Gosh, that's a beautiful slash panel, huh? Fred Ray (1920-2001), writer and illustrator of our current adventures, spent lots of time copying out Sunday comic strips to improve his technique. I imagine we're seeing the influence of Hal Foster.
Fred Ray also lived with his mother until her death and died a bachelor. Not that that signifies anything one way or the other.
Anyway, since we left him last month, Congo Bill (still delirious with grief over the departure of Professor Kent, one has to imagine) has traveled from Freetown to Syria, a mere 3500 miles as the crow flies, give or take. We join him as he explores an old Crusader castle, along with another scientist father/ tagalong daughter pair.
Ann wants to go exploring - what do the men-folk have to say about that?!?
Hmmmph, the unmitigated gall of you men!
In an unrelated note, seeing Ann astride her horse reminds me of my grandmother, who in 1916 wore a pair of her brother's pants and rode the family horse to town on an errand. The mayor arrested her for wearing pants in public. Her brother had to go to town and punch the mayor in the nose to get her out of jail. She went on to become a rich lawyer's wife and society maven. True story.
By the way, I'm pretty sure that Ann's a lesbian.
She soon finds out the error of her headstrong ways - -
Bill and Dr. Standish can't go looking for her til morning, because of the torrential rainstorm that Bill "felt".
Next day....
Yikes! Good deduction, Bill!
Bill proceeds to traipse through the castle, talking aloud to himself...
...eventually running afoul of a Crusader Knight in the flesh!
Bill bobs and weaves with the dexterity of a savage jungle cat, and...watch that first step, brother, it's a DOOZY!
Lots of uninteresting exposition involving a hidden treasure and a pair of swindling gold thieves disguised as crusader knights and - wait, what, did you say hidden treasure?!? Could this be the answer to Bill's troubles? Why, with an endless supply of gold coin Bill could be with Professor Kent AND still have his little adventures in Africa, right? RIGHT?!?
Aww, gee, what a letdown! Why didn't they just say "Buy War Bonds" and be done with it?
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