"It was funny they didn't, but they got separated. You see, two-thirds
of them were in the boats, without weapons, running anchors and never
dreaming the natives would attack. They found out their mistake too
late. The natives had charge. That's the trouble of new chums on the
coast. It would never have happened with you or me or any old-timer."

"But what is Miss Lackland intending to do?" Captain Auckland grinned.

"She's going to try to get the _Martha_ off, I should say. Or else why
did she pay fifty-five quid for her? And if she fails, she'll try to get
her money back by saving the gear--spars, you know, and patent steering-
gear, and winches, and such things. At least that's what I'd do if I was
in her place. When I sailed, the little girl had chartered the
_Emily_--'I'm going recruiting,' says Munster--he's the skipper and owner
now. 'And how much will you net on the cruise?' asks she. 'Oh, fifty
quid,' says he. 'Good,' says she; 'you bring your _Emily_ along with me
and you'll get seventy-five.' You know that big ship's anchor and chain
piled up behind the coal-sheds? She was just buying that when I left.
She's certainly a hustler, that little girl of yours."

"She is my partner," Sheldon corrected.

"Well, she's a good one, that's all, and a cool one. My word! a white
woman on Malaita, and at Poonga-Poonga of all places! Oh, I forgot to
tell you--she palavered Burnett into lending her eight rifles for her
men, and three cases of dynamite. You'd laugh to see the way she makes
that Guvutu gang stand around. And to see them being polite and trying
to give advice! Lord, Lord, man, that little girl's a wonder, a marvel,
a--a--a catastrophe. That's what she is, a catastrophe. She's gone
through Guvutu and Tulagi like a hurricane; every last swine of them in
love with her--except Raff. He's sore over the auction, and he sprang
his recruiting contract with Munster on her. And what does she do but
thank him, and read it over, and point out that while Munster was pledged
to deliver all recruits to Morgan and Raff, there was no clause in the
document forbidding him from chartering the _Emily_.

"'There's your contract,' says she, passing it back. 'And a very good
contract it is. The next time you draw one up, insert a clause that will
fit emergencies like the present one.' And, Lord, Lord, she had him,
too.

"But there's the breeze, and I'm off. Good-bye, old man. Hope the
little girl su