable burden to add to what he was already sinking under。 He had a
feelingnay； it was a certitudethat all he had to do was to shut his eyes
and let go； and that he would die； sink into immensity of rest。 He knew it；
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it was very simple。 All he had to do was close his eyes and let go； for he
had reached the stage where he lived by will alone。 His weary body
seemed torn by the oncoming pangs of dissolution。 He was a fool to
hang on。 He had died a score of deaths already； and what was the use of
prolonging it to two…score deaths before he really died。 Not only was he
not afraid to die； but he desired to die。 His weary flesh and weary spirit
desired it； and why should the flame of him not go utterly out？
But his mind that could will life or death； still pulsed on。 He saw the
two whale…boats land on the beach； and the sick； on stretchers or pick…a…
back； groaning and wailing； go by in lugubrious procession。 He saw the
wind making on the clouded horizon； and thought of the sick in the
hospital。 Here was something waiting his hand to be done； and it was not
in his nature to lie down and sleep； or die； when any task remained
undone。
The boss…boys were called and given their orders to rope down the
hospital with its two additions。 He remembered the spare anchor… chain；
new and black…painted； that hung under the house suspended from the
floor…beams； and ordered it to be used on the hospital as well。 Other
boys brought the coffin； a grotesque patchwork of packing…cases； and
under his directions they laid Hughie Drummond in it。 Half a dozen boys
carried it down the beach； while he rode on the back of another； his arms
around the black's neck； one hand clutching a prayer…book。
While he read the service； the blacks gazed apprehensively at the dark
line on the water； above which rolled and tumbled the racing clouds。 The
first breath of the wind； faint and silken； tonic with life； fanned through his
dry…baked body as he finished reading。 Then came the second breath of
the wind； an angry gust； as the shovels worked rapidly； filling in the sand。
So heavy was the gust that Sheldon； still on his feet； seized hold of his
man…horse to escape being blown away。 The Jessie was blotted out； and
a strange ominous sound arose as multitudinous wavelets struck foaming
on the beach。 It was like the bubbling of some colossal cauldron。 From
all about could be heard the dull thudding of falling cocoanuts。 The tall；
delicate…trunked trees twisted and snapped about like whip…lashes。 The
air seemed filled with their flying leaves； any one of which； stem…on could
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brain a man。 Then came the rain； a deluge； a straight； horizontal sheet
that poured along like a river； defying gravitation。 The black； with
Sheldon mounted on him； plunged ahead into the thick of it； stooping far
forward and low to the ground to avoid being toppled over backward。
〃'He's sleeping out and far to…night；'〃 Sheldon quoted； as he thought of
the dead man in the sand and the rainwater trickling down upon the cold
clay。
So they fought their way back up the beach。 The other blacks caught
hold of the man…horse and pulled and tugged。 There were among them
those whose fondest desire was to drag the rider in the sand and spring
upon him and mash him into repulsive nothingness。 But the automatic
pistol in his belt with its rattling； quick… dealing death； and the automatic；
death…defying spirit in the man himself； made them refrain and buckle