Adventure Magazine Cover — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

tA CANAS Eid ot J Wat 5 pA <t is Ae . TAA \ 7 . 4 ¥] reg VERT Ae eae Bh Th Re NK foe ce SAS il a ivi i i? * “* at) Ye ee % ALN rn ‘ tole | Me has eee ota pay in 3 sty Sane Fy ? — : ith Sates of gray tinies on aah side. ° As soon as he saw Vi lying prostrate on the floor he pointed and began to giggle afresh. Roughly Selwyn told him to “shut up,” at which he subsided on the floor and began to sing softly, waving one ridic- ulous, skinny finger as if beating time. Selwyn looked at him, laughed and drank. “This is Professor Lamberteau,” said he, waving one hand between them. ‘Mad as a hatter, y’ know, but quite a dear! Invented a nice little thing the Huns would have given millions for; but he’s gone dotty; which is a pity, what? Pity too he ain’t a parson; then he might marry us; eh, darling?” He leered at her and bending deliberately kissed her on the cheek above the gag. “Sorry I had to gag you, ol’ thing,” he continued mockingly, “but I haven’t dis- posed of your amiable lover yet. I’ve got a revolver now, pettest.. As soon as the men have gone—what? s left of ’em after Professor Nutty has finished with them— and I’ve finished this thirst you’ve given me I'll go and fix him, you bleeding little wild- cat.”’ Vi’s heart gave a thump of relief at the news that Carnell was still alive. “Oh, shut up, you old fool!” added Selwyn sharply to the singing idiot. “You'll bring him down here——” “Then we'll have a nice little honeymoon; eh, sweetheart? We’re sure. to be picked up sooner or later. There’s enough food for three months anyway although I doubt whether the booze will last me that long. Then salvage will recompense me for all the little inconveniences and the Hesperus your fool of an uncle lost.” As he stopped to take another drink Vi saw around the corner of the open saloon door the hairy face of the monkey peering. “‘As for you,” continued Selwyn, ‘‘well, darling dearest, if you consent to behave yourself we'll go halves with the loot, eh? If not——’” At that moment Vi saw a white object leave the hand of the ape. As it smashed in front of her, Selwyn literally screamed and ‘the mad professor. squawked. Both sprang for the door and banged it behind them. As she listened to their foot- steps racing up the companion stairs she stared perplexedly at the smashed egg in Sok feont of fee ine he yolk of f whieh had spra y e 3 2 = a wo. Re+ > | “> ser) <= r : wi “< oe 6 Ro aa et - ras ee ee as aes — : pork : * ate over her dress. CHAPTER XI — Se se and dumb, Vi lay where she had been placed on the floor, staring bewilderedly at the scattered yolk mess, wondering what could possibly have caused the evdient terror in both Selwyn and the lunatic at the sight of a falling egg. For several moments more she lay. However, that was no time or place to solve such problems. Vi began to wriggle to get loose. The table-cloth, bound hastily around her arms and mouth, was not very securely fastened, and with a little ingenuity she succeeded in freeing herself. Just as she reached the companion steps she heard a pistol-shot followed by an oath in Selwyn’s VOIce. , Rushing on to’the deck, she saw him lying prone with a revolver in one hand peeping round the painted canvas of the rail on the break of the bridge.. For a second she paused, wondering what purpose he could have and from sees he was hiding. Then, divining that his opponent must be either Chi Loo or Carnell, she ran on tiptoe across the deck and sprang upon his back, seeking to hold his shoulders down as she screamed: “T’ve got him! Quick! Mr. Carnell!” The suddenness of the attack succeeded insofar as it caused Selwyn to release the revolver. Then with a muffled curse he raised his haunches, half-unseating her, and wriggled round on to his side. Although she was an athletic girl yet he was by no means soft in spite of his drinking. But just as he managed to grapple with her she succeeded in getting an arm lock. His next effort brought an oath of pain and he subsided quickly. As she caught sight of the mad professor with the wispy beard, and of two of the deserting crew running back across the deck he cried out: “All right! All right! Ill give in!” As she let him get up she had just time to notice that the pale eyes of the pro- fessor person had lost the idiotic expression they had when she saw Carnell leap up the ladder from the main-deck with a revolver in his hand. Then, before either she or any of the three men had time to grab him, Selwyn, crying some inarticulate words, rushed at Carnell as he came across the deck. Seeing that Selwyn was unarmed, Carnell ©