The Wasp, 1913 · page 276 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 276: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page appears to be from a serialized fiction story rather than a political cartoon. The narrative follows a character named Alexander who has apparently engaged in a nighttime military action (a "cutting-out expedition") against pirates near St. Kitts. The text describes Alexander disposing of his soiled clothing by dropping it weighted into the sea, then concealing the night's events from his wife Elizabeth. The story suggests he's relieved a "shameful tragedy had been averted," implying he prevented something dire from occurring. The final paragraph introduces dramatic tension: Alexander suddenly realizes the pirate captain's identity was revealed to the attackers before escaping, creating potential future danger. Without additional context or visible illustrations, this reads as adventure fiction rather than political satire. The page number (271) suggests this is mid-narrative in a longer work. The Wasp magazine did publish both satirical cartoons and serialized stories; this appears to be the latter.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP Q71 Alexander found his wife still sleeping peacefully. He locked the door of the cabin noiselessly, and in the dark divested himself of his scanty and soiled attire. He made the shirt and breeches into a small bundle, weighted the bundle with a pistol and a heavy knife, and dropped it through the port into the sea. Then he washed his face and hands, donned his night-robe, and retired thankfully to his narrow berth. The shameful tragedy had been averted. He had averted it with his own hand. He thanked God, and presently fell into a peaceful slumber. When Alexander and Elizabeth awoke and went on deck they beheld the green island of St. Kitts far astern. The white schooner, manned by a prize crew, sailed on the frigate’s course half a mile to starboard. Alexander intended to confess all to his wife some day ; but just now he told her nothing of the cutting-out expedition of the night. Suddenly he remembered a thing which he had overlooked in the first joyous flood of relief—to wit, that the pirate captain’s identity had become known to the invaders before his escape. He was chilled Comichooks.com