Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 5, 1928 — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

GOBS ON THE tered walls and with a single table in the center. At this table were seated four Portuguese sailors, eating and drinking. Portuguese Pete, a short, fat and very swarthy individual with sparkling black eyes, greeted the three gobs with bows and smiles. He seated them at the table. In short order various exotic dishes were set before them, such as squid tentacles, candle-nuts, raw mullet, pot and coconut milk. It soon became evident to the three men that the Portuguese sailors had also been served with liquor, for, as the meal progressed, they became more and more boisterous. One of them, a tall, vicious-looking man with large hawklike nose and dart- ing black eyes, kept casting malicious glances at the blue-jackets and every once in awhile would turn to his com- panions and speak in a low voice. “Mhat bird’s lookin’ for trouble,” muttered Blacky. “He's sayin’ something nasty about us,” agreed Hankins, glowering across the table. It is quite possible that the meal would have ended peaceably, if it had not been for Andy’s clumsiness in handling oysters on the half shell. With unwarranted lack of etiquette, he jabbed the point of his knife into an oyster shell to loosen up the clinging mollusk. The oyster, torn from its shell un- der these strenuous tactics, rose in the air, turned over several times, and landed kerflop into the gaping bosom of the ferocious-looking Portuguese sailor’s blouse. Cursing fluently in strange lan- guages, the man arose and frantically delved for the oyster with hairy hand. As he brought it to light, he slammed it down on the table and yelled at Andy: “You Yankee peeg!”’ Andy stared into the man’s giitter- ing eyes and gulped for a come-back. MAKE. 703 But Blacky, his countenance knotted, sprang up and leaning over the table shoved his face up close to the Portu- guese and bellowed: “Who’s a Yankee pig? Who’s a Yankee pig?” The angry Portuguese gave a mut- tered exclamation, then brought the back of his hand against Blacky’s cheek with a sharp smack. In another instant, a miniature bat- tle between the United States and Portugal started. Blacky stepped on his chair and with a fierce shout launched himself across the table at his adversary. The Portuguese tried to pull away to avoid the clutching fingers, but was not quick enough. Blacky’s hands en- circled his throat and the two men fell to the floor, Blacky jerking the table- cloth and the dishes in the wake of his dragging feet. Meanwhile, Andy and Hankins, to- gether with the three remaining Portu- euese sailors, had arisen. They stared down at the writhing combatants. Suddenly, one of the Portuguese, seeing that his comrade was being worsted, picked up a beer bottle. Hankins saw that the man was about to brain Blacky at the first opportunity. He turned to Andy and yelled: “Come on, kid—let’s clean ’em out!’ He mounted the table and launched himself at the man holding the upraised beer bottle. With a crash that shook the house, the two men fell to the floor. Andy, seeing that he would have to tackle the other two Portuguese single handed, decided on a different method of attack. Grabbing some heavy china plates from the floor, he began such a furious bombardment that the two Portuguese beat a retreat by crouching under the table. “Come out, you cowards!” Andy. As he spoke, he glanced around and saw a knife flash in the hands of Blacky’s opponent. Blacky was so busy pounding his clenched fists into yelled EOPNIGL OOO KS (E@)