"Then began the rule of the strong hand. It was either that or quit, and
we had sunk about all our money into the venture, and we could not quit.
And besides, our pride was involved. We had started out to do something,
and we were so made that we just had to go on with it. It has been a
hard fight, for we were, and are to this day, considered the worst
plantation in the Solomons from the standpoint of labour. Do you know,
we have been unable to get white men in. We've offered the managership
to half a dozen. I won't say they were afraid, for they were not. But
they did not consider it healthy--at least that is the way it was put by
the last one who declined our offer. So Hughie and I did the managing
ourselves."
"And when he died you were prepared to go on all alone!" Joan cried, with
shining eyes.
"I thought I'd muddle through. And now, Miss Lackland, please be
charitable when I seem harsh, and remember that the situation is
unparalleled down here. We've got a bad crowd, and we're making them
work. You've been over the plantation and you ought to know. And I
assure you that there are no better three-and-four-years-old trees on any
other plantation in the Solomons. We have worked steadily to change
matters for the better.
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