The Wasp, 1918 · page 317 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 317: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is from a serialized fictional narrative rather than a cartoon. It depicts a dramatic confrontation between Admiral Benbow and a gun-captain named James Burnham aboard ship. Benbow notices a distinctive tattoo on Burnham's back and recognizes it as a "heraldic device"—apparently connected to the Burnham family name. The exchange reveals that James Burnham is actually "the Wasp," a notorious pirate operating in these seas, comparable to the legendary pirate Flint. The satire or dramatic point appears to involve the irony of a famous pirate serving openly aboard a naval vessel under his own (or a variant) family name, with his distinctive mark literally marking his identity. The text emphasizes Benbow's hardening realization of who this man truly is. Historical figures Benbow and Flint appear to be references, though unclear if used literally or satirically within this fictional account.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
308 ‘THE WASP rail at one of the craven English ships. His shirt | wet, torn, and stained, was ripped away from =| one shoulder, leaving displayed that distinguished as but now infamous design on the white and glisten- _| ing skin. So oS. | Benbow halted behind the gun-captain. The — tattooed device caught his eyes. He stared 4 with hardening eyes. - iy “‘ What do I see on your hee Mr. Fitzwalter ; Pe he asked in a low, grinding voice. ae | James turned. Blood and sweat ran upon ~ his face. His eyes darkened, but their glance did not waver from that of the admiral. “It is a mark which my father put there — : when I was a child, sir,” the gun-captain replied | 3 E composedly. : = | ““ And a very distinguished heraldic device, ~ to boot,’ returned John Benbow. “I have heard of it, honourably and dishonourably, in these : seas and elsewhere. So your name is Burnham! Let me believe it to be Alexander bo late a distinguished officer in this service.’ ““T regret to say, sir, that I cannot claim that honour. My name is. James Burnham.” : «You are the Wasp, then—the most noto- rious, bloody pirate these seas have umes since, the days of Flint!”