We can't spare them, and besides, they would be
of little use. You couldn't get them to accompany you beyond Binu, which
is a short day's work with the boats from here. They are Malaita-men,
and they are afraid of being eaten. They would desert you at the first
opportunity. You could get the Binu men to accompany you another day's
journey, through the grass-lands, but at the first roll of the foothills
look for them to turn back. They likewise are disinclined to being
eaten."
"Is it as bad as that?" asked Von Blix.
"The interior of Guadalcanar has never been explored," Sheldon explained.
"The bushmen are as wild men as are to be found anywhere in the world to-
day. I have never seen one. I have never seen a man who has seen one.
They never come down to the coast, though their scouting parties
occasionally eat a coast native who has wandered too far inland. Nobody
knows anything about them. They don't even use tobacco--have never
learned its use. The Austrian expedition--scientists, you know--got part
way in before it was cut to pieces. The monument is up the beach there
several miles. Only one man got back to the coast to tell the tale. And
now you have all I or any other man knows of the inside of Guadalcanar."
"But gold--have you heard of gold?" Tudor asked impatiently.
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