Adventure Magazine Cover, June 18, 1921 — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

Don Diego Valdez “But ... but, how is it to be done? What am I to.say to the captain of that ship?” “You shall be dressed to suit your rank of lieutenant to Don Diego, and you shall bear a letter, which I shall furnish you, which Don Diego is most anxious should be conveyed at once to Cadiz. He has sent you with it in the hope that she may be homeward bound for Spain.” And now those behind Esteban, who saw in this their only chance of life, hoarsely cried out to him to do as was required. To this clamor and to his own terrors the gun- ner yielded. Captain Blood’s manner became brisk. Time enough had been lost already, and the two ships running ever along their con- verging lines stood now scarcely more than a mile apart. He ordered the bilboes to be struck off the prisoners, and the long-boat to be got ready for launching. ' Esteban meanwhile he carried off to: the round-house with him, and what time the gunner donned the garments supplied him Captain Blood was very busy with pens and papers amid the effects of Don Diego. His task was accomplished by the time that Esteban was ready, and he presented to the gunner a package bearing as a superscrip- tion a name and address in Cadiz which the captain had foynd among Don Diego’s letters. This package was sealed with the arms of Valdez, and none could: have sus- pected from its eminently correct exterior that it contained nothing but some sheets of blank paper. ,\WHEN they came forth again upen Ge.) the quarter-deck the other vessel was within half a mile of them. Blood issued an order, and a blank shot was fired from the prow; instantly the helm was put over, and the Cinco Llagas was lying to, her sails flapping idly in the breeze, whilst the Spanish seamen went about launching the boat. Meanwhile the other vessel, veering a point or two, crept on until she had halved the distance separating them. Not until then did she also heave to in answer to the signal to stand awaiting the boat that was ‘speeding toward her across the sunlit wa- ters. To have held her course.so long, and even now to refrain from showing her flag, argued suspicion on her part, and for a mo- ment Captain Blood had almost feared that Al it was her intention to come on until she lay board and board with them. He drew a breath of relief, when. at last he saw her pause. He was standing with Wolverstone, Hagthorpe and Ogle by the stern-chaser that bore the still writhing Don Diego. Ogle kept the gun trained on the long-boat, whilst his mate swung a spluttering fuse, ready to apply it to the touch-hole at the word of command.. Anxious and. watchful were the eyes that followed the boat across: the intervening waters until it brought up against the black hull of the frigate, and they could make out Esteban going briskly up the ladder. After that followed somc five minutes of intensest, almost agonizing suspense for all, and then across the water floated the note of a trumpet, to be drowned. the next mo- ment in the roar of eight guns that belched fire and metal. The broadside was aimed high, with intent no doubt to sweep the decks of the Cinco Llagas since she was standing almost bow on to the enemy. Fortunately the aim was a thought too high, and the shot hummed and _ tore through Captain Blood’s shrouds, doing Hit- tle real damage beyond slight wounds to two men who were struck by flying splin- ters. But if the broadside did not deal the death it was intended to deal, it dealt a consternation almost as fatal. “We are betrayed! The Spanish dog has betrayed us!’’ was the cry that went up. With an oath muttered through clenched teeth Ogle swung to his mate. “Fire!” he cried, and obediently the man stooped to touch off the gun Don Diego writhed again, and then stif- fened. in his bonds, turning his eyes to sea as the man moved to obey the gunner. But before the match could touch the powder Blood had torn it from the fellow’s hand and set his foot upon it, spinning round as he did so, a wild excitement on his swarthy face. “Strike that flag!” he roared. ‘‘We are not betrayed. It is because the Spaniards _have been loyal that this has happened.” And he flung out an arm to point to the other ship’s mainmast, to the head of which the English ensign was swiftly soaring, to disclose at last her true identity now that . the moment to-deliver battle was arrived. The fact was quickly grasped by every man aboard: Eager hands tore at the COmicloo CN Vp) (©