The Wasp, 1918 · page 241 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 241: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page appears to be from a serialized adventure story rather than a political cartoon. It describes a naval plot involving a pirate ship called the *Wasp* operating in the Caribbean (around Barbados, Nevis, and St. Kitts). Captain Robinson receives anonymous intelligence about the pirate vessel's hideouts via a mysterious boatman. The governor sends military brigs to investigate. Meanwhile, the *Thunderous*—apparently a government ship—conducts a covert nighttime approach to St. Kitts, extinguishing lights to avoid detection. The narrative suggests either a manhunt for the pirate or a romantic subplot involving a character named Hélène associated with the *Wasp*. The language and setting indicate 19th-century colonial-era adventure fiction. Without seeing illustrations or additional context, the satirical intent—if any—remains unclear.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
932-5 THE WASP Captain Robinson received a packet one morning _ from the hand of a ragged negro boatman. The boatman paddled quickly away from the ship’s side immediately after delivering the packet. _ Captain Robinson tore off the soiled sailcloth wrapper and found a small, roughly drawn chart of three widely separated islands, and a page _of written instructions concerning the habits and hiding-places of “‘ that notorious pyrate in ye — white schooner commonly known as the Wasp.” In the charts or instructions there was no mention of that particular retreat in which the beautiful Hélene lived, and in the harbour of which the original Wasp now lay at anchor, her slender hull newly painted as black as night. _ Captain Robinson notified the governor ‘of Barbados of this important communication from the unknown. Two ten-gun brigs which happened to be in the bay were sent to investigate the ~~ two nearer retreats, and the Thunderous sailed northward. .The Thunderous spent only four days in Nevis, then continued her voyage. She headed due east, under easy sail, until sunset, then put about. As she approached the eastern coast of — St. Kitts all her lights were extinguished or — covered. / : COMME OOS,