Adventure, January 20, 1922 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

Tides of Hate up by a ruddy bulldog. We need all hands, this venture, so I say let bygones be by- gones, Steve, atween them and me as well as ’tween me and you. “And listen, lad. Many’s the time I’ve seen ye cast sheep’s eyes on Mistress Nell. She'll have naught o’ me as woman to man. So try yer luck, lad; try yer luck wi’ the wench.” Steve Carr’s gloomy face lightened, and the subtle flattery which hinted at his suc- cess where his captain had failed caused him to inflate his chest and carry himself like a cock-sure gallant. Very readily he accepted Cook’s explanation. “Aye, aye, cappen,” he agreed, turning to the woods. “If I can get in hail I'll bring em. Will ye give a blast 0’ the whistle when ye have the windlasses manned then?”’ ‘Never fear!” replied Cook, and watched his befooled mate march away into the darkening woods before he moved. Then he leaped into fierce activity, and bawled for Goliath. NIGHT came down suddenly upon the setting of the sun; the. fire on the crest sent red and yellow spears of flame high into the air. The man in the palm-tree top lingered a moment longer, hf@€levation giving him a scanty advantage of visibility after the sun had gone from the sight of men on the ground. “Goliath!” There was no answer. Cook swore roundly, and called again. Still no re- sponse. “Nell!” he shouted then. “Mistress Nell! Bring the wench, Nell!’ No reply. Out in the anchorage sounded the clank of pumps on board the smallest sloop; the air was full of the sound, mingled with the lurid blasphemies of the crowded ruffians who manned those pumps. ‘The bonfire leaped: to the heavens‘like a volcano in eruption; and the palm-tree lookout swarmed down the long stem in haste, bawling: “Ahoy, below there! A tops’l too woundy square for aught but a king’s ship sticks right in th’ sun’s eye.” ‘“____!? muttered Cook, flinging wide his door and storming through from front to rear. “Nell! he bawled again. “Plague seize the hussy! Where’s she hid the wench?” From his hut he ran to the calaboose, 2I fearful for his prisoners. Through the dark, grated openings that served for windows he saw faces pressed against the apertures, and knew that here at least was no trickery. To the shore next he hurried, where his own boat lay, last of them all, waiting for him. The lookout from the palm top was there before him; lanterns flickered about the black decks of the anchored vessels, and noisy unrest reigned out there. Even the clanking pumps of the leaky sloop had ceased upon the lookout’s far-reaching hail. “Give way, ye sluggish dogs!” he gritted, shipping the tiller and heaving the boat afloat with a pike-staff. The red glare of the headland fire played luridly upon the faces of his oarsmen; the sound of his boat approaching started the crew of his sloop to heaving on the windlass; again the pumps clanked aboard the small- est craft as he steered past her and headed for his flag-ship. he hailed. _ “No, sar! Ah t’ink she go “She’s here, captain!” sang out Davies from the white sloop, and there was amuse- ment in the voice. Cook sheered his boat away from his own vessel and headed toward the other. Then he saw that the white sloop was moving slowly, as if but just ‘breaking out her anchor, and Davies hailed him again. “Let be awhile, Captain Cook. We heard the lookout’s hail, and L started the fleet to getting their anchers. I'll board ye soon’s there’s wide water about us.” “You'll face me for this, Ed Davies!” roared Cook furiously. “Sail on, ye pre- suming dog! We scatter now because o’ the sail that’s in sight; meet me off Domini- ca south end if we sight not each other . before. take me if I stomach another commander in my fleet!” To*each of his vessels the same orders were given as to rendezvous, and Cook leaped aboard his own sloop and kicked the boat adrift with a curse. “Now, ye scum, ye’ll take the first stout ship I put ye alongside, or by Satan ye sink before Swan heaves in sight. I want no boat cruise from a sinking ship, not I! Now jump, blast ye. Peak up the mains’], Goliath. That’s good. Up with the jib and stays’l. So! Break out that plaguy anchor, smartly for’ard!” CORMMICLOOKS (E@)