Adventure Magazine Cover, March 20, 1925 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

The Snow Driver 5 weapon under her ragged mantle and slouched from the pavilion. She had stolen as naturally as a crow picks up some- thing that catches its eye. The superstition of high noblemen had invoked her to try to save the life of a dying ruler with her simples, and shrewder than they who had called her forth, she fled with what she could snatch before Edward should die. Meanwhile the three ships had passed out of sight down the Thames, and out of the minds of the courtiers who talked of changes that were to come, and fortunes to be made and lost. But Edward still dwelt upon the glimpse he had had of the voyagers. CHAPTER II THE SIGNIOR D’ALABER Af Y LORD of Stratford sat late at table the evening he summoned Ralph Thorne to his quarters and looked long upon the flagon, both Rhenish and Bur- gundy. He had a hard, gray head for drink. It helped him make decisions, a vexatious necessity of late. In a long chamber gown he sat at his ease, a2 pair of barnacles on his nose and a book printed in the new manner from black letters on his knees. My lord had excellent eyesight and did not need the spectacles; and, although he was _ not scholar enough to read the book, he firmly believed that it was a mistake to be found doing nothing. ‘“‘Master Thorne,” he greeted the armiger, “there is a saying— Quis custodiat ipsos custodies? Who shall watch the watchmen themselves?” He put aside the volume and cleared his throat. “TI have been at some pains to learn who you are.” Thorne bowed acknowledgement in silence. He had no patron at court, and the duke was powerful. He had entered upon his duties in the guards with high hopes. In the camps over the sea the name and character of the boy king had aroused the loyalty of the lads who were beginning their military service in the petty wars of the lowlands and they had waited anxiously for the time when they could appear at their own court. Now, lacking any one to take his part, and with Edward unapproachable, a word from Stratford could disgrace him or restore him to honest service. “Your father, sirrah, is Master Robert Thorne who once rendered yeoman aid to his country by bringing out of Spain a mappamundi* faithfully drawn. He is known as the Cosmographer, and he dwells on the coast at Orfordnesse.”’ Again the squire bowed assent. “You have a reputation. Tis said you use a sword like a fiend out of ——, which is to say with skill but little forethought. You have been in more broils than any dozen of your fellows. Once, I hear, you presumed to go forth alone in the guise of a wherryman. © So habited you ventured rashly to row armed men across a river within the hostile camp.” “My lord, we had need of information.” “So it was said. But you forgot your part of a spy and fought a knight of the Burgundian party in the skiff. The matter ended with your placing the Burgundian adrift, fully armed as he was, a nosegay in his hands and candles lighted at his head. In this guise he was discovered by his friends who buried the body.” “Twas fairly fought between us, my lord, in the boat. He had the worst. It would have been foul shame to throw an honorable foeman into the water.” The man at the table paused to snuff the candles that stood on either hand and to glance curiously at the youth, his visitor. To draw steel on an adversary in full armor in a small skiff was a thing seldom done, and Thorne had not despoiled the body. “Stap my vitals!” he laughed. “You have a queer head on you. Now thank Sts. Matthew and Mark and your patron of that fellowship that it has pleased Edward to stand your friend.” Thorne flushed with pleasure and strode forward to the table. “Grant me but the chance to serve the king’s majesty!” “Humph! As a spy you are not worth your salt. But the king is minded to send you upon a mission.” He glanced upward fleetingly and saw only eagerness in the boy’s clear eyes. “You have learned to handle your sword, but not to handle men. You will want seasoning. The king is pleased to lay command upon you to journey to *Map of the world. CORnNIECLO©