The Wasp, 1913 · page 211 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 211: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains dialogue from a serialized story in *The Wasp* (a 19th-century American satirical magazine). The text depicts a conversation aboard a ship between Burnham (a quartermaster) and Slim Sam (a first mate and former pickpocket). The passage introduces a mysterious woman named Hélène da Silva, allegedly the daughter of Saint-Ovide, a French pirate who was executed. Slim Sam hints cryptically that this woman will be "put ashore" tomorrow—suggesting she's either a stowaway or a problem the captain must address. The narrative tone suggests intrigue and potential mutiny: Slim Sam appears to be testing Burnham's loyalty while hinting at some scheme. Burnham, cautious, pretends ignorance to avoid commitment. This is **adventure/melodrama fiction**, not political satire. The humor derives from character interaction and suspense rather than social commentary. The exotic references (French pirates, Spanish heritage) add sensationalism typical of period serialized tales.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
206 THE WASP “Ye’re wrong, sir,” returned the ex-pickpocket. “It escaped nobody. To-morrow ye’ll see. The captain will put her ashore—unless he is quite mad. Otherwise? Well, a new captain.” Burnham distrusted Slim Sam. He saw that the fellow was hinting something beneath his words— inviting questions—offering something. But Burn- ham had learned caution of late. He pretended stupidity. “T don’t know your rules,” he said. “Who is the woman? Where did Hicks get her, I wonder? Is she French or Spanish?” The first mate smiled. He seemed to be bent upon humoring.this new quartermaster. “You are younger than I am,” he said tenderly; “but I was never a squire of dames. I never at- tracted them; and I was only a poor man, a book- seller’s clerk, before—my trouble. But I can tell you about this woman. She is called Héléne da Silva, and is generally supposed to be the daughter of a French freebooter who sailed and was hanged under the name of Saint-Ovide, and of a Spanish Comichooks.com