Adventure Magazine Cover, October 10, 1921 — page 159: what you’re looking at

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

The Hostage “SINCE my lord here has made you a colonel, I can’t regularly deal with ~ ___#-al you out of hand for piracy as you deserve. But you shall answer before a court-martial for your action in the matter of Wolverstone, and take the _ conse- quence.” “T see,” said Blood. ‘And it’s yourself as deputy-governor will preside over that court-martial. So that ye can wipe off old scores by hanging me it’s little ye care how ye do it!’ He laughed and added: “Premonitus, premunitus.”’ “What shall that mean?” quoth Lord Julian sharply. “I had imagined that your lordship would have had some education.” He was at pains, it seemed, to be provoc- ative. “It’s not the literal meaning I am asking, sir,’ said Lord Julian, with frosty dignity. “T want to know what you desire us to understand?” . “T’ll leave your lordship guessing,” said Blood. “And Ill be wishing ye both a very good day.”’ He swept off his feathered hat, and made them a leg very elegantly. “Before you go,” said Bishop, “ and to save you from any idle rashness, I’ll tell you that the harbor-master and the com- mandant have their orders. You don’t leave Port Royal, my fine gallows’ bird. r) in Execution Dock.” Colonel Blood stiffened, and his vivid blue eyes stabbed the bloated face of his rancorous enemy. He passed his long cane into his left hand, and with his right thrust negligently into the breast of his doublet, he swung to Lord Julian, who was thought- fully frowning. “Your lordship, I think, promised me im- munity from this.” “What I may have promised,” said his lordship, “your own conduct makes it im- possible to perform.” He rose. ‘You did me a service, Colonel Blood, and I had hoped that we might be friends. But since you appear to prefer it otherwise—” He shrugged, and waved a hand toward the deputy-governor. Blood surveyed him with undisguized hostility. He laughed unpleasantly. ‘Ye mean that ye haven’t the strength of character to resist the urgings of a bully. Well, well—as I said before—premonitus, — premunitus. Vm afraid that ye’re no , you'll find permanent moorings here 149 scholar, Bishop, or ye’d know that it means forewarned, forearmed.”’ ‘“Forewarned? Ha!” Bishop almost snarled. ‘““The warning comes a little late. You do not leave this house.” He took a step in the direction of the doorway, and raised his voice. ‘‘Ho there—” he was be- ginning to call. Then with a sudden, audible catch in his } breath, he stopped short. Colonel Blood’s right hand had emerged from the breast of his doublet bringing with it a long pistol with silver mountings richly chased which he leveled at the deputy-governor’s head. ‘And forearmed,”’ said he. ‘‘Don’t stir from where you are, my lord, or there may be an accident.”’ And my lord, who had been moving to Bishop’s assistance, stood instantly ar- rested. Chapfallen, with much of his high color suddenly departed, the deputy-gov- ernor was swaying on_ unsteady legs. Colonel Blood considered him with a grim- ness that increased his panic. “T marvel that I don’t pistol you without more ado, ye fat blackguard. If I don’t it’s for the same reason that once before I gave ye your life when it was forfeit. ‘“Ye’re not aware of the reason, to be sure; but it may comfort ye to know that it exists. At the same time I’ll warn ye not to put too heavy a strain on my gen- erosity, which resides at the moment in my trigger-finger.’’ He cast his cane from him, thus disengaging his left hand. “Be good enough to give me your arm, Colonel Bishop. Come, come, man, your arm.” Under the compulsion of that sharp tone, those vivid, resolute eyes and that gleaming pistol, Bishop obeyed without demur. His recent foul volubility was stemmed. He could not trust himself to speak. Colonel Blood tucked his left arm through the | deputy-governor’s proffered right. Then he thrust his own right hand with its pistol Into the breast of his doublet. “‘Though invisible, it’s aiming at ye none the less, and I give you my word of honor that I'll shoot ye dead upon the very least provocation, whether that provocation is yours or another’s. Ye’ll bear that in mind, Lord Julian. And now, ye greasy hangman, step out as brisk and lively as ye can and behave as naturally as ye may, knowing that your life hangs on a thread.” In the courtyard of the fort the com- mandant, who had been instructed to hold COmiclbooks Cc C@