Adventure Magazine Cover — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

Pearl-Hunger both were tangled in the darkly woven, im- palpable thread of fascination, each for the other; and each was stubbornly. resentful of the bondage. “T could kill you!” said Heddon savagely. She laughed, understanding; and turned from him lightly, going away as if satished, even happy. SS row entrance of the lagoon and with three tacks came to anchor at six fathoms, a hundred yards off the flat: sand and within hailing distance of three or four small craft. Only small vessels, cutters, luggers, schooners, entered the lagoon. Others went a mile or two off, round the sandy island to an anchorage that was not land-locked; but the risk of storm was to:be taken rather than the precariously shallow entrance to the safe harbor. The Kulicos were a labyrinthine sprawl of sand, reefs, flat islands and lagoons; no fresh water was there excepting such as was caught from the roofs and put into casks. Tall palms, looking very scraggly, some half-rooted in the sea, slanted upward, bending to the prevailing winds. Outside, great combers foamed over the coral but- tresses, breaking amid clouds of spray. It was hot. The lagoon was smooth as glass except at the edge of the white sand XVI THE Gloria slipped across the nar- where tiny ripples played. Below the | Gloria, water lay clear as in a tumbler, and colored fish drifted about in lonely idleness. The habitations of men look trivial and ant-like to those who come in off the sea, for there is an inestimable vastness in the ocean’s horizon though its actual diameter may be but a few miles. It is only when land breaks in upon that magic circle that the perspective is narrowed. Back from the flat white beach were numbers of low, sheet-iron buildings and, scattered wherever there seemed a bit of shade, were squat houses and shacks, These looked particularly insignificant. Heddon stood apart from the others on deck and scowled at the houses on the shore; now and then, a little furtively and mys- tified, he looked toward Margaret and scowled at her. For the first time on the Gloria she was nearly merry. She seemed happy over something. This irritated him.: She stood at the rail with Raeburn and old Tom beside her and made laughing com- 75 ments on the fish. Heddon felt that she had no reason to be cheerful. He did not want her to be cheerful. It irritated him that Raeburn laughed and old Tom chuck- led as if some of the things she said were witty. Even Oxenham stood near, listen- ing with an expression of silly good nature on his thin face; and Gloria, though half- blankly, smiled. Two natives were plodding along the sand under a load. Heddon gave them a far hail between his hands. They leisurely dropped the sacks they were carrying and at an idling gait came to the water’s edge where they squatted on their haunches and stared for a time; then, with infinite leisure, ran a boat into the water and stood off for the Gloria. They knew the Gloria. She was well known, being about the largest vessel that risked the lagoon’s entrance. When near, they let their oars dip idly and stared at the women. “‘Lay longside here,’’ Heddon told them. With some hesitation they came along- side, their eyes on Margaret. Heddon, with a word to Tom that nobody was to be allowed on the schooner, dropped into the boat and was rowed ashore. As Heddon strode up the beach the two natives sat and watched him, then turned and stared again toward the Glorza. “Him fella one plenty big fool,” said a native; and the other grunted agreement. Heddon, tramping heavily in the loose ‘sand, made his way to Stockton’s store. This was a large, sheet-iron room, with a bar, benches and tables on one side, a counter and up-ended barrels on the other, behind which were piled an assortment of goods, and a warehouse was joined to this store in the rear. The store was hot as an oven. The sky was hot. The sand was hot. The: iron roof and walls caught and reflected the heat in shimmering waves. The store was filled with the sharp odors of stale beer, spilled gin and rum, of coffee, rope, paint and kerosene. After the glare of white sand and sea it seemed very dim within, and for a time Heddon stood with broad shouldered erect- ness at the doorway, blinking. Five or six men were in the room. One lay at full length, face down, asleep on the counter. He was Jenkins, Stockton’s clerk. Business was slack; more than slack— there wasn’t any business excepting in the opening of a bottle now and then. Jenkins GO NOOK 1 @)