Jack and His Seven Foes — page 23: what you’re looking at

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i4 JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. ‘All for number one, I say,” he cried, ‘“‘and the strongest wins the day. | I am the strongest now.’ He took another look at J ack, and saw that those quiet eyes, 80 full of meaning, still rested upon him. But the boy tongue—he was little more than ¢ If the mad fool ateopod to the very dips in crime, could have read what was in that look of Jack’s, he would have killed him then; but che was blind to its full meaning. He saw nothing of the possible future, of the time to come when Jack would be a terror to him even in his dreams. Only his satisfied thirst for vengeance occupied his thoughts. ‘¢ Silence,’ ’ continued Hiram Or ayton, “« oives consent, they say. You do not | deny my accusation. You have lied.” Not a word, not a movement, only the look so full of meaning, so pregnant with a terrible settling-day to come. The boats were now ready, and the Pantaloon came up to acquaint his leader with the fact. The Swaggerer arose, and was turning away, when a sudden fit of fury laid hold of him, and swinging round, he dashed his burning cigar in Jack’s face. “You ue! ”’ he cried, and then he spurned the dead body of Captain Bold- heart with his foot. “That is my answer to all the hes I’ve been told,” he said. a The eyes ot Jack were still upon him, and they followed him to the helm, and never moved from his face while he lashed it up to keep the vessel before the wind, before which the “ Albatross ”’ was put again. — He affected to ignore that look, but frequently glanced furtively at Jack to find him unchanged. At last all was ‘ready, and the ‘“ Alba- tross’’ was moving on again slowly be- fore the gentle breeze. ‘The men dropped one by one into the boat, holding on with a running rope until the Swaggerer joined them. He was in no hurry to go. He was not going to be friohtencd away by a look, that, despite himself, pierced bis soul to its darkest depths—not he. No; he had done his work, and could take his own time to quit his ghastly workshop. Standing up with his lees wideapart, he lit another cigar. “ VYour father’s favourite smokes,” he said. No answer from Jack, but those eyes ere still upon him, and after a fruitless effort to give J ack a defiant stare, he climbed over the side of the vessel and dropped into the boat below. “Give way,’ he cried, “and let us leave that accursed ship behind us.” And then the six men bent to the cars, each and all as glad as he to put a gap between them and the “ Albatross,’’ with its burden ot hving and the dead. — CHAPTER VI. TAND REACHED BY THE SEVEN—A WELCOME UNDESERVED—A SAIL AND SURPRISE. <TrrEE days cramped up in this beg- garly boat and no land.” It was Dribbles who whined out this complaint, and it was echoed by Pharaoh Pipstone the Pantaloon. ‘Some blunder’s been made here; my limbs are stiff, and 1 can’t stand much more of it.” “Tt’s my belief,” growled Jim Black, “that we ain’ t going towards land, but away from it.” ‘Oh, don’t say that,’’ groaned Drib- bles, and forthwith began to sneeze violently. } | Mr. Swageerer, who lay asleep in the stern of the boat, was awoke by these nasal explosions, and, rising, he sat up. ‘W hat’s the matter there ?”’ he asked. “‘ Nothing,” replied Dribbles. “ Don’t lie,” was the rejoinder, “ you never sneeze for nothing. That nose of yours 1s hke a second toneue—it shows what’s going on inside of you.” “Well, I was just s saying that we haven’t reached land yet.” | “And we shan’t reach it for a Btn, if you lazy devils don’t pull better. — CONnnICLOOKS.com