Jack and His Seven Foes — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

er ote JACK AND <n Pe "The Settler peoavencd his spirits the soonest of them all. He had a hope that Jack had not perceived him, and _ having been spared once, might he not ~ consider himself in the licht of a _ pardoned man ? » “Tru arnisk,’ _ with these fellows. mas I can.” But they had got a mutual belief in the Settler’s company being in some way a protection for them, therefore they wished that all should keep together. The Settler soon discovered as much by the way they kept watch over him. During the next ten days he was not alone. Even at night he detected that one watched while the other slept, and he began to curse the day that had brought them together again. At last he made an attempt to get away. They had come within measurable distance of the silver country, and were camping in a wood. About midnight | it seemed to him that both the Swae- gerer and the Panther were sleeping. ‘‘Now’s the time,” he thought, and lying down, began to creep away. He had gone about twenty yards when he saw the Panther spring up, and ~ ainake towards him. t “Come back, Jim Black! ” he cried. he thought, ‘‘ in being Tll cut ’em as soon ee See | “T’m not going far,” replied the ; Settler. ‘You are going too far for us,” cried the Panther; or Ill fire!” The Settler rose, and came sullenly back to his place. “pull up and come back, The Swaggerer, now awake, and fully | alive to what had been going on, took the opportunity to speak openly. “Tt won’t do, Jim,” he said; “ we will go on together, and stand by each ot the until we fall.” ‘‘T think it best to separate,” replied the Settler; “ there’s no reason or sense in our. keeping together.” ‘* Never mind if there isn’t,” said the Panther; ‘“‘ we'll do it.”’ The Settler looked at him, loweringly, _ and kis hand moved towards his revolver _ pocket. weapon out, towards him. = No, Settler,” he said ; do.”’ and Hacnead the muzzle — ' '™ Pa > : HIS | The Swaggerer whipped his | “that won’t | P eae, Where Rene ae ‘ern! SEVEN FOES, “you are two to one.” ‘Come, don’t let us have a split,” said the Panther; ‘we don’t any of us want to help that young fire-eater. We must stand by each other.’ “ And then the odds are against us,’ urged the Swageerer. “Let us shate hands and swear to stand by each other.” The oath was taken—but what are oaths to such men P | They keep them when it is convenient to do so, and break them when it serves their purpose. They pursued their way, the Settler with his eyes open for signs of the precious ore. A whole week they moved about— not exactly in a bee-line, but dodging here and there to inspect portions of the country that looked promising. But they found not what they sought. “ Tt’s our luck,” erinly. One day they came across a beaten track, and pursued it. Ere they had gone many miles they saw a man on horseback approaching. “ Whois that?’ asked the Swaggerer. “It looks like young Jack,” the Panther. “Jack be hanged!” growled the Settler. a day.” ‘| wonder if he has any coin,” said the Swaggerer, with a meaning look. | returned | said the Swaggerer, replied “It’s a man of forty, if he is +) “You bet he’s got some,’ the Settler. “ Would it not bea kindness to relieve him ? ” The Panther assented, and the Swag- gerer rapidly portioned out the work. “You take the bridle, Settler; you catch him by the leg, Panther, and pitch him out of the saddle, and Vl cover him when he’s down.”’ '- “Don’t bungle it,” said the Settler. “ He looks like a man who will fight.” ‘“‘ Look as innocent as you can,” said the Swaggerer; “and no man show a weapon until I’ve got him on the grass. Shamble a bit, as if every bone ached 1a _ your body, and you were dead-beat.” The assumption was carried out to | perfection, and the stranger came along _asif he suspected nothing o, | He proved to be a man of gigantic power, and the horse he bestrode was “T suppose not,” replied the Settler ; CORNIECLOOO (C f, [ i Ye ; yy Pg Se ar nf ‘ ft ee RM 5 , ONS ro) rai j ‘ 4 as Xe ‘ SLAP we ee é " ‘ : ‘ Un . . we FAT , Li ‘ ‘4 . t D ahd f 7 se U cS (E(©)