Adventure, January 20, 1922 — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

58 ‘“‘___’s flames! I believe the only human being aboard the fleet wi’out a grudge against somebody is Goliath. All he wants is to be full fed today against a fare 0’ fightin’ tomorrow, by Satan!” ‘‘Aye, and even he holds wholesome rage against the Spaniard,” replied Nell. “TI saw him sousing his great carcass wi’ sea water this forenoon, and his broad back’s . a very gridiron o’ scars. He told me ’twas a Don as slaved him, and a, Don’s sons as flayed him, while Don and’ Dofia looked on and taught th’ cubs how to strike to cut flesh to ribbons, and where to lay th’ whip to sting the most. Well may ye say, Ed, tis a right merry company. “But ye’re blind if ye think there’s calm among the men, false or assured. Steve tells me they’re growling like scorched bears in th’ pit because you hold so far to sea when yonder lies a pleasant shore wi’ towns to plunder and ships o’ the Dons to take. They mutter, too, that ye’re keeping ’em fed on rotten rations and stale water again, as ye were t’other side Magellan. The dogs are fat and full o’ blood. Ye’ll spoil ’em if ye give ’em no work.” “They must ha’ patience, as I must have,” returned Davies sharply. He, as well as the men, fretted with long inaction. He saw the French ship bowling along within gunshot, and re- marked: “In a little while we’ll speak L’Escuyler. Bid Goliath call all hands to hear. ’Twill flatter the dogs.” Soon the Frenchman braced up and fell in alongside the Cadiz and the Scorpion, running easily between them. The captain stood om the high poop, speaking-trumpet in hand, and bellowed: “Ze Galapagos ees wan hoondred mile east, messieu’s. Make rendezvous zere. Mooch good turtle meat an’ ze great bird he ees zere, an’ water, an’ wood, plentee. Ze men shall stretch ze legs = Like a pee te gale of wind the swarming crew of the Cadiz yelled back: “Wood an’ water be , oP frog! Clap us alongside o’ ship or town where rum and wine and booty’s to be got! Is it a jaunt o’ pleasure we’re joined for?” “Quiet, ye scurvy dogs!” roared Davies, pretending an anger he little felt. Men glanced blackly at him, muttering foul oaths, but none cared to invite again his peculiar demonstrations of control over Adventure them. Davies held up his hand, and sang out to the Frenchman: “We'll meet ye at the islands, comrade. But can ye give me liquor? My lads are ' parched wi’ drought for something stouter than water.”’ “TI have not ze wine to spare, Capitan Davies,” the Frenchman yelled back. Cook was howling at him, too, but Davies was the nearer, and his men looked turbu- lent. “But ze Cadiz ees ver’ fast sheep. You shall cruisealone. We shall take water and provision for you; you shall seek wine for us, wiz what booty may come. FEet ees at ze Bay of Salinas we shall meet. But weel not ze Mademoiselle Nell exchange to my sheep? She mos’ not be in ze fight, noe?”’ “Tl take care of—’ Davies began to shout.sharply. Nell spoke hurriedly beside: him. “Yes, let me vo, Ed. me, d’ye doubt I’m able to fend for myself? ’Twill stop the-two of ’em plottin’ against ye, Ed, if they have me to play on their jealousies. Let me go.” Davies shrugged his shoulders. He glanced into the girl’s animated face, de- tected the glint of strong purpose in her fine eyes, and caught, too, the subtle line of grimness that settled for a fleeting second at her red mouth’s corners.. “Seng a boat for her,” he shouted. “I'll trust ye, L’Escuyler, though I ha’ small CHS th"... Nell swaggered over to the Frenchman in all the panoply of a brother of the Black Flag, belted, booted, and wearing a broad sash stuck full with pistols, knife and cutlas. That was for the-benefit of the crew. ‘For the bedazzlement of the fat French- man she had softer gear, slung at a seaman’s back in a seagoing bag. She paused half- way up the ship’s side to turn and wave a parting to the Cadiz, then leaped down upon the deck and strode aft beside L’Es- cuyler, coolly indifferent to the broad grins and audible comments of the mongrel crew. THE Cadiz sailed away from the other two ships with a celerity that proved amply her superior speed and handiness. As the separate courses diverged and the ships astern sank into the blue of the sea, the discontented crew assumed new ardor, and with Goliath’s shining black . Comicwooks (C@