Adventure, January 20, 1922 — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

Tides of Hate the chair. “From zis hour we sail wizin hail of each ozzer. Bon soir, mes amis. Geef my lof’ to ze charmin’ Meestress Nell, M’siew’ Davies.” Davies laughed outright in Cook’s suf- fused face, and clapped him heavily on the back as they ascended the cabin stairway. ‘““*Twas a cruel deal the gods dealt ye, John, o’ truth. Grin, man; grin, that ye alone survived wi’ full ship’s company at yer back of all Swan’s expedition, and lick yer chops at the full meal soon to be set afore ye. Come wi’ me to my ship and quaff a cup o’ sack along o’ Nell. She'll be a merry wench at seein’ ye again.”’ “Aye, wi’ that long knife o’ hers jinglin’ loose in ’s sheath!’ muttered Cook. He greatly desired to enter into the good fellowship that apparently possessed Davies and the Frenchman, but felt none too secure yet. Davies guided him to the boat of the Cadiz. “Plague take thy croakin’ soul, John!” he said. “Did ye ever know a wench spurn other men if she nursed spite against her first? I tell ye she’ll ha’ none o’ me, nor any other man. ‘The Frenchman made his assault, and was repulsed. Come and feast thine eyes on her, lad. Ill warrant she’ll be swoonin’ wi’ joy at sight of ye.” Nell, waiting for the boat’s return, caught John Cook’s voice, and hurriedly forced Steve Carr into concealment. Smali time she had to school herself against the meet- ing; but her welcome was all Davies had promised. When Cook boarded his own ship toward morning he wore the old-time smirk of self- satisfaction; he lacked little of electing himself leader of the venture and lover of Nell Clark with the one ballot. His thoughts ran thus: “Nell’s a proper wench for a man. None o’ yer weepy chits like that other. She has a sneakin’ likin’ for me too. And Davies likes my notion o’ befoolin’ L’Es- cuyler, wi’out doubt.” XXIT NEO FAR from the coast, to avoid giving fear alarm at their appearance prema- Ne turely, the little squadron of three ships sailed north. L’Escuyler had assumed command, apparently without thought on the part of the other captains, though Davies wore his old debonair smile ever- o7 lastingly and seemed to accept a subordi- nate rank in the best of temper. What John Cook thought could only be guessed at, for, sullen and disgruntled on joining, he maintained that aspect after- ward, only brightening up when the captains met on one or other of the ships and Nell Clark was present. Right cleverly did Nell play with them, John Cook and the Frenchman, while Davies looked on bland- ly, chuckling in his chest. ‘“°Tis a royal sport, Nell,” he said one brilliant morning. The ships were again on the equator, far to the westward, and the Frenchman was bearing up toward the others to order their future course. “Here’s L’Escuyler, casting sheep’s eyes at ye, girl, and John Cook quite sure he’ll make woman o’ ye yet, for all that he flung ye aside for a weepy wench back yonder, and Steve Carr needs but a glance o’ yer own bright eyes to hug ye till yer very bones crack.” ; “And what o’ yourself, Ed?” challenged Nell. “Me? I look on, lass, enjoy the sport, and watch that ye come to no hurt,” re- plied Davies, suddenly serious. The mood was but a flash; his smile re- turned, tinged with a trace ‘of contempt, and he went on: ‘“T’other side 0’ the game’s not so light- some, though ’tis laughable enough. Here’s Ed Davies, watching the fat Frenchman, waiting ’s time to settle a stiff score wi’ him. There’s John Cook, all unknowin’ 0’ the mess a-cookin’ for him at the hands 0’ Steve Carr and Nell Clark, itchin’ to slip knife into me-for robbing him o’ that little lass in Aves; ready, too, to hide that itchin’ and conspire wi’ me against the Frenchman till his turn’s served. And yon’s the fat frog, lickin’ is loose chops at thought 0’ the meal he’ll have when he’s squared tally wi’ Ed Davies and John Cook, and acu to join either against t’other!” Davies broke into a low, chuckling ani of mirth, and encouraged Bravo, on Nell’s shoulder, to seize his horny finger in its terrible beak. “And here we are, Nell; even Bravo’s ready to chaw up his best friend; an’ all fine and handsome, three fine ships go sail- in’ through Summer seas, full o’ murderous hate, yet every man aboard of ’em outward- ly boon companion 0’ every other one. COnmicloool< (C@