Adventure Magazine Cover, April 1916 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

Days of Morgan “Let me first tell my comrade that I am going,” she parried, for she now perceived Barney ata little distance off, signaling to her. : She nodded to the Governor, and run- ning down the beach, with Three-legs leap- ing and barking behind, came up with the boy, panting and out of breath. ‘““How now, Barney?”’ she asked in a half- whisper, and laughing in spite of herself at his appearance, for his shock of red hair was so brushed up around his ears and over his forehead that it looked like a flaming bat- tle-flag. ‘“‘We’re in luck,” he chuckled gleefully. “Things couldn’t be better. The fort is all but deserted. Six men were left on guard when the watch changed at noon, but four have sneaked down for the rum and wine and women, and the other two must be pretty tipsy by this time, for they have had a cask sent up to them.” ‘“‘And how of the ship, lad?” “Y’m coming to that. The English pris- oners are in the pit in the fortified side of the castle, facing the sea. And you were right about it—there are thirty of them. How they can be got at I know not.” “T will attend to that. But of the ship. Didst thou learn aught of the ship?” “Ay, that I did. All have come ashore save the middle watch, and that greatly re- duced; and of those aboard, most have had their turn ashore and have gone back full of food and drink to the ears. The first of the ebb will be at eleven tonight.” “You have thought of everything, Bar- ney!’ exclaimed Nancy, her eyes dancing. ‘‘Now pay strict heed to what I say. Do you keep Three-legs with you. Now, I am going alone to the fort with the Governor. Nay, look not anxious, lad. I go at his re- quest and of my own free will. When we have been gone the space of one-half glass —canst judge the time, Barney? I warrant you you can. Well then, when I have been gone for half an hour, do you and the dog follow us. Three-legs will find the path by our scent.” ‘Then what?” ‘‘We must be guided by circumstances, Barney. When you reach the castle, place yourself in a secluded place as near the en- trance as you can safely lie. And if all goes well with me, I will contrive to let you in or make a signal to you. Much de- pends on you, Barney boy, more than you know.” 25 “T would lay down my life for you,” he answered simply, and neither of them knew then what those words were. to mean to both of them. - She grasped his hand at this. Not the soft clasp of a woman did she give him, but the hearty grip of a friend and comrade. She turned away and waved her hand to him, and went back to where the Governor stood, and there beside him was Yellow Eyes, tugging at his sleeve and gesticulating vig- orously. Migy YELLOW EYES pointed to the eae girl as she came up, and from her ree I : ; eveled his bony index finger at the castle on the hill. His burnished eyes seemed afire, his purple lips were twisted and distorted, his tongueless gullet filled with slobber; so disgusting a sight that even d’Ogeron turned away, and tried to push the fellow off. ‘““Mon dieul’’ he cried to Nancy, “‘the rogue is trying to tell me something, but hath not the tongue for his words. What ails thee, wretch? Sacréf His eyes pierce my very soul. I think he hath something to say of the castle, but what I know not. Is it of the castle? Speak, thou rascal!’’ Yellow Eyes nodded. | ‘“‘Ah, I was right then. Well, what is it? What is it, I say!” He roared at him again in a voice of rage, as if by the volume of the sound he made he could give the dumb man tongue. And Yellow Eyes merely grimacing at this, and shaking his head, and pointing still at Nancy and the castle, the Governor sud- denly seized him, and shoved him aside. “Out of my way, rogue. Never, I swear, have I seen so evil a sight. Ha! He un- derstands what I say, well enough. But, of course, he is not dumb from birth, but only because his tongue hath been clipped and so is not a mute. Never mind! Some other time, fellow, you may tell me what you want to say.” But Yellow Eyes, not to be put off so easily, grasped Nancy’s arm. She wrenched away. ‘Thinking the man was showing a persistence that might endanger her pro- ject, she said: “Tis the fellow I fought with on ship- board, Monsieur. I suspect he is making a complaint to you against me.” Yellow Eyes quivered with passion at this. CoMmichoooks (CO