Adventure Magazine Cover — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

“But, Miss Kelvett—” Carnell began to “For how long have you enough water for all hands?” demanded Vi. “Oh, we may pick-up a boat at any minute,” returned Captain Kelvett eva- y “May! - May!” snapped Vi. “In future I have half the ordinary food ration and the usual water. These men want more food and water than I do; I’ve got a smaller system to keep going and they may need all the strength they’ve got to row if the wind gives out, and you know it.” “But, Miss Kelvett—”’ began Selwyn. “T was not addressing you, Mr. Selwyn,” retorted Vi quietly. “You are not an -. officer. Oh, why on earth,” she added, made angry at the expression of admiration in Carnell’s eyes, “can’t you understand that the day of the harem is past and done with!” “‘Ain’t she a plucked ’un!” commented one of the men, chewing canned beef and biscuit. Indignantly Vi stared across the tumbling waters. “Oh!” she cried, raising herself on her knees. “Look! Look!” And, pointing to the southeast: ‘A ship! A ship!” And against the golden glare of the rising sun was a tiny black spike. “A ship! A sail!’”’ echoed the men. “T believe it is!’ ejaculated the Old Man; and one of the men, swarming up the short mast, cried— “‘And a steamer, sir; a steamer, sir!”’ Pulling the boat round a couple of points to the south, the captain ran straight for her, hoping against hope that she was not on a southern course, in which case they would probably never succeed in overtaking her or getting close enough to signal. How- ever, within half an hour her funnel and two masts were distinct under the steel plate of the sun. “Queer,’’ remarked Carnell about ten minutes later. ‘‘She’s broadside on, sir.”’ “That’s so,” admitted Captain Kelvett. - In another quarter of an hour they could distinctly make out that she was a fairly big boat—about ten thousand tons or more. “She must have broken down,” remarked Carnell. “Yet there are no signals,’ commented re = ss == B Spies etree Se sae eee “Oh, mebbe just aithing seston? 3 sug- gested ‘the Old Man. “Or perhaps she’s seen us!”’ suggested Vi. “Oh, no, dear. S| if she had. Anyway we'll know in a few minutes.” As they approached Carnell, who had the keenest sight, made out a green star on the black funnel. “She’s a Leonard & Black; Green Star Line; Liverpool, Calcutta and China ports. ? “Undoubtedly broken down,” com- mented the captain. “¢ good luck for us!’ commented Vi. There certainly was something wrong, for the great bulk lay broadside to the wind, disdaining to acknowledge the monsoon by the slightest roll. Closer in, Carnell re- ported that he could not distinguish any- body on the bridge. “Good God!” exclaimed Captain Kelvett at last. “She looks like an abandoned ship! If these were in the Hun pirate days I could understand it; but—now?” They came down to windward of her, ran close alongside without discovering a sign of life from the forecastle to the poop under the awning. As they swooped under the stern with the names “Monsoon, Liverpool,” enscrolled on the counter, they hailed in unison: “Ahoy-o! Monso-on aho-o-y!” Not a vestige of movement of any sort. ‘“‘____ queer!”’ muttered the old man. ““Mebbe bit of a job to board her. Well, unreeve that tackle and use the halyards. Out oars, men!” WHILE the men pulled laboriously $3 against the wind the Second ar- ranged the tackle and the boat’s anchor. Under the leeward side of the counter he succeeded in getting the make- shift grappling-iron caught in the poop- railings at the third attempt and swarmed up, followed by half a dozen of the men. “Send one of the men to get a rope ladder,” commanded Captain Kelvett. “See if she is abandoned and report.”’ “Aye, aye, sir!” The men scattered over the silent ship. Presently one came hurrying back, dragging a rope ladder. “Can’t see no one, sir,” “Seems queer, it do that.” As Vi clambered on to the long bridge he reported. She’d steam toward us