The Wasp, 1918 · page 171 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 171: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains narrative text—likely from a serialized adventure story—rather than political satire or editorial cartoons. The passage describes a violent scene aboard a ship where protagonist James Burnham, who has killed someone called "Hicks," leads wounded men into a cabin. The text reads like action fiction: Burnham enters a darkened ship's cabin with bloody sword in hand, followed by injured comrades. He explores the space, finding a pantry and attempting to break into a locked door. Without seeing illustrations or knowing the story's context, publication date, or whether this relates to actual historical events or fictional narrative, I cannot identify what (if any) satirical or political commentary this page contains. *The Wasp* was primarily a humor and satire magazine, but this excerpt appears to be straightforward adventure prose rather than satirical content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
162 ‘THE WASP first to kill, and the slayer of the terrific Hicks. His exploits had filled his comrades with wonder and admiration, his enemies with horror. Now, with the long, straight blade held low — before him, blood dripping slowly from the point, he led the way to the cabin. The four others who could walk followed him briskly and two of the grievously wounded crawled after, Se and groaning and cursing. The poop-deck was raised about four feet above the main-deck, and three short steps in a hooded hatch led down to the cabin door and the level of the cabin-deck. The door stood open. James Burnham entered and halted, staring into the gloom of the ill-lit apartment. The four crowded at his shoulders. The wounded men dragged themselves down the steps, smearing the planks with their blood. : The cabin was long and narrow and lighted only by two small ports beneath the after coam- ing of the poop. Closed doors lined it on both sides. Burnham advanced a step or two, turned to the right, and pushed open one of the’ doors. It°opened upon utter darkness and a smell of dried fruits. A pantry evidently. He tried the next door and found it locked. The key was not in the lock. He smashed it ~ at nookee