Jack and His Seven Foes — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

152 P , b& : ~~. s a | » Reg rae ~~. ‘ a ‘ i JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES, ~ io should rest now before I finish my task of vengeance.” ‘And yet it would be better for you if you could.” | “Granted it 1s so, but all tlie same I must goon. I have heard what Ralph said, and it would be monstrous of me to he idle while others suffer.” ‘‘ But others may get the rascals, and put an end to them.” “No, Jacob. It will not be so; I teel it—I am assured of it. They may not die by my hand, but their end will be with me and through me.”’ ““T’ll not gainsay it, lad.” “T have dreamt of the finish,” said Jack, with a face filled with a strange hieht.. “It was all turmoil, bitter struggling, and ghastly shrieks. I have seen these men die in my sleep, and. waking, I will witness their end, Ralph, rest a while, and then follow me. “You'll not go alone,” said Jacob. “T will walk alone to-night,” answered Jack. “Itis my will, for my soul is sad. I shall not miss my way. The course lies south, Ralph P ” ‘Due south, master,” replied Ralph. ‘‘T sha’n’t be far behind you.” “We will all come,” said Jacob. “As you will,” said Jack, and with a firm step, and eyes fixed ahead, he left them. The next day, late in the afternoon, all four entered the Silver Settlement, where they found everything in com- motion. CDPIVEDPD ODP OD OP) CAO 0 OO COED —- oj CPD UPD OPI? UDA) CPs COD AINA UD UD CHAPTER LXI. THE TRAIL UP THE MOUNTAIN had been committed. This time it was a young woman, the Wite of one ot the diggers, named Martin, who had been slain. How her murder had been compassed ‘as a mystery, for she had been slain close to her own door at high noon. Martin’s hut stood a little apart from the rest—lower down towards the wood, and the door faced away from the digcings. ‘To enter the house, anyone coming from the high ground had to go round, and a stranger had a chance of creeping in unobserved. The unfortunate woman went down to get her husband’s dinner, and as she did not reappear when expected, he went in search of her. He found her lying dead, stabbed in the back, and the hut robbed of food, drink, and two or three blankets. The perpetrators were not in view, nor had they left anything as a guide to the road they took. But of their identity there could be no doubt. The three crimes that had put the httle community ito mourning were the work of the same hands. “ But where are they hiding ? ”’ asked the maddened men and women. ANOTHER crime A SEARCH ENDING WITH A FAILURE. In vain they searched the wood and hill. No clue could be found. The entrance of Jack into the place caused some excitement. known, and when they saw his fine face and figure, with the sombre air that hung about him, they were much impressed. Harold Deane came forward and gave him sad welcome, inviting him to stay at his abode. “Such rest as I shall find time for,” replied Jack, “I will take beneath your roof.” “And you must have some now,” said Jacob Sturmby; ‘‘four hours’ rest in five days 1s not enough for anyone.” ‘Not for Hercules himself,” said Harold Deane, and led Jack in. Mrs. Deane welcomed him, too, and sighed deeply as she thought of her poor dead boy, who, uf he had lived, might have grown as tall, and straight, and handsome. ‘Even the sorrowful must eat,” said Harold Deane, as he put food before him. “No amount of will can keep exhausted nature going.” Jack and his host ate little together, and aiter some converse on_ their respective sorrows, went to rest. Jack, tired out, slept soundly. He did not awake until the sun was ECONnTIECLIOOKS CO His story was