Jack and His Seven Foes — page 179: what you’re looking at

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

170 few years!” he thought, as he sullenly plodded on behind his companion. Ere long they saw the hghts in the huts below, and the Panther led the way to a point from which they had watched before without being seen. Nobody was moving below. The women and children were housed for the night. « | “ Panther,” said the Swaggerer, touch- ing him on the arm, “ let us go on.” ‘Not till Pve left another mark upon them,’ was the ferocious answer. «But where’s the good of it?” “Tm going to settle the mother of that boy—Deane, isn’t her name ? ” “Will you stop at that?” “Yes,” «Then go, and I’ll wait for you here.”’ “Not if I know it. We go together, and share in this, as we have shared in everything.” It was cowardice that held the Swag- gerer back, not remorse or pity for the intended victims. - With an ashen face and shaky limbs, he accompanied the Panther to Harold Deane’s hut, known to both. It had an unglazed window, closed with a shutter at night; but there were erevices in if through which streamed the heht within. The Panther softly tried the door with his hand. It was fast. “They are suspicious,” he muttered. Turning to the Swaggerer, he asked him if he thought he could imitate Deane’s voice. ‘Not so as to deceive her,” replied the Swaggerer. “Tl try another move,” said the Panther, and tapped heghtly at the door. ‘Who's there?” asked Mrs. Deane within. “A neighbour,” replied the Panther. “You are wanted up the mountain.” They heard her moving towards the door, and the Panther turned his grinning face towards the Swaggerer. But the next moment he ceased to erin. Mrs. Deane discharged a rifle, and the bullet passed through the door, striking him jn the shoulder. A howl of pain and fury rang from the Panther’s lips as he staggered forward against the Swaggerer. JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. “So, Mr. Wolf,” said Mrs. Deane, “ Tve hit you.” | “Let me get at her,’ hissed the Panther. ‘ Don’t hold me.” “Come away,’ hurriedly cried the Swaegerer ; “the whole place is alarmed, and I hear the men coming down the mountain.” “But I must get at her. venge.” “You can’t have it,’ replied the Swaggerer, dragging him down the slope. In a fever of tear he bore the infu- riated Panther to the wood on the out- skirts of which they murdered little Hugh, and there he loosed his hold. “Tt’s no good running such a mad risk,” he said; ‘it was a fool’s idea.” “Who would have thought it of the hag?” snarled the Panther. “Not to be caught napping again,” said the Swaggerer; “let me look at your wound.” The Panther, groaning and cursing, opened his shirt, and with the aid of the Swagegerer, released one arm and laid the shoulder bare. “You bleed freely,” he said, “and I don’t think a little blood-letting will hurt you.” - “What do you mean?” asked the Panther. “You are too hot-headed cooling.” ‘““T’ll be too hot-headed and too hot- handed for some of them before I’ve done. My work is only just begun. Bind it closer, Swaggerer. It isn’t the place to throttle me.” ‘“T’ve done my best,” replied the Swageerer; “but you must keep still. Listen! What is that?” “The hounds—they are giving mouth. Goon. Tm strong for running. Let us try the old game. Double, Swag- gerer, and go round by the old road, and up the mountain.” “That strikes me as a mad game.” “JTtismy game. Let that suffice for OU? The shouting of men, and the voices of women could be distinctly heard above, and lights were seen moving about. | Hire the Swaggerer and Panther had cot far, some men, bearing torches, were coming towards the wood. T want re- you want ECONNICLOOKS .EO)