The Argosy, Christmas 1912 — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

LOOSING THE TEMPEST. Anyway, after we had fretted our- selves into a stew, a large launch from the Vigilante arrived, and a dozen men, under the command of a midshipman, or some subaltern, marched to the spot where Delatouche stood waiting. I was alarmed, for each one carried a short carbine, or whatever arm the marines of the French navy bear. It was a new gun to me, but any gun, un- der the circumstances, looked ominous. “Place all the arms you may have here before me,’ said Delatouche quietly. . As the men from the Vigilant obeyed, my heart went out to their commander. It needed no American from the embassy to see that Sander- man received fair play. The naval officer was surety enough for that. ‘And I believe that if Ravary had him- self come alone and made the capture, Sanderman would have been treated with fairness. But we are not critici- zing. methods. We are telling the story of Orsgov and its strange inhabitant. “Now,” continued the captain, “ somewhere in the forest on this island there is a man hiding. Find him. You cannot make a mistake, for there is but one man, beside those you see here, on the place. Seize him and bring him here. Under no circumstances harm him. I shall hold those bringing him in to an absolute accountability for the security and safety of his person.” The men saluted, and, under the command of their immediate officer, separated, and the search was on. “ Captain,” I said, “ let me, in behalf of myself and my countrymen here, thank you for your fairness in this un- fortunate matter.” “Tt is certainly unfortunate,’ he replied. “I need no thanks. I have heard of no harshness between our countries. We will bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion. I regret the whole thing.”’ “Mon Dieu!! Don’t I?” sputtered Ravary. “Is it any pleasure, do you think, to be ordered to follow an air- ship to the North Pole to get a man who 5d knocked down another in a fight? The devil fly away with all the air-ships. I have had no sleep since the things reached Paris.”’ No wonder, then, the inspector was inclined to be churlish. I fancy I would have been so myself under the same conditions. “How large an island is this?” asked the captain, looking at his watch. “About ten miles by four,” I an- swered. “ Mostly forest? ” “Well, forest and sparse woodland. Rocks and hills and valleys and streams.” “Then the searching party will be a long time. Permit me to request the pleasure of your company—the three of you—on board the Vigilante for dinner.” “We are scarcely clothed for—” “Oh, in your case, if you had no clothes. Come along. After what you have been through, a decent meal should be welcome. And our friend here, who never really had a civilized dinner, I fancy will enjoy it.” “We accept. your hospitality, cap- tain,’ said Ordway. “Come along, Crusoe; we dine on board the Vigi- lante as the captain’s guests.” The islander looked up, and then he stood up. “Tam an ignorant islander,” he said. “ The ship will be too fine for me.” “Forget all that,” the captain told him. “Listen to me. You have lived all your life on this island. How you have retained your reason, how you have remembered the English language taught you years ago, is beyond my understanding. But, of course, now the opportunity has come to you to leave this solitude and become a factor in the great world, you will not neglect it. “Do not be angry with me when I say you will find many things of which you are ignorant. The world of so- ciety is not a merciful world. The reason of a man’s ignorance of its niceties does not appeal to the multi- cComicbooks CO