Adventure Magazine Cover — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

22 “ men, all that remained of the original crew —the rest had scattered adown the coast at their fancy—and made his way to a waterfront tavern. By his advice the party was dressed quietly, with no display of wealth. Avary appeared the ordinary skipper and Horton his commonplace mate. They bore no arms; they comported them- selves in seemly fashion. Skipper and mate went to the private room reserved for such as them; the crew thronged into the tap- room. | Avary ordered sack, but Horton insisted upon ale. “T’ve swilled wine and spirits till I’m sick of the taste of ’em,” he declared. ‘‘Many’s the time I'd have’ given all we had aboard for a short keg of ale, skipper.”’ Avary merely nodded. He had lit a long clay pipe and was puffing at it, his eyes fixed on the wall back of Horton. He stared so fixedly that Horton screwed his head around to see the attraction, which was a great placard tacked to the partition. Horton’s bulldog face paled, then flushed again. He lowered his voice as he spoke hoarsely across the table. = know a king’s proclamation when IT see ’ he said, “though I am no hand for sab king. What is it, Avary?” “Tis a pardon. “The King’s Pardon, to be given to all pirates assembling upon the island of New Providence within the time specified, when the said pardon shall be brought from England -by Mr. Woods Rogers, Governor and Vice-Admiral of the Bahama Islands, providing that the said pirates and malefactors do assemble peace- ably and prepare to give inventories of their ships and several ladings. “That all ships and cargoes so assembled, or now assembled within the harbor of Nassau, are to be secured for the use of the king and company, till such time as a court of admiralty shall be called, that they may be lawfully cleared or condemned by the provings of the said court which vessels belong to pirates and which, to fair traders. “To such pirates as do obey this covenant and engage to become loyal subjects of his sovereign Majesty William the Third, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc., full amnesty and pardon shall be given—save and ex- cepting: “<The notorious rogues Captain Thomas Tew, Captain Robert—or William—Kidd Adventure and Captain Avary, whom all officers, mariners and others under the king’s command or that of the colonial appoint- ments are authorized to apprehend, seize and take into custody to the end that they be proceeded against according to the law in such cases.’ “‘There’s a lot more to it,” said Avary, ‘but ’tis tiresome reading and you’ve the gist of it. It would seem our fame has crossed ocean at last. Zounds, man, what alls your? You are not even mentioned. You can go to Providence and become a lick-spittle, an you will. “T fear me the merchant that bought The Duke will repent his bargain. They’ll likely suspect him of being our accomplice. Serves him well for being stingy with his price.” Horton, his hand still shaking a trifle, looked at Avary with something akin to genuine admiration. “Vou take it coolly enough,” he said. “You with vour neck as good as in a halter.” “Tt won’t be long. Who knows me for Avary, for aught but an honest trader? My name is Pruden and yours Rogers. Warned is saved to the man with wits. Hist, here comes the liquor.” It was the landlord himself who served the sack and ale, a garrulous type of Boni- face. ae | see they’re granting amnesty to the pirates,” said Avary. “Had I my way they should be hanged, all of them.” “Aye, the rogues. They deal easier with them than with honest men. They are too strong. I hear there are three hundred al- ready at Providence and more arriving by scores. So the news was brought from Vir- ginia last night. They will give privateer commissions to some of them. - A lot of rascally villains and cutthroats, say I." Hornigold, Davis, Carter, Burgess, Vane, to say nothing of Tew and Kidd and Avary.” “Who is this Avary?”’ “A great. rogue. Oh, a mighty villain! He lives like a king, they say, off Mada- gascar. ”Twas he who stole the ship out of Corunna and captured a vessel of the Great Mogul. He married the Mogul’s daughter. He eats and drinks from gold dishes. He grants commissions to his captains to plun- der and rob at will. “°Tis said he is so powerful that King William may treat with him and let him COMiICLOOokKs (C@