cal of her certitude.

"It's a ketch to begin with. And besides, I could tell anywhere the
rattle of her main peak-blocks--they're too large for the halyard."

A dark figure crossed the compound diagonally from the beach gate, where
whoever it was had been watching the vessel.

"Is that you, Utami?" Joan called.

"No, Missie; me Matapuu," was the answer.

"What vessel is it?"

"Me t'ink _Minerva_."

Joan looked triumphantly at Sheldon, who bowed.

"If Matapuu says so it must be so," he murmured.

"But when Joan Lackland says so, you doubt," she cried, "just as you
doubt her ability as a skipper. But never mind, you'll be sorry some day
for all your unkindness. There's the boat lowering now, and in five
minutes we'll be shaking hands with Christian Young."

Lalaperu brought out the glasses and cigarettes and the eternal whisky
and soda, and before the five minutes were past the gate clicked and
Christian Young, tawny and golden, gentle of voice and look and hand,
came up the bungalow steps and joined them.

CHAPTER XVI--THE GIRL WHO HAD NOT GROWN UP

News, as usual, Christian Young brought--news of the drinking at Guvutu,
where the men boasted that they drank between drinks; news of the new
rifles adrift on Ysabel, of the latest murders on Malaita, of Tom
Butler's sickness on Santa Ana; and last and most important, news that
the _Matambo_ had gone on a reef in the Shortlands and would be laid off
one run for repairs.

"That means five weeks more before you can sail for Sydney," Sheldon said
to Joan.

"And that we are losing precious time," she added ruefully.

"If you want to go to Sydney, the _Upolu_ sails from Tulagi to-morrow
afternoon," Young said.

"But I thought she was running recruits for the Germans in Samoa," she
objected. "At any rate, I could catch her to Samoa, and change at Apia
to one of the Weir Line freighters. It's a long way around, but still it
would save time."

"This time the _Upolu_ is going straight to Sydney," Young explained.
"She's going to dry-dock, you see; and you can catch her as late as five
to-morrow afternoon--at least, so her first officer told me."

"But I've got to go to Guvutu first." Joan looked at the men with a
whimsical expression. "I've some shopping to do. I can't wear these
Berande curtains into Sydney. I must buy cloth at Guvutu and make myself
a dress during the voyage down. I'll start immediately--in an hour.
Lalaperu, you bring 'm o