Adventure, January 20, 1922 — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

54 the battery of Nell Clark’s eyes, roguishly glancing at him from beneath her broad- brimmed, plumed hat of occasion. His own eyes opened wide when she sprang up on the high rail beside Ed Davies, and re- vealed her masculine attire. It seemed to clinch his decision; for he agreed with Davies to cruise in company, and, ‘after making a feast together in the Frenchman’s great cabin—at which Nell had need of all her cunning to convince L’Escuyler that she was no man’s woman— the two ships sailed along the eastward course for Callao. Right up to the land they sailed, put about, and sailed back to sea. Twice they sailed the traverse, and never a sign of Cook or his promised squadron. Then ona dark night when twenty leagues offshore the lookouts on both ships shouted together— “Light low down in the southwest!’ XXI ~ . THE sighted light crept slowly a's nearer, and in the morning watch se TEscuyler hung out the signal agreed upon between him and John Cook. It was answered, and-wary gunners extin- guished their matches. But on the Cadiz Ed Davies bade his men keep their matches alight, covered out of sight, for while he knew very well what his own line of conduct would be, he was. not so sure of Cook. This more especially since no other ship’s light had appeared over the whole dark horizon to indicate the presence of Swan or the other ships of Cook. “John’s Scorpion seems to lack com- pany,” remarked Nell, lounging near the after-gun and peering into the darkness for signs of what went on. “Can he be alone, d’ye think, Ed?” ‘“‘Mayhap he showed his sting,” answered Davies, himself as puzzled. He called softly aloft to Goliath, sitting on the cross-jack yard, demanding news. Goliath slid down quickly. “Dar ain’t de flicker ob a light nowhere, cappen,” he said. ‘De sea lay black as a nigger, sar. But looks lak dey’s a-h’istin’ out boats frum de Scorpion. Dar! Hear dem tayckles squeal?” Through the warm, quiet air came the chirrup of blocks; and lights glowed from the Frenchman’s great cabin windows and ‘and seeking for evidence of intention. Adventure all along his bulwarks. Davies began to chafe with impatience, for he felt none too secure when two men out of a total of three held consultations and he was not called in. But his fears were groundless. While Cook’s boats were yet dry of bottom, a hail came down from the Frenchman for him to repair on board. “Tm going too!” cried Nell. “Ye, leave not Steve Carr behind, neither!’ growled Steve. “Ye both remain in our own ship,” re- turned Davies sharply. ‘‘This is no time for private grudges. Stay here, girl. I shall bring Cook with me when I return, if the dog’s not so hot he wants to set on to me at sight. “By holding yer rage in hand, Nell, ye can advance our business more than by sticking that long steel in’s gizzard. Time enow for that. ‘““As for you, Steve Carr, neither now nor at any time must Cook know ye’re in my ship. Nell he knows right well is here; but you—for aught he knows, ye’re either rotting on Aves or swinging in chains to a Port Royal gibbet. So do you hide yerself if I bring him on board. . Goliath’s heu- tenant here.” The boat was launched, and quickly Davies reached the French ship, climbing aboard by the mizzen chains while John Cook was still on his own deck. L’Escuyler met him at the poop ladder, and in the glare of the lanthorns they regarded each other intently, meeting fairly face to face Old enemies, with a third element now coming in, required to be sure of motives. Davies met the Frenchman’s look with a soft laugh, and the other shrugged his shoulders and smiled too. “Capitan Cook he’s batteau seem not to flot so well,” remarked L’Escuyler. ‘“He’s dry wid ze sun. But where is ze many sheeps he say he bring? He say nossing zat he bring Edouard Davies, no; but Capitan Swan, and many ozzer sheeps, yes.’’ He hesitated a moment, glancing sharply at Davies’ averted face, and then lowered his voice and spoke swiftly: “Ees it zat we must accept heem at all now? Eef he has but one sheep, weell he be of sufficient help zat we must have heem? Eet ees you who knows where zat gold went to——”’ “Aye, or you,’ laughed Davies, his CORICLOO© S (C@