Adventure Magazine Cover — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

100 take us. I have talked to Abdul, but Abdul is a coward and will not risk revenge on the Heddon. Monsieur Baboon says it is very wrong to lift a hand against the captain of one’s ship. But if anything should happen to the captain— Pahl What of it, then?” “The Chinamen!” said Vioux at once. “They are but four and we are many. T’eeay Layeen would then be our prisoner, and must show us treasure. If the Heddon is out of one’s way, all else is easily arranged!” “You think of everything!” said Vioux, almost admiringly. “TI do,” said Madame calmly. “And this time, Lucille,’ Vioux asked earnestly, “there zs treasure, and we can get it?” “With courage, monsieur. Yes.” “‘Wealth—in Paris! But it is not for me, Lucille. I am known!” “With a beard? A big black beard? You would be a Spaniard from South America, one who had grown rich from coffee.” Vioux thoughtfully fingered the tuft on his chin as if to detect how rapidly it might spread and cover his face: “And to think this day I shaved! Bah! I do nothing right. A beard—wealth—in Paris—with no one to know me! Ah!” He looked straight at her; Madame looked straight at him, and knew as well of what he was thinking as if he had spoken. She was the one who knew him too well. “You will help me, Julien?” “Oh, eagerly, Lucille, as far as a sick man can!” “We can not have luck until we have a captain who is our friend. And as this friend must sail the ship as we wish after we leave the island with the treasure, this now is the best time to make the change.” “Tsee. That is right. How you think of everything!” “I do, Julien. You will help?” “This Heddon is a big strong man and—” “Even strong men sleep, and a weak hand may hold a knife, my Julien.” “Mon Dieu, Lucille!” said Vioux with a start. “You do not mean I must do the thing?” She regarded him with a faint smile, then shrugging her shoulders: “Why not, my brave Julien? A knife in the dark—pah! So easy!” “Ugh. To feel about in a big body for so GORDON YOUNG smalla thing asaheart! To strike and miss! I do not forget what I saw when I looked upon Zudag’s body!” “Then think, Julien, how else? Is there no other way?” She urged him in the tone of one who has a plan, and will feel encouraged if another, too, thinks of it and calls it excellent— “Some way that is easy?” “A gun is easier, if one does not miss. But a gun, no! It makes the noise that would bring everybody on top of me. Mon Dieu, Lucille! I see now how wise you were in the old days never to think of murder. It is not so easy. I begin to see that it means something to kill and not be caught!” “There is one way that is safe, Julien. And sure!”’ “Then tell me of that. If it is true, Lu- cille, I will show you at once that I ama man to be depended on.” “What do you say, Julien, to making another do for you what you tell him?” “Do murder, Lucille!” “Murder, Julien!” “How terrible you have become! Your lips do not tremble as you speak the word. But ah, you will coax the Baboon?” “No. He will know nothing. Through some sailor-superstition, he says he must not lift his hand against the captain. He says it would bring bad luck.” “Then who, if not he—or Abdul?” “Neither,” said Madame. She paused, lowered her voice: ‘‘Denasso.”’ “That fellow? Dare so much? Not he, Lucille!” “Listen, Julien. In the galley there is a can on a shelf—so big. By that can there is a pipe—so long. Denasso helps in the kitchen that he may smoke. I can not go up near the galley without stupid men look- ing hard at me, and staring to see why Iam there and what I do. I have walked that way many times, but always they watch. Now you are a man and will pass unnoticed. Look for the time when no one is in the galley and other men are busy. Bring the opium and pipe to me. Within three days Denasso will do as I tell him.”’ “You have become another woman, Lu- cille! This is terrible! But I too no longer care what Ido. You shallsee. Iam aman to be depended on!” Then again Vioux felt of the black tuft on his chin, fingered it, seemed trying to spreac COMIGIOOKS C© 5}