The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-02-23
CHAPTER VI.

been at close quarters with an
American girl. and be would have
wondered II all American girls
Fere like Joan Lakeland had be not
ad wit enough to realize that she was
lot at all typical Her quick mind
nd changing moods bewildered him.
Thile her outlook on life was SO diff
erent from what he conceived wo-
mans outlook should be that be was
more often than not at skies and sew
as with her. He could never antici-
ate what she would say or do next.
Ter temper was quick and stormy.
nd she relied too much on herself and
90 little on him. which did not ap-
Foximate at all 20 his ideal OF wo-
mans conduct when a man was
round. Her assumption of equality
nth him was disconcerfing. and at
lines be half consciously resented the
mpudence and bizarreness Of her In
rusion upon him. rising out of the
"a IN a bowling nor'wester. fresh
rom poking her revolver under Eric
Dn's nose. protected BY her gang of
huge PolyneSian sailors and settling
own in Berande Ike any shipWrecked
hilor. Il was all on a par with her
Iaden-PoweIl and the long 3S Colts.
At any rate. she did not look the
art. And that was what he could
hot forgive. Had she been short hair
d. heavy jawed. large mnscied. hard
dtten and utterly unloveIy in every
way all would have been well, In
kead Of which she was hopelessly and
leliciously feminine. Her hair wor-
He'd him. It was so generously beau
tful. And she was so slenderly and
lrettiiy the woman-the giri. rather
hat It cut him like a knife to see her
With quick. comprehensive eyes and
lhaFply imperative voice superintend
he launching OF the whaleboat
through the surf. In Imagination be
ould see her ropinG horse. and IL
lways made him shudder. Then, too,
ne was so many sided
Sheldon certainly was not happy.
The unconventional state of affairs
Cas too much for bis conservative dis
osition and training. Berande. In
abited by one lone white man. was
place for Joan Lakeland. Yet be
Acked his brain FOR a way out. and
ven talked it over with her. In the
rst place. the steamer from Australia
Fas not due for three weeks.
"one thing Is evident; you don't
rant me here" she said. "Iu man
he whale boat tomorrow and &c over
D Tulagi."
"But as I told you before. that is
impossible" be cried. There is no
ne there The resident commissioner
) away in Australia. There is only
ne white man. a third assistant
lnderstrapper and exsailor-a CON-
aoB sailor. He Is in charge OF the
Overument OF the Solomons. to say
lothing OF a hundred or so niggers-
Tisoners. Besides. be is such fool
bat be would flne you E5 for not hav-
ag entered at Tuiagi. which is the port
entry. you know. He is not q nice
aan. and. repeat. It is impossible"
There is Iuvutu." she suggested.
'sThere's nothing there but fever
nd f1Ye white men who are drinking
themselves to death. couldn't per-
bit It."
"Oh. thank you" she said quietly.
I guess III start tcday-Viaburi!
lou so along Noah. speak m come
long me-"
Nos Noah was her head saiHor. wno
ad been boatswain Of the Mieie.
where are you goingY' sheldon
sked In surprise. "viaburi! You
top"
ITO Guvutu-immediately," was her
lsply. :.
THAT is why ! am going. You said
once before. and it is something
annot brook"
Wharf he was bewildered By heI
ndden anger. "If l have offended II
ny way
''Viaburi. you fetch m one fella Nos
Ioah along me-" she commanded.
The black boy started TO obey.
"Viaburi. You no step / break N
cad belong you. And now. Miss Lack
and: insist; you must explain. What
ave said or Bone to merit thisg'
You have presumed, you have