Jack and His Seven Foes — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

g . y 7 a -_ anu Won cane fave either here.” “ Tet us have drink alone, then.” No: nothing here. Goon.” “But why can't you help two starving devils who only want to buy bre ad P » asked the Panther. “Remember the ‘ Albatross,’’’ was the reply, and with white faces the two doomed men pursued their w: Ly. ‘What does it all mean?” asked the Swageerer, with a despairing gesture. « All the fiends of the bottomless pit are leagued against us,” replied the Panther. “They were with us once...’ “But now they’ve turned.” It was a puzzle to them. But how were they to know that Ralph the trapper had gone forth against them, and was travelling far and wide with the story of their crime, and a descrip- tion of their persons ? Bat so it was—he had undertaken the task from Jack, and performed it gladly. Being an amazing walker, and re- quiring little rest, and having in addition a thorough knowledge of the country, he succeeded in making every place too hot for the two villains. He went here and there, covering treble the ground they did, came back upon their trail, took it up, and never lost sight of them, without once show- ing himself. ‘Unseen he played the part of assistant avenger, and for days and weeks, where- ever they went, the two men were told to ‘“‘ move on.”’ They slept on the plains, and fed on what they shot or found. Sometimes there was nothing but roots for them, and they never at the best had anything more palatable than the flesh of some small animal, barely warmed with haste at a wretched fire. Turn which way they would, there was no friendly shelter for their heads, no friendly voice to bid them welcome. From one and all they received the stern, ““Get you gone from here,” and sal bie AN D “HIS - SS $$ LK SL = ms as . _ Neene eee eee nee ne EE SEEIEEIEIISEn if they ventured to ask why, the answer " ; ” <: a Pa, a=, “a 7 fy 4 P be tht y a ‘ aa i r " ‘ : ' 1 j ‘dl ; A ® P yr RE ie Ss ae UR telly alta oka 8 8 ; : . ; : ; ‘ SEV Ai FOES. ) ; As "| ‘ Lig wae aa of vil ee hee te us : ; a Lat . i s 2 7 ht \ stra A A. iol 4 ny si, was always the same— a. “Remember the ‘ Albatross.’ es) ba: Gi With hair unkempt and a te clothing, they soon became more lke an wild men than civilised beings. Fury ba and fear struggled for mastery in fo i hearts. y k ‘“Tlow long are we to heat this “i asked the Swaggerer. Vale “ As lone as the cub chooses,” enowled ia sit the Panther: : iy They had halted for, the night, Bat ry i‘ the Panther was engaged, in lighting a | . fire. He was blowing sone hot. embers hy into a flame, and paused a moment to ae answer his companion. | Rt ‘“ Every man’s hand ‘is Against us," a 4 a said the Swaggerer. Nae aaah Io “Every man’s, Varlewieeel the Pinther. er 2 A wf “Then let our hands be a gaint os “ theirs,’ said the Swaggerer, ae 7 ti ee bitter oath. ‘ They have made. wolves: ig of us, let us act like brute beasts.” Aa ne ao Het suls. we done that sort of thing ot a before ?’’ asked the Panther. __ Bee i “Perhaps we have; but now let us choose a hiding-place, ‘and lie hidden by day; at night we can start out and an show our fangs.” ie “In what way ?” bat “ Let us kill women and children, and leave the, homes of men filled with mourning.” “Ttis a good, sneaking idea,” said the Panther, ‘and I’m in’ with you. fi We’re driven to it, noless. To-morrow y we will look for a den and begin. Women and children! Itisa good idea that, Swaggerer.” And the Panther chuckled with fiendish glee, the now burning fire blazing up and showing his demoniacal face. ‘Tf anybody’s to blame for this,” he said, “it is not you or me. We are driven to it, my lad—driven to it. Women and children! Ha, ha! I like the notion, and I’m longing to begin. Swaggerer, you are a bully boy, and ila drink your health if I had anything to drink.” — ee “gee 4k ee oe a i hee Ae — cS CORNIELOC Goim