Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 17, 1924 — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

THE ROARING FORTIES. Each clipper had her especial backer who, with sporting blood aroused, was willing to go the limit. Never before had the wagers been so high. Never had a tea race abound- ed in more dark horses. Let one crew boast about the good quali- ties of their ship, and they were sure to be offset by advantages of a rival. Every de- signer had his peculiar excellence. Donald MacKay’s creations were at their best in full gales and heavy weather, while Steele’s cracks were light air ghosters. The Valkyrie and the Westward Ho left England outward bound at the same sea- son. Valkyrie showed up at her best in the roaring forties, while Steele’s Westward Ho did two knots to Valkyrie’s one in the light airs of the tropics. The Westward Ho, Dorothea, and Lothario, with their single topsails, were at best in light breezes. The Challenge and the Wanderer were good, wholesome all round vessels, very fast when hard sailed, as was bound to happen on the homeward race, since MacDuff and Ferguson, their captains, were famous drivers. Lothario was one of the fastest of the lot in moder- ate breezes, but she had not the power to stand driving in heavy weather. Slogett, her captain, a blusterer ashore, was a “‘ whipper in ” at sea. The California could outweather and out- sail the fleet on a wind, but she was not so fast running. In hard breezes Valkyrie was unquestionably the fastest ship of the fleet, but in light wéather the Wanderer and Steele’s cracks could beat her. The fitful uncertainty of the monsoons in the China seas, with an occasional ty- phoon thrown in, made this voyage a chance run even for the best. Great indignation was expressed in the British hongs on account of the boasting of Bully Forbes. “That kind of tall talk will hardly do out here,” said Captain Ferguson of the Wanderer in disgust. ‘It’s all right to make promises for an Australian or a Cali- fornian voyage; but it’s everybody’s bet from China.” Because of his cocksure manner Forbes was not at all popular with the other skip- pers. As though to fan the fire of jealousy, 269 Forbes presented to view one morning a large notice board in his rigging, an- nouncing: THIS SHIP WILL BE THE FIRST IN LONDON RIVER There was method in Forbes’s madness, as it was always his policy by such methods to concentrate attention on his own par- ticular clipper. As a result, on this occa- sion, he received seven pounds per ton from the shippers, the highest price paid that year. All the others received six pounds per ton. Because of this piece of adver- tising shrewdness Forbes of course increased his unpopularity among the fleet. Not con- tent with the taunting sky-sign, he placed another sign at the landing, announcing: VALKYRIE WILL BE THE FIRST IN LONDON RIVER Many a British skipper, gazing at this early specimen of American publicity, was seized with incipient apoplexy. Captain Ferguson encountered a dozen prime Brit- ish shellbacks gazing at the sign. With a show of passion he exclaimed: “How can you stand that, and you Britishers?”’ “Well, it’s a bit cheeky, maybe,” re- turned one of the jacks, “‘ but how can we help it?” ‘“'That’s what I’ve come for,” returned the skipper of the Wanderer. ‘“ You’re looking for berths, aren’t you?” <4 Ves.” . ‘Well, I’ve a full complement already a good crowd, too. But come with me as a sort of extra watch, and we'll see if we can’t bustle the bounce out of the Yanks.” With this appeal to their sporting blood the men shipped forthwith. To add to the zest of the contest, the crew of the Wan- derer bet a month’s pay against the crew of the Valkyrie. Not to be outdone, the agents announced that the rivalry between the Wanderer and the Valkyrie had waxed so sharp that the owners of the respective clippers had ar- ranged that the loser should be forfeit to the winner. Beyond this there was an extra premium of ten shillings a ton to the first ship to de- S CORMICLOO© (C@