The Wasp, 1913 · page 60 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 60: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains narrative text rather than a political cartoon. It depicts a dramatic escape scene aboard a ship involving characters named Burnham and Todd. Burnham strikes an unconscious sailor with a bottle, then helps a terrified boy flee the vessel by rope into a small boat under cover of darkness. The passage appears to be fictional serialized fiction rather than satire or political commentary. Without additional context about the publication date or the broader narrative, it's unclear what social or political meaning this adventure story may carry. The violent escape and the emphasis on the frightened boy suggest themes of danger or wrongdoing, but the specific satirical point—if one exists—cannot be determined from this page alone.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP 59 shoulder of the terrified boy and thrust it out gently, palm to the front. It came into contact with a bearded face. So he judged the exact position of the sleepy sailor’s head. He swung the bottle and brought it down. It splintered, and the mariner sank to the deck with a faint sigh. Naked feet pattered on the deck. “Over you go!” whispered Burnham into the boy’s ear. Todd slid over the broad rail and went down the rope like a monkey. Burnham followed him quicker than it can be told, cast off the painter, snatched up an oar, and pushed away from the brig’s side. A voice hailed them. Burnham stumbled over the crouching lad, cursed him, found a second oar, and commenced pulling desperately away into the dark. Todd lay whimpering in the bottom of the boat between the thwarts. ae A light flared upon the bulwarks, throwing blood- red stains upon the sides of the little waves. Burn- ham silenced the lad with an oath. In the san- Comichooks.com