Argosy, Vol. 119, No. 2 — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

‘ i Hire ig oc Ba A, ’ és 212 and Tanner had abandoned the ship! Their ceparture had taken place while he was away on an errand for Captain Knee at the shipwrights. The captain could tell him nothing of the plans of his former passengers. They ‘had told him they were going, and they had gone! He surmised that they had got enough of the sea, and would make the remainder of their journey on land. Arthur begged to be permitted to follow them. ‘What, give up another man after all that have been drowned and—” Arthur interrupted: “ You can surely get more men here—” “ What sort, pray, what sort? Foreign- ers! Look what they’ve brought upon us —just having them as passengers—they are ll luck, these heathen!’’ “Spaniards are not heathen,” Arthur ob- jected. “ They are so mixed up with Moslems, I can’t tell ’em apart. There isn’t much difference that I can see, anyway. I have one left aboard—”’ ce Who?” “ The cook—Banny—”’ “Ts he Spanish, with that name?” “Yes. His name is Estéban, but what could I do with such a name? It’s no God-fearing name—now, is it?” “Suppose I jump the ship?” Arthur threatened. e “You do, and J’ll kill you!” Captain Knee exclaimed. At this they both laughed. The young man finally asked: “ May I have leave to go ashore this afternoon and see what I can—” “You may not,” the captain thundered. “We sail on this tide, without fail. And you sail with us!” And it turned out as the captain said. Perhaps it would not have, had not the wise old man of the sea put Arthur below, os- teasibly to help Banny in the galley, but really where he would be safely watched. Shortly after the vessel was under way, the young man was ordered on deck and assigned his usual duties. It seemed as though there might have been some truth in the captain’s assertion as it had before been arduous. THE ARGOSY. that the Spaniards were trouble-bringers; for, from now on, the voyage was as easy Arthur had more free time, and this he spent with Will Harris, to whom he spoke of Judith Merton and his plans to find her. He was careful to avoid any mention of the locket that still reposed safely beside the ring and nine gold pieces next his skin. He did not tell Will the story of the pic- ture and treasure. It was too improbable! Will would find it hard to believe, and Arthur: was too fond of this simple, loyal friend to put such a strain upon his cre- dence. So he kept his own counsel, but he pondered his offairs a great deal and one day he asked Estéban if he had ever heard of “ Seseca.”’ “ Of course!”’ the cook cried. Spaniard knows that name.” _ Arthur was almost dumfounded. Who is it?”’ he demanded. ‘ That is the name of the great Count de Sansito—Secretary to- His Majesty King Ferdinand of Aragon. He’s the greatest man in Spain. Some say he can do any- ‘“ Every _ thing, even with the king himself!” “ Are you sure that’s who Seseca is?” “ Of course, I’m sure. I never saw him, but I know. He has other titles—lots of them, but first he was just plain Don Juan de Seseca—a nobody, employed by the old King of Aragon—the father of the present king and the Prince of Viana, him as died . so young—some say poisoned by his own - father—”’ “How did you hear all this?” ‘It’s no more than everybody knows that was born and raised in Spain.” “ Funny that grandee who was our pas- senger did not know who Seseca was, nor Sir Thomas Merton, either—he was often at the Spanish. Court.” _ Arthur was thinking aloud. Estéban in- terposed by demanding: “ Did you -ask them?” | “Yes, and they both said ‘ No.’ ” “ Then,” Estéban announced with sol- emnity, “ they both lied!” Arthur was silent. He knew that this fellow spoke the truth. But why had Sir Thomas deceived him? Why had the ‘grandee lied? Where had they gone—and CS (E(0) im "EOMIGCDOO