Adventure Magazine Cover, October 10, 1921 — page 158: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

148 ye couldn’t have supposed that I’d be con- senting to anything different.” And then the deputy-governor exploded. “You have given those rascals in Tortuga this warning so that they may escape! That is what you have done. That is how you abuse the commission that has saved your own neck!” Colonel Blood considered him for a mo- ment out of a face that was as impassive as a mask. “The object in view,” said he then, ‘was—leaving out of account your own appetites, which, as every one knows are just those of a hangman—to clear the Carib- bean of buccaneers. Sure now, I’ve taken the most effective way of attaining that object. The knowledge that I’ve entered the King’s service should in itself go far toward disbanding the fleet of which I was until lately a leader.” ‘“‘Ah!” sneered the deputy-governor male- volently. “And if it does not?” “It will be time enough then to consider what to do.” Lord Julian forestalled a fresh outburst on the part of Bishop. “It is possible,” he said, “that my Lord Sunderland will be satisfied provided that the solution is such as you promise.” It was a courteous conciliatory speech urged by friendliness toward Blood and understanding of the difficult position in which the buccaneer had found himself. His lordship was disposed to take his stand upon the letter of his instructions. There- fore he now held out a friendly hand to help him over the latest and most difficult obstacle which Blood himself had _ en- abled Bishop to place in the way of his redemption. Unfortunately the last person from whom Peter Blood desired assistance at that mo- ment was this young nobleman in whom he beheld a successful rival. “Anyway,” he answered, with a sugges- tion of defiance and more than a suggestion of a sneer, “it’s the most ye should expect from me and certainly the most ye’ll get.” His lordship ‘frowned. “T don’t think that I quite like the way ye put it. Blister me if I do, Colonel Blood.” “I am sorry for that, so I am,” said Blood, impudently. “But there it is. I’m not on that account concerned to modity at.”? . then, I am not. Adventure His lordship’s eyes seemed to open a little wider. They were gray eyes, clear, honest and fearless. “Ah!” he said. ‘You’re a prodigiously uncivil fellow. You disappoint me, Colonel Blood. I had formed the notion that you might bé a gentleman.” ‘‘And that’s not your lordship’s only mis- take,” Bishop put in. “You made a worse when by a commission you sheltered this rascal from the gallows I had prepared for him in Port Royal.” ‘“Aye—but the worst mistake of all in this matter of commissions,” said Blood to his lordship, ‘‘was the one that made this greasy slaver deputy-governor of Ja- maica instead of its hangman, which is the ofice for which he’s by nature fit- ted.”’ “Colonel Blood!” cried his lordship in sharp protest. ‘‘Upon my soul and honor, sir, you go much too far. You are But here Bishop interrupted him. He had heaved himself to his feet at last and was venting his fury in unprintable abuse. Colonel Blood who had also risen stood ap- parently impassive for the storm to spend itself. When at last this happened, he ad- dressed himself quietly to Lord Julian as if Colonel Bishop had not spoken. “Your lordship was about to say?” he asked with challenging smoothness. But his lordship had by now recovered his habitual composure and was again dis- posed to be conciliatory. He-laughed and shrugged. ) “Faith! Here’s a deal of unnecessary heat,” said he. ‘And God knows this ac- cursed climate provides enough of that. Perhaps, Colonel Bishop, you are a little uncompromising; and you, sir, are cer- tainly a deal too peppery. I have said, speaking on behalf of my Lord Sunderland, that I am content to await the result of your experiment.” But Bishop’s fury had by now reached a stage in which it was not to be re- strained. ‘“‘Are you indeed?” he roared. “Well, This is a matter in which your lordship must allow me to be the better judge. And anyhow I'll take the risk of acting on my own responsibility.” Lord Julian abandoned the struggle. He smiled wearily, shrugged, and waved a hand in implied resignation. The deputy-, governor stormed on. DOOLK C@