The Wasp, 1913 · page 286 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 286: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This appears to be a narrative excerpt from a serialized adventure story rather than a political cartoon. The text describes a captain (James Burnham) and his crew preparing for a military or raiding expedition along a French coast during what seems to be a colonial-era conflict. The "satire" here involves superstition: the crew's fear of the number thirteen and their plan to eliminate one member (Bill Hook) to reduce their company from thirteen to twelve. The captain finds this superstition amusing but doesn't openly mock it, instead efficiently organizing the expedition—supplies, weapons, and a plan to approach a French fishing village under cover of darkness. The humor targets the crew's irrational belief in unlucky numbers, contrasting their folk superstition with the captain's pragmatic leadership. Without seeing accompanying illustrations or knowing the publication date and context, the broader satirical purpose remains unclear, though this appears to be adventure fiction rather than political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP 281 Though Tom Croft was cowed into silence, he was not satisfied ; and several other members of the little company mistrusted the number thirteen as keenly as he did. They whispered together when- ever the captain’s eye was not upon them. James knew, of course, that they meant to reduce the un- lucky number of the company by one; and he knew, as well as Bill Hook knew, that the reduction would be made at poor Bill’s expense. This knowledge amused James; but it did not amuse Bill Hook to any extent. Though slightly amused by the ignorance of his followers, the captain said nothing more to the dis- credit of ancient superstitions. He set them briskly at work. Two oaken breakers were filled and stowed in the boat. Fruit, the two bags of biscuits, arms, and ammunition were put aboard. Then James Burnham explained his plan of campaign. They would follow the coast northward for a dis- tance of twelve or fifteen miles, and then, under cover of darkness, slip into the cove of a little French fishing village that he had sighted more than once from his schooner’s deck. There they Comichooks.com