THE JAUNTINGS OF JASON

Gun Flash, Issue XII, 20 March 1943, Page 2

THE JAUNTINGS OF JASON

J (First installment of a hair ft raising soriar, in an 'unlimi itcd number of parts - we hope® Please note that all characters are entirely fictitious? and do not'refer to any living persons -much® Ed)

And a fair wind blow as the sun rose and they camo nigh unto the shore And they espied there a galleon, so small as to be but a toy, measuring scarcely 15 cubits Yet it‘did sail, within in many people-; and neither oar nor sail was* seen s There came from the ship a sound as of barking dogs and they would have fled had not Jason, who had been silent the while, so,id "Stay brothers, have you not hoard men tell? Surely this id naught but the wonderful kingdom of Naia, ruled over by the great and just King Johnjeb" And as he stepped onto the golden beach ho saw among a group of men one, who by his trappings and pink. nose must s ur ly be the king. "Oh most majesti of all men £, Jason, wish to pay, homage to your greatness and linger awhile dn your bounteous shore a” c To which the great one replied in majestic tones "HewittJs the bloody name; d’ye/ want a see the boss?” Thenceforth the wanderdr was conducted into the almighty King’s presence. ”0 King," spake ho, ”1 bring you greetings and a shipload of hungry’sailors, and as mon tell us' that your generosity knows not an end, I do humbly crave your pardon and beg of you to suffer us awhile”.

"Your wish is my command, 0 Jason," ho replied. "You haven’t by any chance" got a cigarette? No? Have one of mine.’’ And there were great preparations for eating made by slaves so fierce that they were confined in a large cage made of wire. And he tarried awhile to rest his . eyes on the opining and emptying .of t?‘ns of strange delicacies. Then outspake are of these, a small plump man and merry. "0 great son of a dog, what shall I do with this?" ■”Thou can* st use it for an pp.emu. an thou wish. 0 thou illegitimate, peopled with lice" quoth ho who would have been the loader. Meanwhile there came to the door of this cage, a man of largo belly with basins in either hand. In a voice both gutteral and commanding he spake "Fill 'em up, don’t be frightened”.

He then betook himself to a table and. era a few minutes had gone, the basins which and been filled with food enough for twenty men, wore like unto the cheeks of a baby.

While Jason and his non sat and ate and wondered, many more camo and were fed. Then there camo rearing a small chariot , driven they supposed by the same magis as the metal galloon. And he wondered how such a speeding chariot could'stop. His puzzle•dom was short-lived for a tree arrested its mad career. Then there emerged four men who betook themselves and sat in a small house which bore the mystic

symbols "Officers* Mesa"* And the heroes were s orely puzzled by those who were not as other men. They boro no signs of toil and their raiment was clean. Quoth Jason "'Tin the chosen ones of the King”. But outspake the man of large belly ? whoso plates were once more filled, "Nay,Jason, t tis not ! so; Them’s the bloody officers" 'Jason bethought himself to scan them and found them pleasing; the witSe king was indeed fortunate to have such followers. Having partaken of all the wondrous foods and drunken of many draughts of the juices of fruits served by one Gunner the son of King, but not, it was believed, of the KING, the heroes betook themselves and laid in the shade as did the men, and slept greatly . c * ‘ (to 'be continued; '