Adventure, January 20, 1922 — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

Tides of Hate those dangerous waters without bothering the stranded pirate. “Think ve she believes us a wreck?” suggested Davies eagerly. ‘Not shel” growled Carr. “Her cap’n ain’t one o’ that sort. He don’t believe altogether about Swan’s squadron, so he wouldn’t ask for a squadron himself; but he believes this is John Cook’s ship, and he'll stand off and on until he gets a good windward berth; then if ye don’t sail out to him he’ll send in his boats for ye.” Davies glared at Steve, and his dark eyes glittered. “Croak on, ye scurvy crow o’ bad omen!”’ he exclaimed. ‘‘Ye’re a plaguy fine comrade to ship, Carr. me, but I think John Cook was right when he left ye on Aves! Ha’ ye naught of cheer to cackle about, that ye must croak dismal forebodings every breath ye draw?” “P’m but tellin’ ye truth, cap’n,” grum- bled Carr. “Don’t I know yonder ship? Ain’t I been among her men? [I'll serve ye but scurvily by tellin’ ye hes. I’m wi’ ye, hand and heart, cap’n, and so ye’ll find when the pinch comes. An’ ’twill come as soon as that bulldog gains her station. Give me office; all your men was my mates; they’ll sarve under me better than wi’ Kestral, the dog. Look at him now. That smells o’ mischief, or ’'m a squid.” Davies merely glowered along the main- deck, where knots of men stood chattering volubly in low tones while Kestral passed among them like an evil spirit. Nell remained aloft, where she had mounted again at the report of the cruiser, and with the clumsy telescope she had found in the great cabin tried to keep close track of the enemy. “Tt looks like no fair cast o’ the dice,” muttered Davies presently. Yes, we'll fight if needs must, and beat hiny too, with a whisper o’ luck. But, blast my buckles, don’t that make me a pirate again? What o’ the Nicaragua booty then? All seas will be traps, all ships 0’ war hounds to harry me.” “VY? ain’t took th’ pardon, have ye, cap’n?” put in Steve Carr, astonished at what he had heard. ‘Ain’t ye bound to meet the Frenchman and Swan then? Ain’t I to meet Cook, man to man, for a settlin’ atween us, cap’n? D’ ye mean to knuckle to the bulldog?” For answer Davies sprang to sudden “Fight him? - 39 action. He called to Kestral and Goliath. “Lads, here we must stick until night. Yonder’s the king’s merry men, bound after our hides. ’Twill serve us ill to let him pound us to splinters wi’ his long pieces, and ’twill be as bad to let him send his boats in to take us, for Steve Carr says the cruiser carries twelvescore 0’ men. ‘So while ye wait for tide to turn, rig me tackles up to windward, so that when we float ye may lose no time hauling up the starboard guns to trim ship again. Then ye may take a spell awhile, for we can do nothing more until the water has risen four feet. “You, Goliath, take a dozen smart lads and cast adrift all gaskets, stoppin’ the sails to the yards wi ropeyarns. As soon as we see a sign o’ yonder ship sending: in boats, set the upper canvas whether we float or not. ’Iwill give him to think we sail, and the boats will return for the ship herself to stand off to intercept us.” He turned to Nell as she leaped out of the rigging, and hooked his arm under her elbow. “Come, Nell, we'll -let no king’s ship spoil our dinner. If Ed Davies’ good luck holds we'll cheat his Majesty without a shot; but if fight we must, then me but we'll fight the better for full bellies.” From time to time the masthead lookouts hailed the deck with news of the cruiser’s position. At mid-afternoon, when the tide was at its lowest ebb, the ship had passed out of sight, and the uneasy crew howled gleefully over their rum, less mindful now of Kestral and his counsels. Steve Carr had takem up his quarters in the poop as if he belonged there; and, knowing him at least for a deadly foe of John Cook and no lover of Kestral, Davies let him stay, resolving to give him definite station after the coast was cleared. That Kestral lived by right in the same quarters swayed his decision not one whit; Davies did not trouble even. to notice Kestral’s obvious insubordination. He despised the man, and would deal with him adequately in good time. That he was a peril to himself Davies would not admit. Ye a FOR. different reasons the crew i}? resigned themselves to the anxious waiting on the tide. Those with whom Kestral’s voice had carried most weight looked forward to a fair chance of GO TOO iMac S