Adventure Magazine, December 10, 1924 — page 189: what you’re looking at

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

The Pirates of Andrus Island happened. Warn him not to try and go back to the quarter-deck. If he runs up when we tell him to come into the cabin, we'll blow a hole through your back.” “T understand,” said Jessup. He got to his feet and walked aft to the companionway. X cy We “MR. LANGTON?” called Jessup wae up through the companion to the ei quarter-deck. ‘Oh, Mister Lang- ton! Will you kindly come below for a minute?” There was a reply; from well aft it sounded to Wade and Doxey. Presently the slippered feet of the mate came down the steps, just as the helmsman struck a tin- kling eight bells. ‘‘What’s up?” came the voice of Langton from the scuttle. “Come on down,” pressed Jessup. The mate’s feet descended. Wade and Doxey, standing at each side of the com- panion, had Jessup between them, but just in between the bulkheads. Their revolvers were pressed into the missionary’s silk- coated back. “Stop where you are,” said Jessup. “T’ve something most important to say— please listen carefully—and do exactly as I say.” “Why, what——?” “Mr. Langton,” broke in Jessup, “there are two white men down here in the cabin behind me, armed men, ready to end my life unless everything goes right, so——”’ ‘“‘Armed men!” gasped Langton. “Is this a joke?” “There are a pair of revolvers against my back,” pleaded Jessup. ‘For heaven’s sake, don’t make trouble, or my wife’ll die of fright. Please stand just where you are. I’ve told these two men we'll make no resistance, so do nothing, I pray you, to endanger Mrs. Jessup.” The mate was silent for a couple of min- utes, apparently turning over in his mind the amazing situation which Jessup had revealed to him. Wade, peering over Jessup’s shoulder, could not detect any- thing in the nature of a signal passed be- tween Jessup and the mate. And the mis- sionary kept his hands at his sides, so there was no chance for the mate to pass a weapon. | 167 “What shall I do now?” asked Jessup, turning his head back to Wade. “Come out of the companion. Stand on the starboard side, facing away from me.” Jessup backed out of the companion, ' moved between Doxey and the bulkhead and stood facing the door of the cabin in which he had said his wife was sleeping. Doxey held him covered. “Come in, Mr. Mate, and don’t start. anything,” ordered Wade. Langton’s feet slipped down the remain- ing steps. Then he stepped clear of the companion, turning his head from right to left, peering about the main-cabin, his eyes not yet accustomed to the light. He was a man of middle age and medium height. He wore pongee silk trousers that were overlarge. His white shirt lacked a collar. His face was red from sunburn and his sandy hair was cropped close to his scalp, making his ears look extremely large. He wore a cotton watch-cap that fitted on the crown of his head like something stuck on with glue, suggesting the shaven poll of a friar. “This is a nice go!” he declared, squinting at Wade after he had seen Doxey with his gun pointed at Jessup. “Suits us,’’ snapped Wade. “Just turn around, with your hands well up, and let me see how you are for guns.” “What is this? Piracy?” “Nothing else. We don’t intend to pass ourselves off with any false pretenses, Piracy up to the hilt, Mr. Mate.” ‘“‘Where’d you come from?” “From Andrus Island, if it does you any good to know. Now, just turn.” Langton lifted his arms over his head and swung round. Wade extracted from his pockets two automatics and made sure that no other weapons were concealed. “You go loaded for bear, like the parson,” said Wade as he pocketed the guns. ‘Just keep in mind that we’re not the only white men who came aboard at Andrus. There are others within call.”’ “Well, Pll be ——!” “Please guard your language, Mr. Lang- ton,” broke in Jessup. “These gentlemen have promised no harm to us if we do their bidding, and I don’t want my wife alarmed. Nothing can be done now. We are in the hands of desperate men.” Langton turned and faced Wade once Comicbook © =