Jack and His Seven Foes — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

¥ . ~~ ee ’ a 4 * t- are 2 ee ts 4 an =, - wey . _- ha ke = a =. . * ri —~ er a ; ' ' | SEVEN FOES. Bo to STAC AND. nts >. | out; go with it.”’ The plan was carried out. One of the drivers was made drunk, and the - Settler took his place. Before dawn he - was many miles from the silver mine. In the morning the Swaggerer told Tom Jordan that the Settler had got uneasy about a gitl he was spoons on, and had taken himself off for a time. ‘“ And I have his written authority to take his share of the profits,” said the Swaggerer. “Tt won’t be much,” rephed Jordan, “for you’ve both overlooked a clause in our agreement, which says that a share- holder must work to receive anything.”’ The Swaggerer went away blue with fury, and he put the Panther into a terrible heat over it. “It was like your foolery,” he said, “‘to propose to lend him anything.” “Tt was the only thing to get him away, said the Swaggerer. Meanwhile the Settler had ridden on with the train, and every hour increased his safety, he thought. ck cot off before, ”* he said, why should I not do so again ?”’ His fellow-drivers were a rough lot, who, when they discovered that he had been substituted for the original driver, did not trouble their minds about it. “We've got a wager on about it,” said the Settler, “and if I win [ll stand drink enough for you to swim in.” He did not give the particulars of the wager, nor did they ask for them. “ond money, and they were satisfied. Once they were attacked by Indians, who, after some stubbornness, were driven off. There was, however, what he hked— a bar to eet drink, and a treat he had not enjoyed for many a da bed to sleep on. “It's a good twelve years since I slept on one,’ he said; “what may be the charge for it?” asked the Settler. ‘Only ten dollars,” was the reply ; “it's dirt cheap. You can get amonth’s sleep out of it in a single night.” The Settler made a wry face. It was only a luxury once in a way. “T’ll take it,” he said. They took him into the room where the bed was, and he tried 1t by lying down there and then. ‘Soft as down,” he said, in ecstasy ; “but what bed is that?” poimting to an old bedstead across the room. “That's a rough mattress,’ was the answer. ‘Who sleeps on it ?”’ ‘“ Whoever comes and wants a bed.” “Well, mind you get somebody respectable,” said the Settler, and he lounged down to the bar to drink. The Settler went on drinking and smoking until it was time to go to bed. The outside customers were dismissed, and the keeper of the saloon gave the Settler a lantern. ‘‘Mind you get into the right bed; I’ve let the other,’ he said. “Have you?” said the Settler ; ‘then all I hope is that the other party’s got the right one.’ Whenever they stopped at a shanty by | the way, the Settler was free with his | The Settler fought as well asany, and | killed two of the enlcnts with his own | hand. “ And yet,” he thought, “I am run- | ning away from a youngster. the luck’s with him, and the odds are | against me.’ | _ The first place of any gigtine that But then | “Oh, he’s right enough,’ was the reply. The Settler, with a step that was rather unsteady, sought his room, and turned in. The lantern gave a very poor light, and he could only dimly see the form of a man lying on the other bed. © Hullo, mate !”’ he eried. No answer. “Sound enough,’ muttered Settler; ‘‘any how, this bed’s mine.’ Kicking off his boots, he threw him- self down upon it, and was soon snoring. How long he had slept he knew not the tri fle that almost as soon as I’ve started, Here there were signs of civilisation, vi you'll go another way.’ and police to look after the precious on pe SN ot yet,” said the Swaggerer ; ‘but | burdens borne by the mules. io “we are wasting time. It is dark, and The Settler put up at what was called i now is your time to move on. There’s | an hotel, but it was little more than a eh -a train of mules with the silver going © big shanty. ic JOO COMMING (E(©) CS