The Wasp, 1918 · page 27 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page appears to be **prose fiction** rather than a political cartoon—specifically a serialized adventure story about piracy. The narrative depicts a tense sea chase involving a character named Burnham aboard what appears to be a merchant vessel being pursued by a pirate ship. The text references the "king's ships" hunting French vessels, suggesting a colonial-era setting during Anglo-French naval conflict (likely 18th century). Burnham, seemingly a privateer or pirate captain, hungrily anticipates combat but is frustrated when the slower merchant vessel escapes into Kingston Harbour, Jamaica. The passage emphasizes Burnham's bloodlust and disappointment at losing his "intended prey," only to have the pursued ship make a successful escape. The story concludes with weapons being stored away as the pirate vessel abandons the chase. Without seeing accompanying illustrations, the satirical intent—if any—remains unclear, though the dramatic piracy narrative itself may constitute *The Wasp*'s form of entertainment or social commentary for its readership.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
18 THE WASP them at the first sight of them: The seas should be cleaned of them. What are the king’s ae doing ?” ‘“A very noble sentiment, sir, and one as does credit to yer heart,” said the shipmaster ; “but the king’s ships be all on the hunt after the French 1 and so it falls out that these ey o the evil one be masters o the sea.”’ “ Will she overhaul us, think you?” asked Burnham. “‘ Not unless she follows us clear into Kingston Harbour—if this wind holds. And it’ll hold, ye may swear to that. We'll slip her this v’yage. She don’t sail her old clip. Foul, like as not, an’ needs to be hove up an’ scrope, Heaven be | praised! % - Burnham turned again and looked hungrily and viciously at the vessel far astern; then he went below and waited for his breakfast in a _ fretful temper. He had hoped for a fight; — and he cursed the schooner for her slowness. —_ Three hours later the pirate vessel shifted her helm, hopeless of coming up with her in- tended prey. The ship’s company cheered at that ; the cutlasses and pistols were returned to — the lazaretto beneath the captain’s cabin, and — comichooks.com