Jack and His Seven Foes — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

Fg 4 p* aban nis i eee os % as hae a ® Las ee a Fd < > j ’ ie On the question being repeated, the ~Swaegerer found tongue. «What can we say P” he asked. “Aye,” repeated Jack, bitterly, what could you say?” “Tf I told you I was Sorry for my sins, you would not believe me.’ ée inc 3 “Tf I told you that I have lived the life of a haunted man, and that for every crime [ have committed I have paid a tenfold penalty, you would laugh at me.” ‘Tam inno humour for laughing,’ said Jack. “You would deride me, then,’’ said the Swaggeren. “If I told you that I have lone believed that your father was my true friend thr ough all, and that despair and hatred of myself have driven me to many a crime, you would not allow that to be any extenuation ? ”’ ‘“ All this may be true,” said Jack. “ Tf so, it is no more than just.” ‘““T know,” continued the Swageerer, his brow wet with the dew of agony, “that if you are bent on killing me, I must fall, but I am not fit to die.” CALTON DM WR WM 6H M1 1 | ses ‘AND TIS” SEVEN FOES, =, “3 os s » weal a "’ 4 : A > » 7 ’ aes r Cat ois ; © « seo f * IAS) pir * ay ‘ % J ' 2 7 ha % ' ! 4 etait Be A erue / 4 ee m4 a) Ni ¢ - ty ent “ As fit, I fear, as you will ever be, returned Jack. ““T plead for my life,” cried the Swaggerer, sinking on his knees and raising his clasped hands. “I beg for it! Give me time to repent—another year—a month—a week ! ”’ “Will you not plead, too?” asked Jack, turning to the Panther “Tt’s a waste of breath,” replied the Panther, sullenly. “Tam glad to find that there is a spark of manhood in one of you,”’ said Jack. ‘Swagegerer, rise! You plead in vain to me. The oath I swore on board the ‘ Albatross’ I willkeep. The memory of that dread time is as strong upon me as if it were yesterday. Itcan never be effaced. How, then, can I rest while you live and walk the earth P ”’ “Will nothing move you?” asked the Swaggerer. *¢ Nothing.” Then the Swaggerer arose with a pallid face, and stood shivering hke a coward on the scaffold awaiting the drawing of the bolt. — IIUDUDPUUGAMM La LM CI tmirm CHAPTER LXXI. THE CHOICE MADE—A MAD FLIGHT, AND AN UNPARALLELED SCENE OF HORROR. Durine the foregoing, Jack had never ceased to keep a wary eye upon his foes, and a hand ready upon his revolver, to use with all speed if there had been need. Dut it was an almost needless pre- caution. They had arms, but made no attempt to use them—nor did they think of having recourse to either the pistol or the knife. All their thoughts were fixed upon their impending doom. “By what strange chance we meet as began Jack. e Swaggerer interrupted him. a “Te was not chance,” he said. “Well, how wehave met, I know not,” continued Jack, “nordol Foie to Anew It is enough for me that we are here tozether on ‘this: strange night. Hark!” He paused, for a noise like the eruLt @n@ Cee eee of a beast was heard apparently high up in the air. Then the earth shook, “TT know what’s coming,” said the Panther, shuddering. ‘“i’ve been in Terra del Fuego, Master Jack. We shall have horror enough afore long. Hades will break out of theearth. The hills and valleys will be rent like match- boards. I’ve seen it once,’ he added, with a wild stare, “ and it’s not in man to wish to see it again.’ “For all that,” said Jack, calmly, ‘we will keep to our own affair. I am here to avenge my wrongs, and nothing short of death shall turn me aside. Choose yourselves which of you shall meet me first.” ‘“As he spoke, the deep grunt was heard again, and a fierce flash of light- ning shot across the cloudless sky. “Tt coming!” eried the Panther, iat ys Ba Wi A ee EORNICLOOOKKS (E (E(0)