Adventure, August 1917 — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

Contraband He scratched his head uncomfortably. “I’m just a bit excited, ma’am,” he apologized at last. “But don’t ye worrry longerr. I ha’ thoughts in ma mind. Ye shall not do what ye willna.”’ ‘“T’m sure I don’t know what you mean. Have you e : But he was at the door before she could stop him. | “Oh, Captain,” she called as he slipped into the hall, ‘‘what shall we tell Lord Claragh? We had both better have the same story, so In case——”’ “T’ll be goin’,” he answered briefly. Surprise lighted up her face. “You'll accept?” she exclaimed. “Ay. If ye meant what ye said about givin’ me leave.” “‘Oh, yes, to be sure,”’ she replied vaguely. “But—but——” “¢ Twill tak’ only a few days, wi’ luck,” he assured her. “But why—you know Mr. Tibbotts is to go along?” A satanic grin wreathed McConaughy’s face. “Ay,” he said soulfully. Il “SHE’LL be unco well-favored, I’ll say that for her.”” Thus Jock Grant, McConaughy’s first officer, as he cast an appraising eye along the Saucy Mona’s hull. “But man, Skipperr, she fair shrieks o’ the sinfu’ness 0’ rriches.” “T ne’er knew ye to disclaim the ad- vantages o’ wealth, Jock,” remarked Mc- Conaughy dryly. ‘“‘Aweel, I’ll nae deny I hae a properr appreeciation o’ the value o’ siller, but I wouldna spend it on a toy like yon.” “I believe ye.” They were joined on the dock by Evan Apgar, McConaughy’s chief engineer, fresh from the engine-room. His face was still flushed with enthusiasm, and one hand crumpled a handkerchief, the only sub- stitute for his pet ball of waste that he had been able to find. “She'll pe t’e graandest pit craaft I efer tit see, whateffer,” he exploded. “Engines like a waatche’s works. An’ clean! Why, I hafe peen eferywhere pelow an’ t’ere is no tirt on me. So smaall an’ so powerrful. ‘T’irrty-two knots an ’our. T’ink o’ it, Jock. ‘T’irrty-two knots an Matrimony 87 ‘our! When we got fourteen out 0’ t’e old Joan we t’ought we were doin’ t’ings.”’ “She’s a good boat o’ her kind,” agreed - McConaughy. “She’s new to me,” Evan went on. ‘TI hafe hearrt o’ t’ese motor-poats but nefer tit I see one pefore. Ye coult put her engines in t’e tingy an’ row ’em ashore.” He shook his head sadly. ‘‘Put I tell ye t’e truth, Skipperr, I caannot taake t’e responsipility o’ engines I to not know.” “Don’t fash yourself, Evan,” returned McConaughy quietly. ‘TI ha’ seen to that. Claragh’s own engineer goes along. He'll be under ye, but ma thought is that ye’ll let him do all the worrk. I'll want ye an’ Jock to help me in more imporrtant mattherrs. We'll tak’ a picked crew. There’s room for no more than twenty, an’ the men we ha’ will be busy all the time.” ‘‘She’ll hae machine guns fore an’ aft, I see,’ commented Jock. “Ay. Young See-the-worrld is_theirr keeperr.”’ | Jock swung around with a wrinkle between his eyes. | “Ye’ll mean the lad no harrm?” he asked. ‘I’m no wishfu’ tae impute aught tae ye, Skipperr, but ’tis a——” “Hecht!? said McConaughy impatient- ly. ‘‘He’ll be in uniforrm. [I ha’ seen to that. His Majesty’s Royal Naval Rreserrve —no less. Ye ken what that means.” “But they Gerrmans——” “Leave mattherrs to me, Jock. I ha’ thought all out. I trreasurre no evil intentions against the lad. He’s a fool, but he can’t help that. He’ll come out bettherr an’ wiserr for the experriences I ha’ in storre for him.” Evan nodded wisely. : “Ye say truth, Skipper. A Gotless life he must hafe lifet, py whaat ye hafe tolt us. Atverrsity will pe goot for him. T’ere is naught. prings religion to a man like t’e scourrge 0’ pain an’ haart’ship. T’e young man is lucky.” “IT hope he thinks so,” remarked Mc- Conaughy grimly. ‘An’ wull there be fechtin’?’’ queries Jock with a wistful note in his voice. “TI canna say more than I ha’, Jock. If the Gerrmans do not be plain fools an’ incompetents—an’ ma obserrvations so farr do not stamp ’em such—we must ha’ some chance at ’em.”’ cCoOMmiclsoo CO 5}