Adventure Magazine Cover, October 30, 1924 — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

south, West and North searching her for two men supposed to be escaping from justice, and had remained aboard to postpone his sailing indefinitely. “With them, sefiores,’ he concluded dramatically, ‘there was a man, apparently but a humble peon, who directed the search; and now my beautiful ship will be con- fiscated or detained, just when I had arranged to smuggle a fine cargo! Que lastima, that I should ever have come to this accursed Panama! I hastened to you, sefores. There is no doubt that your enemies, those pigs of North America, have suspected your departure ” Hampton met a glance from Job War- lock which was eloquent, and stood for a moment stupefied by this astounding in- telligence. There was no need for speech; to both of them, the event was only too clear. Instead of clearing out from Gor- gona at once, the spy of Dias had hurried first to Doha Hermana—and now the lady was at work. ‘‘What have I suffered from these gringos!”’ went on Captain Garcia, with a sigh and an oath. ‘In Mexico, they ruined me during the war, and my brother was killed at Buena Vista; even now, I cannot escape from them. Give me your advice, noble sefiores, for they are your enemies no less than mine.” Warlock was quick to assume his part. “Beyond a doubt, sefior,” he made answer, “‘the Americanos suspect that we may Jeave aboard your ship. Perhaps we have been betrayed to them—who knows? None of them came aboard?”’ “None but that peon, who must have been a spy. He has remained aboard with an officer and four soldiers.” El Hambre stirred slightly. His ca- daverous and scarred visage, thrust forward, showed a malignant and wolfish expression. Garcia, glancing at him, crossed himself hurriedly “‘Sefiores,”’ said the Indian, “let me go aboard with the sefior capitan.’ Warlock and Hampton exchanged a ook. “Wait!” said Hampton. ‘You are going aboard now, sefior capitan?” Garcia shrugged. ‘But yes, sefor don; it may be that they await to arrest or question me—qutén sabe?” “And how many men aboard?” Garcia shrugged. , Dios sabe! I had six, but three were 3 49 ashore for the evening. Three men, then, if they have not run away. They are good men, brave caballeros of Sofiora.”’ ‘“‘And when could you sail, if free to go?” The skipper looked again at this tall, fair- bearded man who had so swiftly taken the situation in hand. “Senor don, in half an hour the tide is on the turn. Ah, you brave Basque adven- turers! I see what is in your mind. How- ever, it is quite useless. The moon is rising already, and the batteries would stop us if we fled.”’ Hampton laughed. ‘“‘The batteries? Bah! If such a man as you were in command of them, yes! But you know what these soldiers of New Granada are, my noble captain; before they could waken to the emergency, we’d be gone—and could they hit us, in any event? Not except by grace of the saints.” . ‘““Verdederamente,’’ said the Mexican re- flectively, and threw out his chest. “It is true, sefior don, that they are not soldiers such as we have in Mexico.” “But, on the other hand, if you slipped away, how could you return here? Perhaps it is better for you not to embroil yourself with the authorities on our behalf, noble capitan. No, we could not allow so brave a caballero to suffer for us. No, return our money and call off the bargain.”’ Job Warlock struggled to conceal a grin at this, and the Mexican rubbed his swarthy chin with a very dirty hand. ‘“Sefior,” he returned, with an em- barrassed air, “I could not accept your noble offer. Never shall it be said that Manuelo Garcia fled from these dogs of New Granada! Never shall it be said that Manuelo Garcia abandoned two ricos gran- des to the wrath of the accursed Yankees! Senores, we are brothers. Give me your instructions, and I will obey. Besides,” he added with some naiveté, “I have lost most of my money at monte. Nor do I expect to return to Panama.”’ Hampton chuckled. “Good. We shall shave off our beards, in order not to be recognized. Then we shall come aboard—say, in three-quarters of an hour. When we come alongside, be ready. If possible, we shall get away without caus- Ing any alarm. What about a boat?” El Hambre spoke up from his corner. “I can arrange for a trustworthy boat- man, sefior. If it is your pleasure that I MICLOOOKS nn)