Adventure, February 20, 1922 — page 109: what you’re looking at

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

The White Dawn apiece and Bucks was given the two guineas after which we wrote our names. “You write like a clerk,dear,”’ croaked old Mother Baff, grinning maliciously as I was compelled to meet her sharp gaze. “Run along, Mother. Your charms will make my men forget their duties,” said the cor- net, whereat there was much coarse laughter. “Aye? You'll be forgetting your duties pretty soon, my pretty dear. You'll wish you were wise like old Mother Baff, dear. You'd like five hundred guineas to lose at cards, dear.” And with that enigmatical statement she made for the door. ‘“‘What the devil does the old hag mean?”’ muttered the cornet. ‘Up to some —P game, I’ll warrant.” “Tt’s all up,” I murmured in Bucks’ ear. At once he was requesting: “T have a matter of a gun hidden near here, and I’d like to go and fetch it.” ‘You'll receive seventy-nine lashes if you stir from this place until given permission, my two-guinea man,” snarled the cornet. Then to the waiting sergeant: “Take them out back with the rest. See they don’t wander.” VIRTUALLY prisoners we were conducted to a green back of the tavern. A score of other recruits were stretched out on the grass, some asleep, some moodily meditative, some loquacious with drink. “Now hand over them guineas!” hoarsely commanded the sergeant;-a beef and ale sort of a fellow. “My two guineas?” shrilly cried Bucks. “That'll do, my hearty. Fork over.” I heard a soft laugh over my head and back of me. It was the cornet, standing by the open window and awaiting for the old game to be played on my friend. ‘“‘They’re mine. I think I’ll keep ’em,” said Bucks. “T’m watching you do it, my lad. Hand over or [’Jl prick your inwards.” And the fellow picked up a musket and deftly re- moved the bayonet and advanced the point menacingly until it all but pricked Bucks’ abdomen. ‘‘Come, I’m waiting, my lad. Don’t move; you can’t dodge this.” Bucks ruefully fished out the guineas and held them on a level with his chin. ‘“Can’t never dodge this,” repeated the sergeant, brandishing the bayonet and much pleased with his jest. “You can’t dodge this, neither,” drawled Bucks, and he thrust forward his hand, two fingers separated and extended, one for each of the sergeant’s eyes. With a scream of pain the fellow dropped — the bayonet and began whirling about, his hands clasped over his eyes. Some of the recruits began crawling to their feet. To them Bucks explained: “You can dodge one — finger poked at your face, but you can’t dodge two. Can’t be did.” “You tore his eyes out!”’ cried one of the men. “No; just made ’em a trifle sore. He’ll shed some tears, then he’ll be all right. But his eyesight won’t ever git strong enough for him to see me giving up my two law- fully earned guineas.’ “T’ll make you wish you was in——,” — sobbed the sergeant. “Wait till you git your sight back,” — soothed Bucks. “Strip ’em! The guineas for drink-money. Z At ’em, men,” cried the sergeant. There was a general movement in our direction. We gave ground until close to the tavern. Bucks snatched up the bayonet. I picked up a broken pikestaff. en the recruits would have crowded in I used the ~ stick as a rapier and poked a fellow in the chest and caught another in the neck. So well did my defense work that none ventured near enough to feel Bucks’ bayonet. From the open window the cornet lustily _ cried out: “Boil me! But that was clever. You two shall have a dram for that and the king shall pay the shot. You, sergeant, there! You'll be wanting to wear a queer pattern on your back, sirrah! You two gamey lads come in and lick up a dram. Give Colonel Simcoe a regiment such as you and we'll sweep the colonies clean of rebels.” Thus we returned to the cornet’s high favor. treat. But there was no relish for me in our new popularity, for as I drank I discerned — Mother Baff standing near the open window looking onto the green. I had supposed she had gone, but now she was back, more malignant than ever. She passed to the door as the cornet was dismissing us to the | green. There was a new glitter in her small eyes. We were at her heels as she went down the steps, bent far over, and she was CO MiGboo 107 | We entered the ordinary and had our dram of rum, his Majesty standing © Ud AT ie j - ’ 4 ‘ ! ie Eddy DONA AONE S95 ad en Ne eae ( he: gosh . ee