Adventure Magazine Cover, October 30, 1924 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

South, West and North heart—I had to be with you, to watch over you——” He stammered and fell silent as he held her hand. Under his eyes and words, her pale face crimsoned again in its frame of brown hair, and in her wide hazel eyes he read only too surely the answer to his impulsive utterance. “T’m glad, Dick, I’m glad!” she said sim- ply, in that low, rich voice which so reached into his heart and soul. ‘Oh, Dick, I’ve cried to think of that morning at the cross- roads—I never thought to see you again! And now to see you here seems like a miracle—but my father, my father! What will he say?” Sudden fright leaped into her face. “Dick, he mustn’t see you—it will be terrible! You know how he feels ‘ Hampton laughed and closed his fingers more tightly over hers. ‘““We’re at sea, Nelly, and what can he do? Make the best of it. He won’t let you see much of me, but don’t worry. I’ll be close at hand, dear heart; I’m to leave the brig at Chagres and go along with the company. You don’t know or dream what’s ahead, but I know 4 Just then two officers of the gold company appeared behind Nelly Barnes; old Eliphalat Nickerson, the president, and with him spruce Adam Johnson, the secretary. Both of them knew Hampton and greeted him with surprize and satisfaction, and after the handshaking he exchanged one look with Nelly and then went his way forward. Recollection of his own impulsive words Jeft him tingling, for now he knew that his secret was no longer a secret, and that Nelly Barnes had welcomed him with all her heart. That very morning the bosun tumbled down the ladder into the forepeak and broke his leg, and Job Warlock was put in his place. Since the bosun stood no regular watch but all watches, snatching time off when he could, this threw the two friends together at times. That afternoon when Hampton had the deck, Job Warlock came up to him and touched forelock with a grin. “Bless me, what’s come over ye, Dick? There I be, forgetting all proper respect! Beg pardon, sir. What an unholy old packet she is, and a crew o’ greenhorns! What makes ye look so wondrous joyful, eh?” “Reason enough, Job!”’ Hampton laughed cheerfully. ““Aye, the lass 1’ the brown hair, eh?” said 19 Job shrewdly. “TI noted her, and a fine lass she is. Well, journey’s end makes lovers’ meetings, they say, but we’re not at Chagres yet, mark it well! Tomorrow will be a fine day, and then ye’ll hear things go popping down below 2 “Belay and stand by,” said Hampton suddenly, looking down the deck. ‘“Here’s the to pay now, Job. Stand by.” He saw Eliphalat Nickerson approaching, and beside him, still rather sickly in looks but grim and harsh as ever, Jed Barnes. Among the many gold seekers who were now on deck, Hampton saw nothing of Nelly, and was glad. Jed Barnes came on with determination in his manner, while old Nickerson pulled at his whiskers and looked confoundedly ill at ease. Straight up to Hampton they came, and Jed Barnes fast- ened upon him a narrow-eyed regard of suspicious hatred. ‘“‘So you’re here, are ye?” he spat out. “Mighty slick galoot, ain’t ye? I know why you’re trailin’ after me, Dick Hampton, and I warn ye here and now that I’ll have none of it. Any of your antics around me or Nelly, and I'll give ye a larruping! Under- stand? Not a word to her, ye graceless whelp, ye runagate, ye no-account rascal, or I’ll lay a stick over your shoulders! You leave our company at Chagres, under- stand?” Hampton looked at him and laughed. “Jed, you’re an old fool. I could break you with one hand—and will do it yet, if you don’t watch your eye. D’you think I care a tinker’s dam for you or your threats? Nota bit. Dll marry Nelly, and if you don’t like it you can lump it. For the rest, you’re talking to a ship’s officer before members of the crew. One more word out of you and you goinirons. One word!” Jed Barnes gasped with fury, and would have spoken not one but many words—save that old Nickerson dragged him away by main force. Warlock, looking after them, rolled his quid from cheek to cheek and then grinned. “There go two prime fools, and another two-score like ’em aboard! D’ye know that they’ve got all their hard cash with ’em? Aye, every cent. Some keep it in their pockets, but more ha’ pooled it in a strong- box, and that box is in the keeping of our friend Day. At Chagres he’ll jump ship with it. Heap good work, as the Injun said when he rubbed his belly.” micloool C© inn