Adventure Magazine Cover, April 1916 — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

Days of Morgan “She talks like a Puritan, Morgan. But he gave an order to one of the men that Yellow Eyes should not be injured, and the dumb man was hauled away between two seamen, kicking and struggling, and carried into the hold. Then Captain Mor- gan led the way into the cabin where a great company of officers of the fleet were gathered, eating and drinking. Zs cried Captain NANCY, in the place of honor at the head of the table, next to the two Captains, was obliged to tell the story of the escape of the English pris- oners from the French at Tortuga, and of the part she had played. When she had finished, Captain Morgan ordered a salute of thirty guns to be fired in her honor. While the cannon roared she studied the faces of her companions, and gave a start as she recognized a familiar figure, the little monk whom she had seen first in the mar- ket square at Lille, and then upon the ship in which she had been kidnaped, the little monk whom she had left apparently asleep beneath d’Ogeron’s table. ‘““How came he here?” she asked, point- ing him out. ““Whor’’ “‘The monk.” ““Monk!”’ roared Morgan, choking with laughter. ‘Little Cochinillo? Why, Ma- dame, that is a better jest than Captain Collier’s. Did he fool you with his cowl and habit? That is the greatest rascal un- hung—three times a galley slave, twice branded. But a bright and happy soul, withal, and one of my men who fell wounded at Porto Bello and was sent off to Spain, but escaped from the hulks and so found his way back to the rendezvous, with the ald of his disguise, and indeed he has picked up a lot of the ritual at odd times and serves us very well in that capacity. The monk, for so she called him, seeing himself under discussion, arose unsteadily to his feet, a bottle in one hand and a gob- bet of greasy meat in the other, glibly told how d’Ogeron had commanded him to mar- ry him to the girl, and how he had indig- nantly refused, and declared most solemn- ly that he had aided in her escape, where- upon Captain Morgan, Nancy making no contradiction, ordered a salute to be fired in his honor. Then Barney recounted the story of the 39 treachery of Yellow Eyes, and how he had wanted to go back and gag him. Whereat the jovial pirates roared with laughter, and Captain Morgan, in his hand a handsome silver goblet that he had stolen from the Governor of Porto Bello, drank his health in ‘Rosa Solis,”’ a strong punch of brandy, spices and hot water, and ordered a salute of ten guns in his honor. And Barney, over- come by the honor, his whole face in com- plete eclipse, so widely distended were his joyous jaws, leaped upon the table and led the buccaneers in a round of mighty cheers that made the frigate shiver. The admiration in the glances that Cap- tain Morgan bestowed upon her made Nancy feel ill at ease. But she was taken all aback when suddenly he jumped up, and filling the silver goblet proposed her health. “Look ye, Monk,” said he, draining his tankard at a draft, “out with thy prayer- book, thou gospel-slinging shark, and read the marriage service. By the Gods! This Devon maid doth please me hugely. She is the first ever I thought fit to be the wife to Henry Morgan.” ‘“‘Nay, sir,’ said she at this, her eyes filled with alarm, and drawing away from him as he bent down and sought to take her hand, “‘not so fast, I pray you, and besides, this is no priest, but an impostor.”’ “Think on it, Madame!” cried he, waving aside her objections. ‘Thou art a woman after my own heart—fearless and resource- ful. Thou hast taken thy first ship as neat- ly as I could have done it myself, and that thou art here with thy men as their captain showeth me that thou hast ability withal. Join with me and we will scourge these Dons until they come to know who are mas- ters in the Indies. ‘“‘Nay,” he added, when she would have stopped him, “‘have no fear as to the conse- quences. For the time, the good old days of Drake and Hawkins have come back once more. Follow me and I will lead thee to riches and fame. Ay, I will make thee a Lady, for I do tell thee, Madame, when I return from this expedition upon which I am now setting forth I shall kneel at His Majesty’s feet and he will say to me, ‘Arise, Sir Henry Morgan.’ ” The men, who had been listening to him with the attention that men ever give to those in authority above them, broke into cheers at this brave speech, and Bras-de- Mort, leaping up and proposing a volley of CoMmicboooks CO