Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 3 — page 192: what you’re looking at

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

566 we’d have had you rounded up, my man, and wiped out months ago. We'll do it yet if you continue to be a nuisance, and blow the consequences.”’ Admiral Teach rammed tobacco into his big, black pipe. ‘“ You might,” he agreed thoughtfully, “and again you mightn’t. Luck’s a lot to do with. it. I’ve had a record run in the piracy business, and only come against two near shaves.” ) ‘Which were those?”’ The pirate fingered his clipped ear, and laughed dryly. “If you don’t know—and really I’m surprised you don’t, but extreme- ly pleased—I sha’n’t tell you now. If ever we get back to Brown’s again you shall have the yarn over a good dinner. But for the present you’re the ambassador of the British Government, and I’m Admiral com- manding the enemies’ fleet.” ‘You're a plain, common pirate.” ‘“‘ Oh, that’s only between ourselves. But the trick that got me away before may come in handy again, and I’ve a score of other tricks up my sleeve to:turn. to the same pious end. Yes, by. gad, it’s not the job for a fool, bucking against the armed fleets of all the world with one tin-pot seventeen- hundred-ton tramp that never steamed above thirteen-point-eight.”’ Lord Raisghyll noted the man’s vanity, but did not comment on it directly. “Youre wrong about my being an am- _ bassador or anything of the kind,’’ he said. ‘As I told you squarely from the first, I’m _ here entirely in an unofficial capacity, just as I was when we had that game on St. Kilda. I can tell you I got into pretty hot water over that, too.” The pirate rubbed the bow! of his pipe against the side of his predatory nose. . ‘But seeing that you are here now, one’ gathers you stayed out of jail for aiding and abetting, or whatever it was. As a cabinet minister presumably you would— if you answered questions successfully. I’d have given a bit, Raisghyll, to have been behind the curtain when the P. M. or who- ever your immediate boss may be, put you through your facings.” “Qh, he tried to, all right.”’ How did you work it then?” “Told him to go to hell,” said his lord- ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. a ship shortly, and added, very much sotto voce, ‘‘ The little cad!” “ Tut!” said Admiral Teach. ‘“ Precisely. Tut! I’m useful, and they can’t get along without me. Also, I don’t care a dead match for office, oreblack looks, or salary, or promotion, or any other kind of loot, and they know that, too. Other- wise they’d cheerfully send me to the guillo-° tine about five days a week.”’ The pirate touched his cap respectfully. “Floreat Etona! Raisghyll, youre a big man. Why the devil doesn’t Great Britain have the sense to employ more of you fellows who’ve got the motto of: ‘ Do it and let ’em howl ’ when they see a thing’s what the country needs. “TI say, though, we’re drifting off the course. You came here to arrange either about my hanging or settling me down on a farm.” | “It ‘Il have to be an uncommon, quiet farm, then. Say, somewhere at the back of the Argentine. You can’t help that nose, I suppose, but, hang it, man, why did you mark your ear like a sheep’s? You're so infernally distinctive. | ‘“‘T suppose a ranch in Greenland or a nice quiet bungalow in Kerguelen wouldn’t suit you? It’s a solid fact that you'll have to keep out of the limelight for the next six years whatever happens.” . ‘“‘Deal’s off, then,” Teach snapped. “Either I’m going to have total amnesty, or you aren’t rid of me.” ‘“‘ And that’s that,” said Lord Raisghyll. ‘As we don’t seem to be getting any for- rarder, what about a whisky and soda? I hate talking.” An ancient steamship with barbaric ex- crescences climbed leisurely out of the hori- zon that afternoon, worked up to wind- ward of the Littondale, and hung there among masses of yellow weed. The sun beat upon her. The pirate crew lifted their noses and sniffed significantly. There was no mistaking that sour chemi- cal smell which drifted down to them. ‘The Cryptol Syndicate’s Chinese,” Teach commented. ‘“ Wish they were Swedes, or Choctaws. I am always a bit doubtful about Chinese. - CO ElOOOlKS i Colin