Adventure, January 20, 1922 — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

Tides of Hate ; “WILL ye take ’em as they come, oy one by one?” asked Nell, keenly “y scanning the eager face of Davies as he awaited Goliath’s hail from aloft. “These be warm days and pleasant seas, Ed, and the blood leaps madly at thought of meeting John Cook.” Davies laughed aloud, amused at the woman’s warmth. He knew quite well that no affection caused that warmth. ‘T hope ’twill be the Frenchman we raise first,” he said. “What? Afraid 0’ Cook, then?” “Not I! But hast forgotten the manner of our parting?” “Tt matters little, then, when ye meet him. Yell both fly at t’other’s throat at sight. Best seek him and ha’ done wi’ it a9, smiled quietly. “My first aim, the matter o’ my dreams this year past, is to lay my hands on that vanished gold; after that, to prove on the Frenchman’s front teeth that he’s a traitor. ‘“There’s no stopping Cook from coming in. There never was a chance o’t, if I was to make use of him to set myself afloat wi ship and crew. But that’s no reason why I should seek to have Steve Carr and you shot - or knifed by the dog because neither of ye has patience to hold fingers off his throat at sight.” ‘Well ye know John Cook dare not face me with the steel,’ cried Nell angrily. “Tf ye think so, clap us alongside——”’ “Hoity-toity,’ chuckled Davies glee- fully. “What a spitfire it is now Jack Frost’s kicked overboard! Don’t I know the lioness ye are, Nell? Steve may get his tripes ripped by John; I doubt not that he will, for he’s too hot-brained to have craft 0’ wrist; but Nell Clark will surely find cunning to match her skill if ever it comes to knifework wi’ her enemy. ‘Two reasons, then, comrade, why I want no traffic along o? Cook yet awhile. Steve Carr’s a good mate when he’s led; and Nell Clark’s too stout a fighter to risk in squabbling. Let’s seek L’Escuyler first, or sail on for San Juan del Sur alone.” ‘Why not sailon alone anyhow? Are we not strong enough to penetrate the country then?” “That is the answer, Nell. ’Tis a plague-ridden land; a land 0’ sweating plain and heart-breaking rises; of jungle thick 53 as kelp in the Straits, of thirst and venom- ous serpents; of Spanish soldiery and lurking Indians. Let us first recover that treasure, even though we must outwardly join our enemies to do it. I know full well that they mean treachery toward me; but, know- ing it, I fear it no more than I fear either Cook or L’Escuyler man to man. “°Twill be a good stroke, it seems, for us to fallin wi the Frenchman first, and make him conciliatory approaches.. Then when John Cook heaves in sight he dare not show hostility toward me until he gains the ear 0’ L’Escuyler in private and has chance to change the order o’ things. “Tt may well be that the Frenchman lacks strength himself. Then, knowing he has both Swan and Cook to cope with, and a squadron to boot, he won’t flout me and my stout vessel wi’ guns and roaring good lads.” Nell nodded full agreement, for she knew that Davies had weighed all costs before venturing alone into the retreat of Cook on Aves. He knew the land they were bound to, and moreover was a man at whom the finger of question had never been pointed in a matter of courage or hardihood. She perched upon the great skylight with the parrot on her shoulder, and gazed aloft at Goliath on the main topgallant-yard. She too was impatient for his hail. “Below, dar!’ Goliath shouted at last. Davies answered. “Dar’s a mighty queer-lookin’ tawps’l to de west’ard, cappen,’ roared the negro. “Dat ain’t lak nuttin’ Ah ebber seen afore, ‘cept on a Frenchman. Dat tawps’l she twice as long in de h’ist as ourn pe “Tt’s L’Escuyler!” cried Davies. ‘“‘How’s she heading, Goliath?” “She headin’ east, an’ a comin’, sar.”’ “Lay down from aloft,’’ Davies ordered, and, conning the course, laid his own ship’s head straight for the stranger. In an hour the ships were in plain sight of each other, and from the Frenchman’s maintruck a broad black flag broke out. It was answered with the red flag made fashionable “among the brotherhood of pirates by Morgan, and in half an hour more Davies had spoken with L’Escuyler as the ships lay broadside on and close to, with backed yards. Like watchful cats each saw in the other’s gunports the fire of matches; on deck cap- tain spoke fair to captain, while the gallan- try of the Frenchman was not proof against COniCcloo S (C@