Adventure Magazine Cover — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

68 remained under way, and even if he could _ the odds would be against him. If he had nerve enough Madison might even leap aboard the Cleo himself, but that would require skilful maneuvering and a desperate leap when the two vessels came together. If he was foolhardy enough to attempt such a feat, Pete and his crew would make short work of the man. All of these things Pete considered, then with a shout of defiance he picked up the mucklucks and held them aloft. “Come and get ’em, Madison!” he cried tauntingly. Without replying, Madison turned to his mate. “Put her alongside and keep her there. Watch his crew. No gun-play unless they start it!” ‘Aye, aye, sir!’ responded the mate and he took the wheel himself. Madison ran lightly to the fo’csle-head of his schooner, then stood waiting. His eyes never left the other craft for an ins stant as the bow of his own crawled a foot at a time from stern to main-mast, from main-mast to foremast of the Cleo. If Pete saw the anchor and its three-fathom of chain at Madison’s feet, he did not notice. All he saw was the man, and he gazed like one fascinated at the unexpected acceptance of his challenge. Suddenly the bow of the schooner surged toward the Cleo’s beam. “Good ——,, man!”’ Pete shouted hoarsely. “You'll run us down!” - And he braced himself for the impending crash. It came an instant later as a bow constructed for ice-bucking hurled itself against a hull of the same construction. To his astonishment Pete saw Madison stoop and lift the anchor from the deck—a mo- ment’s pause and he brought it to his chest, then his head, then with a final supreme effort, while his face contorted from the pain of his effort, he brought it to arms’ length above. Both crews looked on with amazement and in the strange silence, but one word was spoken. It came from Mashlugi in his native tongue and it seemed to grate, despite the admiration in the tone. Half- staggering, Madison pitched forward and hurled the anchor aboard the Cleo—its fluke grappling and holding the craft to- gether. And then the spell was broken— it came Adventure when Madison leaped aboard, his great chest rising and falling from the strain of his exertions, his eyes upon his enemy. A sailor rushed him from behind. He shook him off, turned to meet the man’s second rush. His great arm, the muscles as taut’ as whipcords from the strain of his clenched fist, shot upward, brushed through the other’s guard and crashed flush on his jaw. The man’s head snapped backward as his body was lifted clear of the deck. When he fell, his shoulders struck first and he lay motionless. From the Mary came the sharp command of the mate. He was gazing down the sights of a rifle, the muzzle of which was pointed at Black Pete. With a snarl of rage Pete dropped the pistol and knife he carried and with the fury of the trapped animal leaped to the attack. Instinctively the Cleo’s crew fell back. Perhaps it was the row of hopeful faces lining the Mary’s rail, ready to spring to the aid of their skipper at the first sign of foul play, that held them back—again, perhaps their affection for Black Pete was none too deep. TRICKS he had learned in a hun- dred ports were brought into play by Pete in his desperation. He had clinched with Madison, only to fight him- self clear—heartily sick of the fierceness of his opponent’s in-fighting. Blows that would have felled an ox sent both men to their knees only to rise again and continue the fight. The minutes slipped by with no hint of weakness on the part of either. Again they clinched, and this time Pete gasped out an exclamation of joy, as he secured the hold he sought. Madison shot over his back, crashing to the deck upon his head and shoulders. A half-cheer went up from the Cleo’s crew as Black Pete, his swarthy face darker than ever from the rage that gripped him, leaped forward to finish Madison with his boot-heels. Once, twice the heels fell while Madison endured the excruciating agony and fought for his senses. He rolled over, his great arms partly shielding his body, and again came the heels. Madison stifled a groan and gripped the other’s boots, bringing him violently to the deck. And from the ensu- ing rough and tumble each emerged nearly stripped of clothing and red from the blood of his own wounds and those of his oppo- nent. COmiclbook CO