Adventure Magazine Cover, March 20, 1925 — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

28 “Sir Hugh is general of this fleet. And we are for Cathay, not the Wardhouse.” Peter nudged the young landsman in the side with force enough to crack a rib. ‘“‘There’s Master Dickon for ye! Aye, but he did not see the mermaid. Nor does he sour his throat with the beer in our butts.” Ralph glanced at the mariner curiously. “Would you run from a woman, Peter?” “‘Aye, younker, that would I. Signs and portents are sent for our understanding. Whatever befalls, some chap on the Bona Esperanza is doomed.” The big boatswain glanced at him side- wise and shook his head soberly. “Lad, I be fair ’mazed at ’e. say next there is no black magic as well as white; aye, no powers of numbers or planets.” “It see:zns to me,” quoth the armiger, “that a man stands or falls by his own deeds. I have come upon no spell that a sword would not sever.” Peter’s great jaw fell open and he stared, round of eye. “Now, —— take ’e, I mean, Our Lady save us! Lad, lad! I'll not gainsay the potency of Our Lady—” he nodded at the image on the mast—“‘but here we be on the Ice Sea; so Master Durforth did main- tain, and who else should reck as well? “Now Satan hath do-minions of his own, and if this be one of them, why hold hard, lad, and do not miscall the powers o’ dark- ness. Especially—’ he nudged his friend violently in the ribs— “especially if ye have the blood of another gen’leman on your soul.”’ “If we are truly entering the Ice Sea,” responded Thorne, “I must speak with Master Dickon, at once. Do you see to it, Peter.” To his surprize the boatswain rolled off without objection or question, and the armiger braced himself for the fask of accusing Durforth on his unsupported word. By now he knew it was no light matter so to bring in question the master of a ship— this knowledge had impelled him to hold his peace, until he could win the confidence of Chancellor. But the pilot-major seemed to avoid Thorne. However, Thorne walked toward the poop rail, having fully decided to go to Chancellor and tell him his own side of the story. Thou’lt Adventure CHAPTER IX THE RENDEZVOUS 'HANCELLOR was seated in the narrow ° stern cabin by the table on which lay astrolabe and backstaff. Powerful hands clasped behind his curly head, he nodded as the landsman entered. “You asked for a word with me, my lad?” “Yes, Master Dickon. And I pray that you will hear me to the end, for this is a matter that I may no longer keep to myself.” Gripping the deck beam overhead, to steady himself against the roll of the ship, Thorne began his tale. “Y am Ralph Thorne, son of him called the Cosmographer, and I fought Master Durforth at Orfordnesse in your presence.” The master of the Edward showed no surprize at this, but as the youth went on to unfold all that had taken place in Lon- don, he fell serious and his eyes never left the speaker’s face. ' “Tt is ill doing,”’ he made response in his slow fashion, ‘‘to lay a charge against a man without proof, on hearsay and suspicion.”’ “That is true, Master Dickon. But so is my tale.” 7 “According to your story, you came secretly to the ship. Since then you have lain hidden. How am I to take your word against that of a gentleman?” Thorne felt his cheeks grow hot as he leaned forward, checking a harsh retort with an effort. “Sir, my presence here should be a surety of my mission, which is to serve the king.” “Was the murder of the honest gentle- man your father included in this mission?” “My father? Nay, he is alive and hearty.” Something in the face of the older man choked the words in his throat. “My father—what of himp”’ “Within an hour of our embarking Master Robert Thorne was slain with your sword in his cottage, and all his maps were burned on the hearth.” , As the youth made no response, Chan- cellor added slowly: “The truth of this is established by Master Cabot, who, after bidding us fare- well on the shore, went to your father’s cottage to have speech with him. Finding him as I have said, Master Cabot re- turned to the shore and came out to us in a CORNICLOO (©