Adventure Magazine Cover, October 30, 1924 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

4 Adventure north from Panama. I come up here, or- ganize a company, guarantee ’em first- class passage through, and no delay; and keep my word. Why, some of those poor have been in Panama for months, and die like flies from fever and plague! My company has none o’ that. They get across the isthmus in my care, step into one or both o’ my schooners, and off they go— slick! Also, they pay for the privilege, and pay high. They ought to. They’ll be picking up nuggets in Sacramento before these folks here today will round the Horn! They’re willing to pay extra, and I want only those who can afford to pay well for value received. I make money, and it’s fair and square.” Hampton nodded. “Fair and square, sir. Well, I’m free of the gold fever, and I’m called home to Salem on an errand I can’t postpone. At the same time, I’d like to think over your offer, if I may.”’ “Right. What’s your experience?” “T’m just home from first mate aboard the brig Acadian—she’s across the harbor now, bought and fitting for Frisco with the Hampshire & Holyoke Company. I’ve not been around the Horn, but I’ve been every- where else; across the isthmus and up the west coast, too.’ “Vou’ll do,” said James Day decisively. “T’ll keep open the berth for three days— until an hour of sailing time. By the way, we have a family going from your town— Jedediah Barnes and his daughter. Do you know them?” Hampton slowly turned and looked at the speaker. He was an inch shorter than Day, yet tall enough, and wider through the shoulders. His face was thin and almost too harshly curved; one guessed that he could be a hard master, and so he was, though seamen liked him since he knew his business thoroughly. What spoke most from him was the poise of his head, the quiet tensity of his eyes, the deep firmness of his facial lines. Now, as he looked at Day, his gray eyes were level and hard, showing no emotion, but for an instant his teeth clenched on his pipe-stem. His chief business at home had been with Nelly Barnes. “Jed Barnes? Yes, knowhim. But he has—why, it’s impossible! Nelly can’t be going.”’ “She is, though.”” Day chuckled. His eyes were on the crowd, not on the man beside him. ‘Both going out. They’re the only Salem folks with us.” “Why? Barnes has plenty of money.’’ “Like every one else, he wants more. He’s sold out everything and is going to California tostay. Nice girl, Nelly! We’ve several married women in the company, and she’ll be taken care of, you can be sure.”’ Hampton did not answer. He dimly realized that speeches were being made down the wharf as the lines of the Capitol were cast off, but the voice of Day rung in his brain. Nelly Barnes going to California! It seemed preposterous. He had not been home for three months, and much might have occurred in that time—his own brother, apparently, had gone. Yet Nelly Barnes, of all people! “Three days, .eh?” he said _ slowly. “Thanks, Mr. Day. I'll let you know.” “Right.” Day modded. ‘And keep your mouth shut, sir. It’s known that we’re going, of course, but we want no talking about our plans and so forth. We've made up our company quietly, picked the best men we could find, and are getting off for work, without any flourish of trumpets. Banners and Bibles are barred. So are pistols.”’ : Day chuckled, ,but Hampton did not respond. With a curt farewell he turned and strode away. . He had some accounts to settle, had to arrange about his chest and belongings; he could not get off for home before the early morning. As he reached the head of the wharf, a sudden whirl of fifes and a lifting roar of voices from the crowd behind him burst into song. Hampton found himself keep- ing pace to the air, and then cursed it with sudden bitterness as the words impacted upon his brain. Oh, California, That’s the land for me! I’m off for Sacramento With my shovel on my knee! IT a ‘ ay) DICK HAMPTON, swinging along Ls" the frozen snowy road, came to the crossing of the little-used hill road from Lynn, and paused. He was four miles from home. One way lay South Salem and Marblehead, while on ahead lay Salem and Beverly. At this last. fork, Hampton stood still and gazed a long while, and at last CoOmiclboolks 6 nn)