Several quiet weeks slipped by.

Berande, after such an unusual run of visiting vessels, drifted back into her old solitude.

Sheldon went on with the daily round, clearing bush, planting cocoanuts, smoking copra, building bridges, and riding about his work on the horses Joan had bought.

News of her he had none.

Recruiting vessels on Malaita left the Poonga-Poonga coast severely alone; and the _Clansman_, a Samoan recruiter, dropping anchor one sunset for billiards and gossip, reported rumours amongst the Sio natives that there had been fighting at Poonga- Poonga.