Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 7, 1928 — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

HIS SERVICE TO FOLLY. Basil saw him emerge, shaking water from his eyes as he swam hand over hand toward Le Diable Noir. Basil balanced himself on the rail, swaying with the ship’s motion as wind and tide caught her. * Shoot!” the called to the soldiers, and ran lightly along his precarious footing, jumping to the deck only when he reached the stern and cast over a line to Jack Butts. Hand over hand the big mate climbed and was hauled over the taffrail by Basil. “They've denied me everything,” said Basil mournfully. “A shot had ended this last burden of my infamy, but they would not waste powder on such a caitiff. Oh, Jack, that I had never been born to shame so dreadful- ly the mother who bore me and the fa- ther who calls me ‘ son.’ “A ‘Trelawney turned buccaneer, his lot cast with sea thieves! And you, Jack Butts—there is yet time to get ashore and take them my word that they but lack understanding of my heart. Go quickly, friend; the sea widens between.” Jack Butts shook his head. “Voull need me, lad. A’ man may choose the path he treads, and I choose to follow you.” CHAPTER VI. ON A DANGEROUS QUEST, HE lights of Cornwall fell astern. Basil stood at the barkentine’s taffrail staring at them, and each diminishing pinpoint of radiance was like a needle stab in his heart. The pirate’s crew were busy making sail. He heard the voice of De Banana call- ing. Then the baron walked aft, and, chortling as if he mouthed some ob- scene joke, he offered his hand to Basil, who leaned against the rail. “Well done, Trelawney. A pretty trick you served on the soldiers. Agape they soos atrembling in their knees. A 49 It almost salves the broken agreement to have so courageous a youngster cast in his lot with us. Henri Christophe the Emperor shall hear of this, and you'll yet rise from before his golden throne with a title and rich estates.” Basil’s arms remained folded on his breast. He seemed not to see the prof- fered hand of De Banana. “To rise, one must first bend the knee,” he replied shortly, “ And it is a little early to prophesy. I dare say, M. le Baron, you are ready to make payment for the guns according to our agreement.” “Come below. We’ll wet our whis- tles and talk of this. Of course, you understand that the bargain failed of completion. I take only eleven guns to Christophe, and I have lost a good man, Ranselaar.” | “It was no fault of mine that Ran- selaar did not return to your ship. And, as for the guns, you spoiled their loading by following me into the har- bor before I returned with my father’s consent. Having first broken — our agreement, you need not think to be released from payment for twelve ns.” « Walking beside the baron, Basil de- scended the companionway and entered the captain’s cabin, where in contrast to that austerely clean room of Ranse- laar’s there was evidence of wild prodi- gality, treasure of pirate forays, spilled about; velvets and satins piled untidily on a couch which still bore the impress of a man’s recumbent body. ~“Gefondo warmed my nest too soon,’ complained the baron. “TI suf- fer from the cold of these northern waters, and bade the minion roost here for an hour before I turned in to keep me from chill.” The hunchback, Gefondo, appeared at once carrying a tray that contained a bottle from the lazarette which seemed to blink in the light from its © cobwebs and musted wicker covering. “Brave old wine to toast brave young additions to our company,” pro- COMMie oOoKS COL