The Wasp, 1918 · page 74 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 74: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains serialized fiction rather than political satire or cartoons. The narrative depicts a dramatic escape scene involving a character named Burnham carrying the governor's daughter through woods while being pursued. The text suggests a colonial-era adventure story. Burnham is fleeing from a "New England shipmaster" seeking revenge, using the governor's daughter as his protective hostage (she claims no one would dare harm her). Henry Todd—apparently an ally—suddenly appears armed, apparently to help Burnham's escape. **The satire point, if any, is unclear from this page alone.** The Wasp was primarily a humor and satire magazine, but this excerpt reads as straightforward dramatic fiction. Without seeing accompanying illustrations or knowing the full story's context, the satirical target and intent cannot be reliably identified. The page may simply be serialized entertainment rather than topical satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP 65 *¢ This is the path,” she said. They ran upit, handin hand ; but she stumbled weakly before they had advanced fifty yards. Without a word he picked her up again and. dashed ahead. She uttered no protest. The path twisted upward through the woods. The governor’s daughter was of no great weight ; but what with the heat of the day and his recent exertions at the oars, Burnham soon began to show signs of acute fatigue. Still he struggled onward, holding the girl tight to his heaving breast. She gazed up into his strained and glowing face with anxious eyes. “Put me down,” she cried, “ you will kill yourself else! Lam notindanger. They would not dare to hurt me, whoever they are.” Burnham knew that she spoke the truth; but he had no intention of deserting that which he had every reason to believe would prove his only means of escaping the revenge of the New England shipmaster. So he continued to hold her tight and to stagger onward. Henry Todd appeared suddenly in the path infront,musketinhand. Hisface was colourless and his eyes flamed. “Go on, cap’n,” he gasped. ‘I got this here ws S comlichooks.com