Jack and His Seven Foes — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

2 pn 9 WS age a ¥ » > > ee) (tsa, ha ; oy Tes om ie Dn hohe JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. i rr Old Ben, prompt in imitation, had already done so. Father and son stood appalled, white to the lips, and the blood frozen in their veins. ‘Drink, I say!” cried Jacob. “ Tt’s a strange way of treating people who fed you at their table,’ began the ald man. * Drink, I say!” cried Jacob. *“T won't!’ yelled Shdeaway, senior, ind turning, he would have fled. One step only he took, and Jacob fired. The old man, with a gasp, fell writhing on the ground. The next moment his son, brought down by Ben, fell at his side. A shout was heard without, and Jacob dashed to the door. “The chief mischiet’s here,” he cried ; “never mind them two, Ben. Follow me.” He threw the door open, and ran out. A glance showed him the foe at work. Lhe sound of the revolvers had been taken by them as a call, and they were trying to break in the door of Jerek Grittle’s hut. But that astute individual was pre- pared for them. He and Jacob both suspected the two Bunks, and they had put their heads together to see what ought to be done. It was decided that he should have fictitious rheumatism, and stop at home while they went to Bunks’ tea-party to see what was moving. Jerek Grittle had barricaded the door, and, with an auger, drilled a hole in it. Through this hole he watched the enemy gather, and when they made their attack, he popped a rifle through it and fired. Makepeace Jibber was within the line of that fire, and, with a shriek, he fell, rolling over and over in agony. The bullet had gone clean through him, and entered the heart of one of his men, who simply fell upon his face, and lay still and dead. ‘his severe rebuff was so sudden that the marauders were staggered, and stood still for a moment in mute terror and amazement. Then Jacob and Ben, burning with fury, came in among them, and then nine of the Bowie Boys speedily measured their length upon the ground. | So much was done when the door of Jerek Grittle’s hut was thrown open, and Jack, with his weapons ready, a revolver in each hand, came into the moonlight. Behind him was Jerek Grittle, with his rifle at the present. Their appearance was enough, and the foe, already disheartened and dismayed, turned and fled down the mountain. : Jerek Grittle’s rifle cracked, and one more man rolled over. The rest succeeded in making good their escape. : “What is the meaning of this?” asked Jack, addressing Jacob. “It’s iniernal treachery,” replied Jacob; ‘‘ the two Bunks were in it.” “T thought so,’ said Grittle, as he put a fresh cartridge into his rifie, “ bile me if I didn’t.” “They tried to hocus us, and those men were to murder you, dear boy.” “You can tell me all about it by-and- by,” said Jack; “ let us see who we have here.” They looked at the men who were near them. ‘They were all dead; none of Jack’s three foes were among them. “There’s another lower down,” said Ben, ‘“‘ and he’s alive.”’ It was Makepeace Jibber who had rolled on until a log stopped him. As they went up to him he tried to raise his arm. ‘Don’t shoot,’’ he said, feebly ; ‘‘ I’ve got my gruel.” Behind Jack and his friends the amazed and alarmed inhabitants had now gathered. Hverybody was asking questions, and nobody was answering them, when Jack’s voice was heard. “ Be quiet for a minute,” he said; ‘¢7T want to hear what this man has to say.” “ I can’t say much,” said Makepeace Jibber, when silence had been obtained. ‘“T’m done for. Jl only wish to die as I am.” ‘Who and what are you?” asked Jack. “The leader of the Bowie Boys.” “Ts the Swacgerer with your men?” ~ eD) a> “He is, and curse the day I do when ) a3 he came among us. Is he shot? é¢ No +i] “That's a fool’s question ! He’ll have 0)(0\(6) (E() <SriGO AMUCS