Jack and His Seven Foes — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. ———— aati he said. “TI spoke hastily, but uf you knew what he was to me— And pausing, he turned his face away and erganed. “T can underst and,” replied Daniel Smollet, softly. ‘‘ He’s about as bright ona spry a lad as ever I set eyes on.” ‘You never set eyes on one like him,’ said Jacob. ‘Only one ever came within a mile of him,” sighed Ben; ‘“‘and much as I loved him—and he was my own dear son—TI ean’t say that he was his equal.” “And now he is dead,’ moaned Jacob; “and [—” “Jacob ! * What voice was that which came so suddenly upon him ? It was apparently near, and yet it had a smothered sound. “« Master Jack! you?” “Of reply. ’ cried Jacob, “1s it course it is,” was the cheery “Tam having arest behind this screen. Can’t you see it?” “Lord save us, no!” said Jacob, dashing forward. ‘ But I soon will.” It was a sereen of blankets, covered with snow, so arranged as to bend over a little, and shield anyone on the other side. Jacob soon found it, for he blundered against it immediately. “Steady,” said Jack, “or you will have the whole thing down. Go alittle more to the left, and come round.” Jacob and his companions obeyed this injunction, and found themselves close to Jack, who was sheltered from the snow, and sitting on a package which Daniel Smollet saw was his property. “Master Jack,’ exclaimed Jacob, “wwe thought you were dead.”’ “Not yet,’ replied Jack, coolly; “but I had enough shots fired at me to decimate a regiment.” So they did see your” “ Like you, Jacob, I blundered against | } inl 2 wea aaa —e ee Eo EO —————e this screen, and I heart them shout on thi 2 other side. Then I saw that I must be bold, and called out: ‘This way, my men! Death to the thieves and murderers !’” “Good!” said Jacob, and old Ben chuckled. ‘They all made off pell-mell, empty- ing their revolvers as they went.’ “And you were not hit, dear lad?” 108 —— — —_ — oA bullet orazed the skin asi my thigh, but it is “nothing.” i “ But you, Master . Jack, didn’t you bring some of ’em down ?”’ asked Ben. “No, I’ve not fired a shot; I might have hit one whom I wish to spare for the present, and I -should have also shown my whereabouts.” “ Hurrah ! cried Ben. “T don’t think we will make more noise than we can help,” said Jack; Master Jack for ever!”’ “they are roaming’ about somewhere not tar away. Tve scattered them pretty well, but I daresay they are creeping about cautiously for fear of meeting the host brought against them.” Sealy: ho. would think them such cowards ?”’ said Jacob. “They are like rats,’ said Jack, “for they will run when they can, but fight if they are pushed into a corner.” In addition tothe package Jack was sitting on, there were several others, and Smollet pointed them out as belonging to himself or his dead chums. “Some are light enough,” said Jacob, as he raised one, and poised it on his hand. “Weonly brought some gold with us,” said Smollet, “the rest is in bills on New York banks. One mule could easily carry the lot, and me into the bargain.”’ But the mules were not in sight, and had probably been cast adrift to roam where they pleased. They were never seen again by their owner. By Jack’s advice, the packages were divided, and strapped upon their backs. He would have carried his share, but they would not hear of 1t. “Td rather leave it behind,” said Smollet ; “Dm mortal grateful to you as things are.” “Then I will convoy you back,”’ said Jack. ‘‘ We ought to be moving. The snow is not falling so fast, and it is growing light.” They all understood the caution con- veyed in his words. The band of desperadoes could not be far away, and if the weather cleared, the limited numbers pitted against them might tempt them to attack. Jack was not afraid of them, but a hand-to-hand fight was just then antagonistic to his plans. COMICEHDOOKS. .COM