Chapter 29

           "Fool!"Icriedaloudinmyvexation.

           Ihadunloadedtheboatandcarrieditscontentshighuponthebeach,whereIhadsetaboutmakingacamp.Therewasdriftwood,thoughnotmuch,onthebeach,andthesightofacoffeetinIhadtakenfromtheGhost’slarderhadgivenmetheideaofafire.

           "Blitheringidiot!"Iwascontinuing.

           ButMaudsaid,"Tut,tut,"ingentlereproval,andthenaskedwhyIwasablitheringidiot.

           "Nomatches,"Igroaned."NotamatchdidIbring.Andnowweshallhavenohotcoffee,soup,tea,oranything!"

           "Wasn’tit—er—Crusoewhorubbedstickstogether?"shedrawled.

           "ButIhavereadthepersonalnarrativesofascoreofshipwreckedmenwhotried,andtriedinvain,"Ianswered."IrememberWinters,anewspaperfellowwithanAlaskanandSiberianreputation.MethimattheBibelotonce,andhewastellingushowheattemptedtomakeafirewithacoupleofsticks.Itwasmostamusing.Hetolditinimitably,butitwasthestoryofafailure.Irememberhisconclusion,hisblackeyesflashingashesaid,‘Gentlemen,theSouthSeaIslandermaydoit,theMalaymaydoit,buttakemywordit’sbeyondthewhiteman.’"

           "Oh,well,we’vemanagedsofarwithoutit,"shesaidcheerfully."Andthere’snoreasonwhywecannotstillmanagewithoutit."

           "Butthinkofthecoffee!"Icried."It’sgoodcoffee,too,Iknow.ItookitfromLarsen’sprivatestores.Andlookatthatgoodwood.