It was the old and ever-untiring pursuit of gold, and they had come to the Solomons to get it.

Part of them, under the leadership of Tudor, were to go up the Balesuna and penetrate the mountainous heart of Guadalcanar, while the _Martha_, under Von Blix, sailed away for Malaita to put through similar exploration.
"And so," said Von Blix, "for Mr.Tudor's expedition we must have some black-boys.

Can we get them from you ?" "Of course we will pay," Tudor broke in.

"You have only to charge what you consider them worth.

You pay them six pounds a year, don't you ?" "In the first place we can't spare them," Sheldon answered.