Penny Dreadfuls, 1923 · page 39 of 116
The Taking of Helen by John Masefield — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis This is a page of running prose from the story "The Taking of Helen" (page 27). A military officer stops a traveler named Nireus at a checkpoint, citing orders to detain all passers while waiting for another troop. Nireus grows impatient about losing favorable wind conditions for his journey to Green Havens. After the officer requests Nireus's rug to cover the horses against cold, Nireus complies and tends to his animals. A soldier then approaches nervously to ask whether Lord Halys intends to sell something called the Curlews, apparently a matter decided only the previous month.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE TAKING OF HELEN 27 “What wrong have they been doing?” “That will be for others to prove.” “Will this track take me to Green Havens?” Nireus asked. ‘‘If it will, I had better be moving on.” “T don’t know about that,’ the officer said. ‘‘My orders are to stop all passers, and you are a passer.” “But I shall lose the wind, it is beginning to fail now.” The officer hesitated. “I’m sorry,” he said, “but orders must be obeyed. Wait a few minutes. The other troop will be here, then. You can apply to my chief. You see, this man and woman, we’ve got to have them. You’d better put your rugs over the horses; it’s cold. Give us your rug.” “Tl do it,’ Nireus said. He climbed down and flung the Queen’s cloak over the horses, so that the golden Swan could be tucked round a trace. Then he stood by his team and ran his hand down their legs, pulled their ears and made much of them. The sol- diers stood about him, talking among themselves. The soldier who had spoken about the Curlews edged shyly up to him. “T hope, sir,” he said, “I hope Lord Halys is not going to sell the Curlews.”’ ‘He did not mention it to me,” Nireus said. “Well, he was going to, sir, as you know.” “Yes, but that was some time ago surely ?”’ “No, sir; only last month.” GOMIGIOO CS} (FO)