Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-11-16
Copyright, 1910. BY Street. = S1ah
Copyright. 1911. by the Macmillan Coupaa

Blk. sailed away FOR NIalaita to pu
through similar exploration.
And So" said Won Blk. "for NJ
} Tudor's expedition we must have som
black boys. Can we get them frol
you"
"1n the first place we can't spar
them" Sheldon answered. I'VE ar
short of them on the plantation as
Is"
"We?' Tudor asked quickly. "The1
you are firm or partnership?
understood at Guvutu that you wcr
alone, that you had lost your partner.
Sheldon inclined his head toward
Joan, and as he spoke she felt that b.
had become a trifle stiff.
Miss Lakeland has become inter
ested in the plantation since then. Blu
20 return to the boys. We can't spare
them, and. besides. they would be OF
little USE You couldn't get them tt
accompany you beyond Binu, which is
short days 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 &C.
company you another days journey
through the grass lands. but at the first
roll Of the foothills look for them to
turn back. They likewise are disin
clined to being eaten.'
us it as bad as that?" asked Won
Blk.
"The interior of Guadalcanar has
never been explored" Sheldon explain.
ed. 'The bushmen are as wild men
as are to be found anywhere In the
world today. have never seen one.
l have never seen man who has seen
one. The Austrian expedition-scient-
lists, you know-got 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 oil
] or any other man knows Of the inside
Of Guadalcanar."
"But gold-have you heard Of gold?"
Tudor asked impatiently. do you
know anything about gold?"
Sheldon smiled. while the two visitors
hung eagerly upon bis words.
you can go two miles up the Bale
suna and wash coIors from the gravel.
I've done it often. There is gold un-
doubtedly back in the mountains"
Tudor and Won Blk looked trium
phantly at each other.
"Old Wheatsheaf's yarn was true.
then" Tudor said. and Won Blk nod
ded. "And If Malaita turns out as
well"-
Tudor broke of and looked at Joan.
1T was the tale Of this old beach
comber that brought US here" he ex-
planned. "Von Blk befriended him
and was told the secret" He turned
and addressed Sheldon. Il think we
shall prove that white men have been
through the heart Of Guadalcanar
long before the time Of the Austrian
expedition
Sheldon shrugged bis shoulders.
I'VE have never heard of it down
here" he said simply. Then he ad.
dressed Won Blk. LAS 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; mine men and
myself
And you should be able to start
day after tomorrow" Won Blk said
to him. The boats should practically
be knocked together this afternoon.
Tomorrow should see the outfit por-
toned and packed. AS for the Martha.
Mr.. Sheldon. we'll rush the stuff ashore
this afternoon aud sail BY sundown."
As the two men returned down the
path to their boat Sheldon regarded
Joan quizzicaIly.
There's romance for you.' he said.
land adventure-gOld hunting among
the cannibals. Aren't you sorry you
became a cOcOanut, planter?"
What do you think of tbem?" she
asked.
'Oh. old Won Blk is all right,
solid sort Of chap in his fashion: but
Tudor is fyaway-too much on the
surface. you know. If it came to
being wrecked on a desert island Id
prefer Won Blk"
Il don't quite understand" Joan OBJ
jected. What have you against
TudOr:"
"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. some
how. Sheldon caught her feeling and
was disturbed. He remembered noting
how her eyes had frightened as she
talked with the newcomer.
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
craft-lean aud narrow. with daring
sides and remarkably long. Each was
equipped with three paddles and
Savoral iroD ehod DoIos