Adventure, January 20, 1922 — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

76 A great silence fell over the glade with Goliath’s fall. It was broken at last by a low, bitter laugh from Nell. She knelt down and straightened the giant’s limbs, crossing his hands over his mortal wound, then leaped to her feet with a splitting oath. “By th’ wounds o’ ——!” she cried. “Don’t tell me o’ difference in men! There they lie, Carr and Swan, Goliath and Cook, Rando and Doggett, and scores 0” dogs 0’ pirates, good, bad and all sorts, and th’ crawling things o’ the forest’ll scoff .’em up wi’out respect o persons! Golath was a slave once; some o’ t’others was captains, some brave lads, some mangy curs, an’ all are carrion once th’ life’s let out.”’ She laughed harshly, and men shuddered at her wildly beautiful face. “D’ye tell me there’s a God who knows one from t’other? Pish! Look at ’em! A musket-ball or cutlas stroke, a fever o’ th’ swamps or a splinter o’ brown wood— all mean death to a man, be he mean and meager like yonder shriveled pirate, or great and full man like Goliath. “And -Death—’tis the end. Saint or sinner, priest or pirate, nun or Port Royal strumpet, a shot or the splinter “Il make ’em all equal.” She shuddered ‘violently, snatched off her silken scarf and laid it over Goliath’s face, then seized Davies by the arm. “Let’s away from here, Ed. My blood’s chilled.” Davies glared moodily around the glade, seeking the Indian. Neither man nor wo- man was to be seen. The scattered groups of his men also appeared to be fewer than should be, even accounting for the carpet of dead men broadcast over the turf. There was not one of his former leuten- ants visible, though the bulk of the remain- der was composed of his own Cadiz crew. He bade Nell call the Indian guide, and stepped over to the nearest muttering group of men. ce }?? ’s mirth!” he swore blusterously at them. “Art frightened at shadows now? Or dead men? Rally, lads. We march at once for fair booty an’ the end o’ the tra- verse. Call up the stragglers. Ha’ done wi’ this a “‘Ain’t no stragglers, cappen,” a man returned hoarsely. ‘What ain’t here, livin’ or dead, is headin’ back for San Juan to save their scurvy skins by surrender. a Adventure Hope ye’ll recall who’s friend an’ who’s false when ye light on that booty, that’s all.” It required but a glance to determine that his force was reduced to a pitiful handful. The forest murmured with soft night noises; the moon swam high in the heavens; the broad lake lay to the left, the shore sweeping in a fair curve away to the south and east, with Solentiname dim and mysterious far out upon the shimmering waters. He called to Nell, impatient to march. She came up with doubt in her face which soon turned to confidence. “The Indians ha’ vanished, Ed,’’ she said. “But I mind th’ man said our course lay by the lakeside until we struck a small stream opposite to which a line of islands stretched from Solentiname a’most in to shore. I’m for going on, Ed: Stay here through the night an’ yell ha’ no men left by dawn.” Sage: NELL’S eyes were suspiciously swol- 2@ee, jen and dark, as if she had forgotten “OS her assumed guise of a man and found relief in womanly tears out of sight of the rest. But as they started along the shore she swaggered in mannish fashion, interlarded her chatter with scorching oaths without reason, and showed Davies un- mistakably that no softness found place in her bosom. He smiled understandingly as he strode through the rippling waves where jungle met water and forced the march aside. He knew women as well as a man can ever know them, and lady or wench, Lucrece or Messalina, timid, mouselike chit or strapping, brazen grenadier-like hussy, he knew that deep down in them they, all had a well-spring of feeling that must bubble out when occasion demanded. And deep in his own heart he felt a grow- ing conviction that matters were swiftly coming to a climax which would bring out the true color of everybody concerned, no matter what sort of guise it found them in. His own retreat rendered impossible, ex- cept to surrender, his force dwindled to a handful, all of even that handful by no means certainly dependable; more than a suspicion of things happening out there on Solentiname, where he wanted to make his search, and the disappearance of the Indians, whose loyalty might have been counted upon considering the service he. CORNICLOOO© C S COMM