Adventure Magazine Cover — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

Forward “It is he! Ivak.” ‘‘Then saddle the best horse in the village.” I rose up and pulled on my boots and coat, taking tobacco and a pipe from the nearest man and a sword from him who had the likeliest weapon. They protested, saying that they had never done me any ill. “Would you have your kunak, your com- rade, the first jzghi of the village ride to the fleet dressed like a Jewe” Then they protested all the more, saying that Alexiano had heard of my deeds when I rubbed out half a dozen of the pirates, who were his men, on the Dnieper. He would string me up, they said, and they would not see their things again. “Is this Prince Nassau-Siegen friendly with Alexiano?” I asked. ‘““As God lives, they are like two brothers! They share gold together, and they have not been parted since the Prussian rejoined the fleet, two days ago.” “Is Nassau-Siegen a good leader, liked by all the men?”’ “Nay, Ivak. You have been away too long, wooing the Russian maids! Nassau- Siegen is a courtier, and, save for Alexiano’s bands, the men of the fleet would not follow him if he had gold pieces sewn on his breeches. It is said that he pays gold to the Turks, to let the fleet sit in peace where it is. Meanwhile he crows like a cock, claiming honor for hoJding off the Turks.” By the time I had mounted and left the village behind, the last of the smoke that had hidden the fire I smelled in Peters- burg had cleared away. I saw all things as they were. I saw a fleet that was only timber and cloth, unfit for battle; I saw two renegades at the head of it, enriching them- selves by plunder and paying a part of the plunder to the accursed Moslems, while the Empress thought they were playing the part of valiant men in the face of the foe. And I thought that such men would never let the American take over the command from them. I meant to reach him and warn him, and perhaps take him back to the Cossack villages. Who knows? You have seen him, Uncle JUST a little I went out of my way to pass through the streets of Kher- son, sO winning my wager from E eeds poor fellow. The horse was a good one and we left the shipyards behind 27 us swiftly enough coming at last to the salt streaked shores of the gulf and the forest of masts that stood out on the gray water. : Among the soldiers and caravaneers of the alleys I asked for news of the American admiral, learning then'that I was almost too late. John Paul was on one of the jetties with another cavalier, making ready to put off in a barge to the Vladimir. I hurried along the waterfront, catching sight of the barge presently, and, giving my horse to the care of a Cossack who was fishing on the jetty, went out to greet my friend. When he saw me his face lighted up and he said something to the other officer who stared at me curiously. There we stood, with so much that should be said between us, and only one word that we both under- stood! I bowed several times, trying to think of some way to warn him. He or- dered a valise to be carried into the barge and took farewell of the other officer, who was most polite. My tongue burned in my throat, and I nearly tore my hair to think up some ‘scheme. He stood with one foot on the log at the edge of the jetty and glanced at me inquiringly. How could I take an admiral by the arm and lead him to a tavern to talk? How could I make signs before the throng that his life was in danger? John Paul spoke to the cavalier who turned to me indifferently. “Cossack,” he said in bad Russian, ‘“‘his Excellency is pleased to praise you and ask if you have a request to make. He says that he will grant it.”’ “IT would go with him on the ship.”” I bowed to the girdle. ‘If it pleases your Honor.” [ with two rows of cannon and we climbed up the ladder to the deck, I carrying John Paul’s valise, and swaggering THE barge went out to a high ship _a bit, for the deck was cluttered with groups of men who stared at us and whispered. An under officer who wore a rapier stood by the ladder with a squad of sailors, also armed, and saluted. After that he went away quickly with his men and left the American alone. John Paul glanced up at a mast where Alexiano’s flag hung idly, there being no wind. Then he gave an order to the bargemen and they made fast to the GO DOOLK ©