Adventure Magazine Cover — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

98 GORDON YOUNG was his instinct for dapperness that he would not come out, where everybody could see him, unshaven. His eyes were deeply sunken, his unwaxed mustache hung like the raveled ends of string; and as he weakly let himself down into a chair under the awning he had the feeling that he did not care what happened. He had hardly seated himself when Madame came near, and spoke pleasantly. Now his stomach was sickened, his emaciated body venomous with bile. He hated her anyhow with the unpardoning resentment of a man who owes a debt of which he is often reminded; but here on the bark there was no need to pretend a gratitude he had never felt for her getting him out of prison. He was glad enough to have been smuggled out, but she had wor- ried him too much with threats of having him returned. When she spoke pleasantly, he snarled at her; his lips moved fast, his hands twitched in gestures. Pelew, whose side Madame had just left, understood no French, but was suspicious. With the slow, swaying walk of a doubtful ape, he came closer, stopped, eyed Vioux, said— “Lady, is he cussin’ you?”’ Vioux, spitefully reckless, arose, and with a flicker of old time impudence, bowed, put out his hand, said— “Monsieur, my mos’ sincere appreciation that you so respec’ my dear sister!’ ‘Sister!’ said Pelew. “T have that honor,” said Vioux. ‘Ys this shrimp yer brother?” asked Pelew. “Tie to him, Lucille,” said Vioux in French, “or I tell the truth! I am tired of blows from men you try your stale charms on!”’ Madame bit her thin lips, afraid of what Vioux might call the “truth.” She said— ‘Ze foster brother, yes, Monsieur Pelew.” “Hu-ugh,”’ Pelew commented doubt- fully; and evidently thinking that a fellow could properly row a sister if he wanted, stood awkwardly for a moment, then awkwardly withdrew. “My dear sister,” said Vioux, looking after him. ‘Your taste sinks with your fortune! On that cursed Dragon you spread smiles for the devil Heddon—who was at least gentleman enough to understand French. But this clod-head—bah!”’ “Beast of a bladder-head,” said Madame, “the Pelew is nothing but the handle to my knife!” “Do not talk of knives!’ said Vioux quickly, shuddering. ‘The cursed China- men carry them. I saw poor Zudag!’’ “And you did nothing but drink and hide!” “Do? What could I do? But you, the siren woman—”’ spitefully—“‘why have you not smiled upon the Chinese pirate? Made him our friend? Then there would be noth- ing to fear. This big ape—better the Chinaman!” Madame’s pale face burned, for a mo- ment looked much as if she had put on rouge in a bad light. She did not want to quarrel. She had thought of some use for Vioux, and said: “Is it for you to insult me so, Julien? Have I not done things you should re- member?” “Like all women, my beautiful Lucille, you think a man unhappy when he is not near you. Bah! Better that prison than this ship! It was at least cool between rock walls, and things were not so bad for one who whispered tales to the guards.” “Tt is not you, Julien, that speaks, but the brandy bottle!”’ “Tt is I! When one is drunk one sees things clearly. And remembers! It is true that [ stole your diamond, but I spent it for your safety. As that devil Heddon was kind enough to send me brandy, I forgive him much!” ‘He sent it that you might kill yourself!” “Why he let Denasso bring it to me I do not care. For that I got it, I remember him kindly, and do not forget how you talked of me when you wanted him to love you. Oh, Iam no fool. So saveege, eh? Magnifique! Now you say the same to that baboon!”’ “How can you be so big a fool as to think I mean more than to use the Pelew for my tool? Ah, Julien, I am now without friends among those whom I have always helped. Abdul has turned coward. Denasso washes dishes in the galley that he may smoke opium. Zudag, murdered! And you, even you, Julien, are no longer my friend.” ‘““How you talk! It was you who said, ‘Vioux, away from me!’ ”’ ‘In anger, Julien, friends do not say what they mean.” “IT called you bad names, and there are cComiclbooks C©