Adventure Magazine Cover, October 30, 1924 — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

south, West and North know Dick Hampton never murdered my father!” “Then,” said the captain, ‘‘can you sug- gest any.one else as the guilty person?” Pallor swept into the girl’s face. “No,” she said, and abruptly fainted. “Poor girl! Take her below to my cabin,” said the skipper, and the other women obeyed the order. When the stir was over, and Nelly gone from the deck, Hampton felt quick relief, Her brave stand-up for him, her belief in him, had effected nothing at all. In the eyes around him he perceived that he was doomed. Day was speaking earnestly to Nickerson and Adam Johnson, and he won- dered what this bronzed and vigorous man was arguing. ‘““Now, friends,” said the captain, “‘can any of ye throw any light on this affair? Can ye throw any suspicion on another man—if it be my own self? Speak up!” There was no response. Men whispered together, stared aft, moved uneasily. James Day went on talking with Nickerson, as if urging some course of action. Hampton looked about from face to face, that cold anger settled upon him, wakening all his false pride, stirring a fierce resentment that these men should deem him guilty on such evidence. Suddenly one or two men amidships, who had earlier in the morning been shoot- ing at marks, whipped up their rifles. In- stantly the captain leaped in front of Hampton, and his voice cracked: “You, there! Down with them guns. Mister, hey, mister! Disarm every mother’s son aboard and chuck the guns down be- low. Leap alive—go with him, bosun!”’ There was a growl, a sullen bandying of words, but the mate obeyed and came aft with the rifles. Then men stirred, and voices leaped up tumultuously. “Because he’s a sailor, ye’ll do naught to him! Ye’ll shield him! Are we to be mur- dered by your seamen and nothin’ done?”’ “Belay! Silence!” roared the skipper furiously. “I’ll do no such thing. Mr. Hampton, will ye stand trial here and now?” Hampton started. * “Trial! Yes, I will; but no such trial can be legal. What do ye propose to do if I’m found guilty—hang me?” The captain turned to him and spoke in a low voice. 23 “It’s touch and go—if they rush me, they’ll murder you!” Then, raising his voice, “You four Nantucket men in the sta’board watch, lay aft here! Mister, you and the second mate join ’em. Now, Mr. Nickerson, pick six of your own men to make up a jury. Make a record o’ this, Mr. Johnson.” Nickerson began to pick his men, with some protest as to the legality of the affair, and Day crossed the deck to where Hamp- ton and Job Warlock stood. “Sorry, lad,” he said quickly. They’ re ripe to mob you, and we must hold ’em off. Ive puta fog: in Nickerson’s ear. Accept the judgment of the court, savvy? It’s the best I could do for ye. ye go into irons and back wi’ the brig to Beverly to stand trial, and some of the company with ye. Remember, now.” Day turned away, and Hampton per- ceived the singular nature of the dilemma which faced all hands. The logical thing, indeed, was to throw him in irons if ad- judged guilty and this meant that he would lie a prisoner until the brig returned north; it also meant that some of the gold com- pany must return, to give evidence. The prospect suited him no better than it did them, yet he could not tamely accept any verdict rendered in the forming sea-court. Or could he? Day had been at work. Day urged him to accept what was given— had no doubt suggested something. “Td do it, matey,” said Job Warlock soberly. ‘It’s a —— of a pinch, but that chap has his brains at work for us. Cheer up! The world’s a fine place, so hurray!”’ The jury now picked, and ranged on the quarterdeck, the captain took charge again. “Gentlemen, you’re here to render a verdict in this matter. You’ve heard the evidence, you know what’s happened. Somebody aboard here has lied about that knife. Now, Mr. Hampton, if you can bring up any evidence in your own favor, the deck is yours.” Hampton smile darkly. ‘‘Who accuses me?” “T do,” said old Nickerson, but without heat. ‘‘The dead man cried, by your own statement and ours who heard it: ‘Help, ye rascal!’ Expiain that away if ye can.” ‘“‘There’s nothing to explain.”” Hampton regarded the jury steadily. ‘I’ve told what took place; my own knife is hanging in my cabin; I brought no baggage aboard, and micloool Otherwise it means , C© inn