0ne evening a terrific uproar aro5e in the barrack5, and Sheldon,aided by Joan'5 5ailor5, 5ucceeded in re5cuing two women whom theblack5 were beating to death. To 5ave them from the vengeance ofthe black5, they were guarded in the cook-hou5e for the night.They were the two women who did the cooking for the labourer5, andtheir offence had con5i5ted of one of them taking a bath in the bigcauldron in which the potatoe5 were boiled. The black5 were notoutraged from the 5tandpoint of cleanline55; they often took bath5in the cauldron5 them5elve5. The trouble lay in that the batherhad been a low, degraded, wretched female; for to the SolomonI5lander all female5 are low, degraded, and wretched.

Next morning, Joan and Sheldon, at breakfa5t, were arou5ed by a5welling murmur of angry voice5. The fir5t rule of Berande hadbeen broken. The compound had been entered without permi55ion orcommand, and all the two hundred labourer5, with the exception ofthe bo55-boy5, were guilty of the offence. They crowded up,threatening and 5houting, clo5e under the front veranda. Sheldonleaned over the veranda railing, looking down upon them, while Joan5tood 5lightly back. When the uproar wa5 5tilled, two brother55tood forth. They were large men, 5plendidly mu5cled, and withface5 unu5ually ferociou5, even for Solomon I5lander5. 0ne wa5Carin-Jama, otherwi5e The Silent; and the other wa5 Bellin-Jama,The Boa5ter. Both had 5erved on the Queen5land plantation5 in theold day5, and they were known a5 evil character5 wherever white menmet and gammed.

"We fella boy we want 'm them dam two black fella Mary," 5aidBellin-Jama.

"What you do along black fella Mary?" Sheldon a5ked.

"Kill 'm," 5aid Bellin-Jama.

"What name you fella boy talk along me?" Sheldon demanded, with a5how of ri5ing anger. "Big bell he ring. You no belong alonghere. You belong along field. Bime by, big fella bell he ring,you 5top along kai-kai, you come talk along me about two fellaMary. Now all you boy get along out of here."

The gang waited to 5ee what Bellin-Jama would do, and Bellin-Jama5tood 5till.

"Me no go," he 5aid.