I recently read one of H. Bedford-Jones‘s novels, The Devil’s Bosun. This story is set in the Dutch East Indies in the 1930s. The story was serialized over four issues of Short Stories in November and December 1935. The first part was cover-featured, and that was used as the cover art of the volume. The interior art was also included. This was published by Steeger Books as part of its H. Bedford-Jones Library.
The story is a quick-moving action adventure. We meet most of the main characters in the first chapter. We meet our main hero, Captain Cairn (no first name given), a ship’s captain working for a Chinese shipping company in Java. An elderly Malay approaches him, named Ali, who offers to be his servant on the ship, with a note from Cairn’s boss as proof. We meet his boss, Li Tock Lo, who informs him of the job.
The ship has been chartered by a Dutchman to sail to an island off the coast of Celebes (Sulawesi) ruled by a sultana, Amini, after her adopted father was killed for rebelling against the Dutch. The Dutchman, a Mynheer Vandunk, is coming, but has sent his agent Mr. Drift, who will serve as first officer. He is also sending his own crew and officers, which is unusual.
And we hear of a pirate who operates in the area, the mysterious Devil’s Bosun. His identity is unknown, and it’s rumored he is a white man leading a crew of Malay and Chinese. Also, Li Tock Lo is sending a relative, an Erh Tan, who will serve as supercargo. No cargo is going out, but they plan on bringing back cargo to sell. And a brother and sister, both English, are coming along. They hope to get a rubber plantation going. What role will they play in all this?
But there are a lot of strange matters. It’s clear that Cairn has a mysterious past. There is a mystery about some of the others. And why is most of the crew Malay and Chinese? Before the second chapter, we have four deaths! Two men are stabbed by a kris. And we are told they had worked for the sultan of the island and betrayed him! And the cook tries to poison Captain Cairn. And we soon learn that maybe the Devil’s Bosun is on the ship?
This is not a story where everything gets revealed at the end. Early on, we and some of the characters figure out who the Devil’s Bosun is, but it’s more about not letting him know he is now known. Can Cairn and his few allies be able to survive this trip? What role will the sultana, Amini, play in all of this? Will the Devil’s Bosun succeed or fail in his plans?
While I have read some of Bedford-Jones’s nautical stories set in the South Pacific, this one is probably the most violent one. Several people die before we are even halfway through the story, and more will come. But it’s yet another fun and gripping story.
Check this one out and the others in the H. Bedford-Jones Library.
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