Jack and His Seven Foes — page 13: what you’re looking at

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4 JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. not; and they’ve kept the’rselves apart as far as they could.” “Well, all that is nothing!” « But listen, capen. When we was in the track of traders, they were civil enough; but since we’ve been blown out of our course, a change has come over them.” “They have not been so vaady. Bob— that’s quite true.’ “Ready, indeed! No, it’s all skulk and scowl with ‘em; and day and night, cap en, their heads ‘are together. And they’re a-whispering—whispering like men who hatch the devil’s mischiet ; and I’m afeard they’ve got arms.’ ‘Which we have not,” said the cap- tain. “I’ve sailed the ‘ Albatross’ these sixteen years, and never wanted such a thing.”’ “But youll want ’em soon, I tell you,” said. Bob, “‘and I says take time by the forelock, and have their bunks searched.” “Vl think it over,” said the captain. “| like to trust my men as far as I can. “Trust men any length, but don’t give devils an inch,” said Bob. “Now here’s Master J nels let’s hear what he has to say.” The door opened, and a tall, lithe lad came in, accompanied by a boy of twelve, the two sons of the captain of the ‘ Albatross.”’ Jack was like his father, dark, with the eye of an eagle, and signs of strength in every movement; but Willie was fair and slender—a delicate, pretty boy, whom one would guess to be lke his mother. He was leaning on Jack’s arm, as the weak will lean upon the strong they love. Jack was his idol, his beau-ideal of all that was brave and manly. . What am [ to give an opinion upon?” asked Jack, with a quick look at the faces of the two men. “Stubbles is doubtful about the honesty of some of the crew,” replied his father. “<T have no doubts.at all about it,” replied Jack. ‘‘ We have seven scoun- drels aboard—knavish curs, who we find beginning to show their teeth.” | they hoe the tiger ?”’ -sermon on brotherly love,” = “Indeed,” said the eaptain, have ~ «© As Willie and I were walking the deck,” said Jack, “that fellow who is called the Swaggerer passed by and pushed rudely acainst us. It was pur- posely done, and I called on him to stop.” “Well, what did he do? ”! “Went on his way without answer- ing. d3 “ And what did you do?”’ “Wollowed him up, and asked him what he meant by his insolence. He simply said ‘Shut up, you cur,’ and then I knocked him down.” “Tt was bravely done,’ said Wille, with flashing eyes, ‘‘ quick and straight from the shoulder. Jack’s fist — oh, don’t I wish I had one hke it—caught him between the nose and mouth, and down he went hke a big bag of cowardly - ruffianism.”’ “That’s just what he is,” said Jack, “for he didn’t offer to get up, but lay on the deck snarling like a cur; and I’ve come down to report what hap- pened.” “You did right, quite right, Jack,’’ said the captain. ‘A knock-down blow was the best thing you could give him, but [ had rather you had left him to me.” “ And you'd ’a’ preached him a smart said Bob, grimly. “No,” rephed the captain, fiercely. “T would more likely have pitched him overboard. An insult offered to myself I might forget, but a wrong to my youngsters—never.” z Several of his chums were standing near,” said Jack, “and I fancy I saw a movement among them as if they were going to pounce on me, also a look in the Swaggerer’s eyes that bade them not do it.” ‘Whatever is in their mind,” the mate, “he’s at the head of it.” “T can believe it,” returned the cap- tain. -* Now, my dear boys, you go to ycur own cabin for a httle while, and you, Stubbles, send this bold Swaggerer to me.” said COA O77 UP 0? 209 02 09 0D) (99 421 100 1 = PARAM MAMA nia OO) COMNMUC SaCO