The Wasp, 1918 · page 227 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 227: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **narrative fiction rather than a political cartoon**—it's a serialized adventure story titled "The Wasp," depicting a naval chase scene. The text describes an impending battle between a military brig (a two-masted warship) and a sloop, with a white schooner and a "Frenchman" also involved in the action. The story emphasizes the desperate odds facing the sloop's crew ("not two in a hundred" chance of survival), their brave preparation despite knowing they're likely to die, and mysterious maneuvering by another vessel near the "danger zone." Without seeing the illustrations or knowing the publication date, the specific historical naval conflict being referenced remains unclear—though the mention of French involvement suggests a period when Britain and France were maritime rivals (possibly Napoleonic era or American independence period). This appears to be serialized adventure fiction rather than satirical political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
218 - THE WASP _All day the big brig continued to overhaul the sloop; and the white schooner, which had gone about, continued to run neck and neck with the quarry down the wind not more than half a mileaway. The sun went down, the moon came up, and the Tartar continued to run ~| desperately against hope. Sky and sea were clear of any cloud or hint of mist. When the moon had run her course the stars were like lamps. The Yartar was cleared for action before dawn. All hands had an early breakfast, at which rum was. served, and then went to their stations. The guns were loaded and shot were hea The brave fellows joked as they awaited daylight and death, though all but the youngsters knew that the chances of a sloop fighting off a twenty- two-gun brig were not two in a hundred. Dawn broke, showing the brig astern of the ‘sloop and within a quarter of a mile of her, and the white schooner about a quarter of a mile _ off the brig’s port bow. ** What in the world is that fellow about?” — asked Scovil. ‘‘ He’s lying close to the danger. zone, and may get ue fingers eae bee us pray that he will! ’ Just then the Frenchman let fly with his bow iComicbooks| ‘com