Jack and His Seven Foes — page 102: what you’re looking at

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

. JACK AND HIS el -~ “Confound your trade,”’ Jack, angrily. “ What I want I can pay for—board and shelter. We can hunt here, I suppose § eg? “You can,” said Jerek, slowly. “ Now, I know a party who would ys you in for forty dollars down, and s nothing till the dollars are used up in bo: ird—say at twenty a week.’ “Tl not bar gain with you,’ Jack. ‘* Here is the money.’ “ Sakes, now!” said Jerek, “so if 1s, and I’m the man.”’ He took them to his bachelor home, which was very primitive in its architecture and domestic arrangements, being merely a log hut, spar sely furnished; but it was roomy, and Jack said it would do. It was arranged that the place should be divided in two parts, and, with the exception of a few things, the new- comers provided for themselves. Jerek’s lean and lank frame quivered with merriment over the easy and advantageous bargain he had made. What he proposed had been acceded to without a murmur. “ But it’s like the sons of the roten old mother country, ” he said; ‘they are not cute.” This was a shght error on his part. We can be as smart as any Yankee, any day, and be honest with it, which is a virtue not too much in use in the new country. Jack and his friends had their rough rooms, one in front, looking down the mountain and over the plain, and the others at the back. The latter were to be the sleeping- places. On taking possession, Jack sat down by the window on a rough bench, and looked out upon this clorious vlew, stretching down the mountain and over thirty miles of the level plain. A narrow and slightly winding track ran across the latter. and looked like a silver thread under his eyes. It was the overland route California to the States. Then it was a mere track, but during the last few years a railway has been run over it. But we deal with a httle time ago, when that railway was only thought of. said from Jacob Sturmby and old Ben bustled | | interposed | EE of “x SEVEN Q3 ili —_ FOES. italien — — -—_—_—_— +> about, A did their an to give an air of comfort to the room ; then dusted. and arranged the few pieces of rude furniture, and lit a fire on the hearth, for 1t was cold. Winter was at hand, and already they had had a shght snowfall on the mountain. There, dear lad,” Jacob Sturmby suid, pausing im his labours, ‘‘we have done our best.” “ You are very kind,’ without looking round ; are.” “But won't you come to the fire, lade <4 Jack got up hke one who mechant- cally obey s, and walked tothe fire. He replied Jack, “you always stood for a tew moments warmin2 his. hands, then sat down on a chair Ben brought to him. “ You are too anxious about me,” he said. ‘I ail nothing.” “You would not admit it if you did,” said Jacob Sturmby. “T tell you,” said Jack, “ that I have simply overtaxed myself, and need rest. Think of the long days and restless nights I have had—ever watchful.”’ te True, and you could have shot the. old skunk a hundred times.” “TI gave him seven days, and it was my humour to let him live so long. No less and no more. J was as weak as a child when I came up with him. In a struggle [ should have had no chance.” “And yet pluck carried the day,” said Sturmby, admiringly. “My boy had pluck,’ murmured old Ben, “ but it was not like yours, Master Jack.” “ Poor boy!”’ said Jack, softly. After awhile, he expressed a desire to. be alone, and the two men left him. Old Ben went into one of the back rooms, and busied himself with cleaning — the weapons they had brought with them. He had the trapper’s love for such things, and they were left to his care. He kept everything in perfect condition, it is almost needless to say. Jacob Sturmby sauntered out to take a look round the place, and form an opinion of the people he had come among. An. opportunity to reckon up some of them was immediately oftered him. GOnnlGooo Cc <“S (c©)