The Wasp, 1918 · page 33 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page depicts a conversation among men discussing piracy and maritime crime, likely from a serialized story within the satirical magazine. The speakers debate the morality and risks of piracy—specifically mentioning figures like "Duval" (who targets British shipping) and agents working for "Major Deck" and "Hellfire Hicks," apparently notorious pirates or privateers. The satire targets the romanticization of piracy among gentlemen. A character named Burnham listens intently while others, "well along in their cups," discuss piracy as if it were a respectable "gentlemanly occupation," despite acknowledging the hanging that awaits capture. The thin young man with a "yellow face" darkly notes that pirates' agents appear respectable—one even posed as a tutor to Bermuda's governor before stealing jewels. The passage mocks how drinking men glorify criminal enterprise while ignoring its consequences. Without seeing the full context or publication date, the specific historical pirate references remain unclear, though the tone suggests commentary on contemporaneous maritime crime.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
24 Jy “THE WASP: fine, high-headed, swishing creature she is, too ! A cousin of my own, by the way. Duval’s _methods are not so modern. He touches noth- ing but British shipping ; and he has been known to square up to more than one sloop-of-war and fight for the glory of it. A very ee occupation, I assure you!” ‘“‘ But there’s hanging at the end of it, _ Peter Queery. ‘Not if you retire before you are caught,” said another. Every one had an opinion to advance on the subject ; and as a number of the gentlenien were well along in their cups, much was said that was not exactly to the point. But Burnham gave attention to everything. He was thirsty for information. . “‘ Ten to one there’s an agent of Major Deck’s ”” said NY at this very table,” remarked a thin young man- with a yellow face. “And one of Hellfire Hicks’s, too, like as not. Very respectable- appearing men, these pirates’ agents are. There was one who lived a whole year with the governor _of the Bermudas as a tutor. He got away one night with. Dame Murdock’s pearls and dia- monds, and they couldn’t find hair nor hide of him ; ou when Cpe Blue’s brig was cornered. comicdooks.com : i