Jack and His Seven Foes — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

. ats ‘. , . iy Ye ‘ ‘ 7 sf ." rs , ry ..* a THE SHOT FROM THE When Jack awoke and found that the two trappers had gone away on their own account, he was inclined to be angry. But he soon remembered their zeal in his service, and saw the injustice he was guilty of. “Itis in my interest they are gone— good faithful fellows,” he said to Jacob -Sturmby. ‘““And I have, in any case, no right to reproach them. Did they not say anything of their going ?”’ “No,” replied Sturmby. “ They had the small hut yonder, and I was quartered on the Martins. So we did not see anything of each other after _ dark.” _ “And, of course, you have no idea _where they are gone? ” ‘““T can only guess, Master Jack, and _I reckon they are looking for the trail.” It was just light when this conversa- tion took place, and at that moment Harold Deane came in to say that breakfast was ready. As Jack was going in, a faint report - fell upon bis ear. “What's that ?” he asked. ‘““A shot up the mountains,” replied Sturmby. They stood still, listening for another sound, but all wassilent; and Jack went into the hut with his host. <A little bread and coffee formed Jack’s _ breakfast, for during his wandering life he had accustomed himself to the simplest fare ; and having examined his revolvers, a precaution he never omitted, he arose and went out. __ Jacob Sturmby was waiting for him, _ leaning on his rifle, with an anxious ex- _ pression of face. _ “Any more firing?” enquired Jack. _ “No,” replied Jacob; “ but I fancy I heard a shout two or three times; yet it was so faintthat I couldn’t be certain.” “From which direction came the sound ?”’ | “From over there—the road we took _ yesterday.” “Tt 1s our road to-day,” said Jack. Without waiting for anyone to join are * ce ? . : ee FF ay “ ’ AND WIS ee | & ‘ ry $ er rent beet ay '. s 4 4 7 “Me hs ¥ , f, _* - rs P eo TAY) | we ey ' ‘" y . Gary YAU sk P " | LAs ‘ ‘ ry 8, ! SEVEN \ FOES. CHAPTER LNIT. MOUNTAIN——A MYSTERIOUS FOE AND A BITTER LOSS. them, they set out, and ere they had gone far, they heard an unmistakable snout. “That's Ralph’s voice,” said Sturmby. “ Tl answer back.” Putting his hands to his mouth, he sent forth a clear ringing cry, that echoed up and down, and on every side. It was answered by another shout. Scrambling hurriedly over the rocks, and ignoring the fatigue of the ascent, they hastened on, and presently saw a figure high up above them, and stand- ing on a rock. “Ralph,” said Jack, ‘and alone. What does that mean? ”’ He saw them also, and began to wave his arms for them to hurry up. | ‘Something is wrong,” said Jack, and, with the agility of a chamois, he bounded from rock to rock, and speedily reached the trapper’s side. He was standing on the verge of the basin where their journey of the day before had terminated, and at his feet lay old Ben, with the unmistakable sions of being mortally wounded upon him. “ What’s this?” cried Jack. “T can’t tell,” replied Ralph, with a despairing gesture. ‘‘ WW ewere looking about here for a trail, when I heard a shot, and saw Ben fall. That’s all I know.” ‘And you saw no one? ” “ Nobody,” replied Ralph. Jack knelt down by Ben’s side, and took his hand. ‘Old friend and faithful companion,” he said, “I’m cut to the heart to see this.” “Don’t grieve, dear lad,’ replied Ben. “I’m not sorry to die. I’ve wished for it many a day. I’m longing’ to join my boy.” “Such a cruel, cowardly deed!” “The bullet’s here,” said Ben, touch- ing his left side, “ but I can’t tell where it came from, because I’m not sartin how I was standing.”’ “Tt must have come from somebody hidden among the stones,” said Ralph; CORNIELOOO (C s) (E©)