Adventure Magazine Cover, March 20, 1925 — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

The Snow Driver skiff, to ask i any upon the ships had knowledge of the deed or of my lord Renard.” “What of Renard?” asked Ralph through set teeth. “He was to have escorted the venerable pilot back to London, but, missing him jn the village, apparently went on alone.” Ralph bent his bead a moment, touching with his hand the rude drawing on the table, so unlike the delicate tracery of his father’s It came into his mind that the Cosmog- rapher would never, now, behold him re- turning with the king’s navigants, and the certainty that Master Thorne was no longer living filled him with a longing to have lived otherwise. With his own sword! “Sir,” he cried, ‘‘I do hold it ill of you that you should have thought me. guilty of my father’s murder. One thing I must ask of you—nay, two. A sword and to be put aboard the Confdeniia where Durforth is 9? ““Not so.” Chancellor rose, stooping to avoid the deck beams overhead, and held out his hand. “J did no more than test you with words. A man may lie with his tongue, yet his eyes must e’en bear witness of his honesty. Your eyes are honest. ’Tis so I judge a man.’ “Your friends,” assented the armiger, “do say that you are just, Master Chan- cellor. I have found you so.” The big pilot shook his tawny head as if impatient of a burden that was not to his liking. “Tn these treacherous days when poison is in the vety air of England, I may not easily know who is friend and who is un- friend. Before this I had other evidence that approved your innocence.”’ “How?” “A&A ship’s master is more careful than you reck. When Peter rowed me out that night, I questioned him of the new hand that he had trepanned.”’ Chancellor smiled and when he did so his weatherbeaten face glowed with a kindly light. “Peter’s a rare rogue—cheats the gallows with every breath; yet is he loyal to those he serves. None so long before you ap- peared upcn the shore he wandered off to the ale house to wet his throat. There he 29 heard the tumult raised by my lord Renard’s fellows when they sought to put an end to you. “Peter hath the Spanish gab and heard something of their secret talk. I examined you straitly while you lay unconscious, and knew you for Robert Thorne’s son.” “Vet told me naught of his fate!’ “It is not easy to relate such news, my lad. You lay ill. Moreover,” the pilot added quietly, “I will not join in fellowship with other men if they be not open with me. I bade Peter put you to test, the which he did after a fashion of his own.” He motioned Thorne to a seat beside him in the stern casement and put his hand on the youth’s shoulder. “Tt was not in my mind to deal hardly by you. “Twas best you should lie hidden, lest Durforth come to know of you and demand your punishment of Sir Hugh who holds him in much esteem.”’ “And what, Master Dickon,” cried the armiger,”’ is your thought of Durforth? I will face him and accuse him of abetting my father’s murder—which was by Renard’s hand I will swear.”’ “‘Master Durforth was on his ship when it took place.” “Tt is true that the pair of them slew my father,” insisted Thorne from set lips, “and I shall take vengeance for that black d a “But Durforth we may not accuse. Others might have caused the moldering victuals to be put in the holds. Durforth is a skilled navigator, and hath on the Con- fdentia a rare globe showing the passage we must follow.” “What of the course he laid down, to the inland sea?”’ “Faith,” smiled the pilot, “I would give half my share in this venture to know the truth of that. He hath made no men- tion of it in council. ’Tis a riddle that will some day resolve itself. “My lad, I will enroll you among the gen- tlemen adventurers. You will be the fourth upon this ship. We will observe closely Durforth’s actions, and know whether he be honest man or rogue. the council meets in the cabin of Sir Hugh and I will ask Durforth of this inland sea and Town of Wooden Walls.” Chancellor was a man slow of decision but one who would not draw back once he had made up his mind. Seeing this, Thorne CORnNIECLO© On the morrow S (©