Adventure Magazine Cover — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

then. Haven’t seen him since we cleared “Neither have I,” said Vi, smiling. “Ex- ‘cept this morning for a moment.” “Nice lad,” mumbled the old man, eis always spoke as if airing a chronic grievance. ‘A bit wild. Always was, even as a kiddie. But he’s got an eye for the main chance same as his pa.”’ “You’ve been long with the firm, Mr. Masters?” “Thirty years, miss. Started with ’em when old man Selwyn bought his first tramp. James Selwyn it was then, down on Water Street.” “But,” exclaimed the girl, “why haven’t you got a command by now? Why, it’s “Never had the price.”’ “The price? Why, what——” “T couldn’t ever save—not on a mate’s salary. Why, my dear young lady, for every ship there’s half a dozen men holding extra-master’s tickets. Those as has the money to invest gets the job. “That’s the way of the sea—or nowadays anyway. Always was, I reckon. Worst trade on earth. And yet I dunno. You know you get restless if you a ashore for long. “Sailors—some of ’em—are like that. They live a dog’s life, cuss out of it— beg pardon, miss!—and yet they can ’t keep away.’ “Heavens, I think it’s a beastly shame!” ejaculated Vi. He glanced through the window of the wheel-house at the clock and nodded to the helmsman, who struck the ship’s bell. Eight bells echoed an instant later above the swish of the sea and wind from the break of the fo’c’s’le head. Immediately afterward the second mate, Carnell, came on the bridge to relieve the mate, followed by a sailor to take his trick at the wheel. “ "MORNING, Mr. Carnell,” greet- ed Vi, looking sharply at the man’s features, which, when the coal-dust had been removed, revealed the weather- whipped red complexion of the Saxon. “Goo’ mornin’, miss!’’ he responded with a distinct trace of the “sh” in his speech and, avoiding her eyes, turned his own red- rimmed ones, emphasized the more by the blond lashes, to the compass as he gabbled over the course and standing orders. The first officer, who did not appear to notice, or to care if = e did satis: left. ai lunch being on the table. seem inclined for food. She stood pre- tending to be interested in the tumbling lights of greens and creams, regarding the second mate obliquely while he walked, steadily enough in spite of the heaving deck, to the starboard dodger, where he began to fiddle around with the binocular- box attached to the rail. Then after a while, as if deciding that the girl was never going below, he entered the wheel-house and bent down as if exami- — ning the steam-gear at the back. But Vi caught the significant movement of an elbow and the back of his head. Presently he_came out on to the open bridge. His eyes seemed brighter and his actions more sure or perhaps more defiant. “Beeshly wet weather!” he remarked as he passed her. “Indeed,” said Vi with a quiver of the lips. ‘I should have imagined that it was exceedingly dry.” His blue eyes held hers for a moment; then he laughed and walked on. At first Vi, who was of a sociable disposition, had met a taciturnity that was broken only by bitter remarks. The first of the mutual interests she discovered which led him to talk at all was of their respective expe- riences in the war; he of his not inglorious part upon, and frequently in, the water. At times she had remarked that he be- came quite loquacious, his talk being inter- larded with remarks of more than usual cynical bitterness, and at length she began to understand why. At first Vi was wroth and disgusted. She had a natural loathing for excess of any sort; an emotion strength- ened by her shght medical knowledge, and more by her military service. Yet she saw that he was young, not more than thirty, and from her uncle’s remarks an exceedimely capable officer. shame, she had muttered to herself; and took pains to show in a subtle manner what she thought. But that seemed to make no difference to his conduct at all. And Vi realized that he must be a pretty heavy drinker, for although indulgence sometimes affected his speech it never seemed in the least degree to fuddle his brain or his feet. Of course she could not “sneak” to her uncle the captain, as apparently Carnell knew right — bridge mumbling something to Vi about — But Vi did not © - — * _ - ' as ee 3 St .* : - = ¢ a” - = (\ wae) e. = _ ol 7 = ae os > » =3 * ss! ;