Jack and His Seven Foes — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

= JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. CHAPTER IL. TIIE Tre two lads left the cabin, Jack with his arm affectionately placed round Willie’s neck; and Bob went on deck to carry out his orders. In a few minutes the entered the cabin. He was a tall, Swageerer strongly-burlt man, with a mass of dark hair and a thick | bushy beard that grew high up his— check bones. His features were not ill- formed, but the expression of his face was very sinister, and his forehead was — | about. knotted by a perpetual frown. | | | | SWAGGERER AND WIS CAPTAIN—TILE LAST HOURS OF “ ALBATROSS,’ The shirt and trousers of the sailor | were the only garments he wore, and on appearing before his captain he tendered his pretended apology in sailor fashion, in the action. The captain of the “ Albatross”’ fixed a keen glance upon him, and his shifty eyes sought the ground. “You shipped under the name of Hiram Crayton, I believe,” said the captain. ‘Yes, I did,” was the reply. “Ts it your real name?” A moment’s pause, a quick raising and dropping of the eyes, and then his answer : ‘What if itisn’t? A man can ship under any name he pleases.” “You are not a seaman,” tain Boldheart, ‘‘ and you have the tone of a man who has seen better days. “T have seen them,” was the surly reply. ‘Well, suppose you have. You must bear with your lot now. Why rebel against your lot? You have been inso- lent to my son.” “And he knocked me down; squares the matter.” “Tt does not,” said the captain, with sudden anger. “Il hear that you are called the Swaggerer. Now understand, Pll have none of your swaggering on board the ‘ Albatross.’ Do your duty, obey orders, and be civil, and all will be well; but show the slightest slons ot rebellion, and I will put vou in irons.’ that - tain. TIAPPINESS ON THE “ve not rebelled,” said the fellow. “ve done nothing except accidentally lurch against that son of yours.’ “He has taught you that it cannot be— done with impunity,’ ” said the captain, “and you have heard me—now go.’ The Swaggerer saluted again, and was leaving the ‘cabin when the captain saw something 3 in his profile that dimly re- called something of the past. “Stop!” he cried. The Swaggerer stopped and faced ‘Come nearer to me,” said the cap- ‘“‘ Let me have a good look at you. -T’ve not noticed you much before, but | you— go. now that I look at you I seem to know but there was more mockery than respect | your face.”’ “Youought to,” wasthe reply. “I’ve been two months aboard.” He stood with his eyes down, and evil fires flashing under their lids, while his superior officer looked intently at | him. | No,” said the captain, “I can’t call you to mind. I must have simply seen you by chance somewhere. I don’t know a2 The Swaggerer turned away, and as soon as he was outside the cabin, and | the said Cap- | door closed, he shook his fist savagely. “ No, ’ he murmured, “ J suppose you -wouldn’t know me; but I'll open your eyes before long, you smock-taced saint, _ you honest Dan Boldheart, as the fellows _ used to call you.” And in the cabin the man whom he thus threatened was stillmusing: ‘“ The face is familiar: where have I seen it before 7” It puzzled him sorely, for as the minutes flew by he became more and more convinced that he and Hiram Crayton, alias the Swaggerer, had met more than once before. It was the expression of the man’s eyes and the profile that called up some- thing from the past. But what was it? Captain Boldheart could not tell, and COMICOOOKS. EO