The Frontier, May 1926 — page 52: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

42 Be oe ue He Mh ( “7 a Au | i LW j =! % Sy , \s ¥ a ie i dae 1D sis f° v Bas AN: would it be askin’ too much if you was to say a prayer for me?” This I promised readily, and within a minute the gig beached. Gentry summoned all hands to carry muskets, and the whole party came up into the firelight with the arms. They were now seven in all. “Jack,” whispered the old seaman, “that there leaves but two aboard. I’m a-goin’. Now, if I takes the ship, mind, I’m pullin’ back with the gig a ways, but not clear in. I'll be a-singin’ when I comes. Then all you has to do is slip down in the dark and swim out to me.” And with no further words he arose, crept back a trifle, emerged on the beach, and walked boldly forward into the firelight. “Who goes?” roared Gentry, whirl- ing suddenly. Then, as he recognized Horn, “Why, it’s Barnaby!” he cried. “Ah,” said Barnaby, a bit thickly, leaning on his musket, “I wouldn't ’a’ found my way back, save for these fires, not I. Where have I been, sir? A-layin’ up atop o’ that plateau a goodish while, where that yonker cracked me.” “That’s the way I figgered it,” said Dumphey. “And the more fool you was for not comin’ back when I called,” said Gen- try. “You remember me hailin’ you, don’t you?” “Aye, sir,” Horn admitted, “but Blake were my messmate, and I were main set on scuttling that young swab, I were. But here I be sir, and all well save for the crease he gave me. And now—what’s happened, sir?” “What’s happened?” Gentry laughed with a touch of bitterness in his tones. “We tried to lay aboard ’em, Barnaby, and they give us a bastin’, that’s what.” “No!” cried Barnaby. Ves,” said Gentry. “There’s a f Rs . \) hi foe fu i ae Hag CP eS ee THE FRONTIER “Who goes?” roared Gentry, wheeling suddenly score or more of these swabs of Buscas a-layin’ up there now.” And he gave Horn a brief outline of the affray. “So now,” he continued, “there’s one or two here wants to cut and run for it. But that’s not me, by the Flying Dutchman!” He shook his great mallet-like fist in the air toward the cavern. “I tell you,” he cried, “we'll have that blunt now if I has to haul the long nines ashore to do it. I’ve got these swabs pacified—partly, anyway—and you see, now, when I gives ’em these guns. Once they know how to use ’em—well, you'll see.” Here he clapped Dumphey on the back, adding, “Drink up, now, and we'll pro- ceed with the ceremony of presenta- tion. Here, Barnaby! You need a calker, I shouldn’t wonder.” “TI do, and no mistake,” said Barn- aby, downing his drink; “and, Cap’n, if you don’t mind, Id like for to go aboard a few minutes. It’s to dress up this head, d’y’see.” “All right, Barnaby,” Gentry agreed. “Here, lemme look at your head first.” Barnaby slipped off the handker- chief, and Gentry gave vent to an ex- clamation of surprise. He had noted the Usago dressing. “Why, by the Flying Dutchman!” he cried. “What’s all this black gum. Where'd you get that?” “Got it off a tree,’ said Barnaby. “My head was that hot, and I thought it would cool it.” “You thought, eh?” snorted Gentry. “Get yourself aboard ship for a lub- ber, Barnaby. Lucky you are if you haven’t poisoned yourself. You tell that nigger aboard to wash this stuff off, and you'll find a jar of salve on the cabin table. But be back here with the gig as soon as you get fixed ship- shape, mind.” “Aye, aye, Sif,” justing his scarf. said Barnaby, read- y} al) sel it of, \y {] i AG ests 2 Ay ;; he? 4 Sy Lily Nee “Oh, yes,” said Gentry, looking to- ward the cannibals’ fire, “I see their keg is drained. Fetch a keg o’ brandy, Barnaby.” “Aye, aye, sir,” said the old seaman, moving off toward the gig. Now, during this talk I had scarcely dared to breathe. But when I saw Barnaby depart, my heart seemed to swell to twice its normal size. So far our mad venture had received the blessing of Providence. S SOON as Barn- aby pushed off into the darkness, Gen- try summoned his men, and, bearing the muskets, they stepped over to the Buscas’ fire. The cannibals, falling silent, rose up from their haunches—many stagger- ing as they did so—and grouped them- selves behind the man whom I took to be their temporary chieftain. There still were over thirty of them, but sev- eral of these were bearing minor wounds, At Gentry’s direction the muskets were stacked before the new chief. Then the pirate stood back, placed his right hand on his heart, and waved his left toward the guns with an eloquent gesture. The new cannibal leader had been standing with his arms folded across his mighty breast, but even he forgot his dignity at this and snatched up a musket with a cry of delight. His men, meanwhile, fairly fell over one another in their eagerness to handle the new weapons. In a minute they were laughing, shouting, cocking the pieces, pulling triggers, and dancing round the buccaneers like frenzied children. “You see?” said Gentry, when their COMicoOolkKs COM