Jack and His Seven Foes — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

116 but durn me if you can’t at that game give me a mile start and beat me hollow.” “You don’t know what you are talk- ing about,” muttered the Swaggerer. “JT know that there’s some deuced black business between you and that lad,’ said Jibber, “ but I don’t want to injure you on that ground. T’ll keep my contract. Honesty is a sight the best policy.” “No doubt,” sneered the Swaggerer, “Go straight, is my motto,” said Jibber, ‘and I’ll be straight with you now. When this Job 1s done, and you've worked your time out, you and your lot just make tracks—do you hear? ”’ ‘““T hear,’ growled the Swaggerer. They said no more, but walked in silence to the appointed place, the Swagegerer sullen, and Makepeace Jibber smiling, like a man who had acquitted himself honourably, and finds his con- science approving. . Having counted his men over, and found all there, he gave the word, and they went quietly and stealthily up the mountain. Meanwhile Slideaway Bunks, father and son, had been busy getting tea ready, and preparing for their guests. They put a big tea-pot, holding about half a gallon, and a very respectable ham, on the board, and Slideaway, senior, cut some tea-cakes in two, and was toasting them at the fire, when the expected guests came in. Now Jacob Sturmby had never liked the ways of the two Bunks, and he had no faith in their sincerity. When Jack told him of the invitation, he said— “What doesit mean? They have a game in hand.” But Jack simply smiled and said “Go,” and they went as desired. On entering the room, Jacob’s keen eyes took in the preparations, from the tea-cakes being toasted, to a bottle of whisky, uncorked, that stood on a little table at the back. The latter he took particular notice of, and resolved to inspect it closer before he tasted it. “Wal, this is a ra-al treat,’ said old Bunks, putting down the toasting-fork, and holding out both hands; “we are highly honoured, ain’t we, Slidey Cae JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. cell reckon,” rephed the promising young man, “we shan't forget ‘this night in a haere ‘“T hope not,” said Jacob, as he detected a elance exchanged by father and son, and became convinced that some plot was in process of being worked out. Slideaway, Junior, having. given him sreeting, sidled out of the room for a fow minutes, to get logs for the fire. He was in reality going to see if there were any of his accomplices ap- proaching. “‘ That’s a good son, mine,” Shdeaway. “Seems so,” said Jacob. Ben blinked at the fire, but said nothing. ‘“‘He’s everything to me,”’ sighed old Slideaway, ‘ ’specially since his mother died.” “‘ Been dead long ?”’ asked Jacob. “Seventeen years come Christmas,” replied old Slideaway. “Ah, he’s a good boy. I'll just go aul help him with the logs.” He joined his promising son outside. “See anything of them, Slidey?”’ he asked. : “No; toodark—but they are coming.” “Then we may begin tea?” “ Yes, peg away.” They went and found their guests seated at the fire, making themselves very much at home. Old Ben was going on with the toast. Jacob Sturmby had, however, taken a sniff at the whisky, and whispered to Ben— “‘ Hocussed ! ”’ ‘What for?” asked the amazed old man. “ Don’t know; but we shall see soon. When they ask us to drink, you do as I do.” “All right, Vill keep my eyes open, never fear.” “ Now I do like to see this,” said old Shideaway ; 7 <Ctaking. wp the toast is friendly.” “Tt’s the last piece,”’ said Ben. “Then eat it right away,’ said Slideaway, junior, ‘““and make it the first.”’ They sat down to tea, and the old man poured out. When he had drunk said old COMME COOKS aC)