Adventure Magazine, Mid-September 1917 — page 159: what you’re looking at

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

Author of ‘“Beyond ihe Rim,” “Rotorua Rex,’ etc. CHAPTER I OLD PROVIDENCE ISLAND JAPTAIN BANE, gentleman of fortune, commander of the Swift Return, pushed the black bottle across the table to the little wizened man who faced him. The cabin overflowed with swaggering figures, their tarnished sea- togs enlivened with gaudy sashes and head- kerchiefs. Reckless faces peered down through the open skylight, backed by the starred sky of the tropic July night. The swinging lamp shone full on the rapacious, eager face of Bane. It was weather-tanned to leather, save where the black beard that covered half his chest had protected it. His gaze held the fixed glare of lenses, deep lines showed be- tween his brows, his curving nose twitched at the flanging nostrils, the bone of it press- ing gray through the skin, flattened at the bridge; a fitting beak for a preying seabird. “Come, Sawney, come Governor, down with four fingers of the stuff and out with your news! Rogers is off the bar, you say. Drink, man, and talk quickly!” The trembling Sawney, derisively dubbed “Governor” by the pirates who had as- sembled upon the Island of Providence to await the king’s proclamation and pardon for all freebooters surrendering their ships and arms by the last day of August, 1718, gulped down the fiery schnapps, choked till the tears ran from his red eyerims and told his news. “Mr. Woods Rogers, Governor and Vice- Admiral of the Bahamas,” he began and, warned by the blaze that shone in the captain’s eyes, broke into less ceremonious speech. “The fleet came at sunset,” he went on. “Richard Turnley is pilot and on his advice they lie by till morning.” “Ah!” Bane’s tense features relaxed. ‘‘How know you this?” “The Lings put off to the fleet from Harbor Island with vegetables. ‘They came aboard the Rose man-of-war and saw the Governor and one Captain Whitney.” “The canting, favor-currying rogues. What said they?” ‘They told the governor that Ben Horny- gold, with Davis, Burgess, Carter, yourself and others were on shore upon Providence, in ail nigh to a thousand pi—”’ he checked himself with a gulp of fear—‘‘a thousand gentlemen of fortune——”’ Bane smashed his fist upon the table and guffawed. “Nay, out with it, man. Pirates! ’Tis a brave word for those that fit it. So Dick Ling told that a thousand were waiting to cringe before Rogers and kiss the king’s foot and beg to be his men again. Told also, doubtless, that they were assembled about Nassau where the fort is tumbling for repair with but one nine-pounder. And the fleet lies off until tomorrow. “Thanks, Sawney, I will remember this. 157 oO COMmiclboo Ss CO 5}