Jack and His Seven Foes — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

20 JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. The other four, more or less awake, bounded to their feet, and fell upon the hapless Dribbles. He would have been a dead man if he had not succeeded in shaking himself free from the Pantaloon’s grasp, and bawl out— ‘“Tt’s me—the Sneezer ! I’ve just come in!” Knives were put back, and revolvers repocketed, as the men with laughter threw themselves down again. “And why didn’t you say who you were,’ grumbled the Pantaloon, “ in- stead of flying at a fellow like a wild cat? Old Pharaoh Pipstone is no mouse for you to deal with.” “TI came in rather hurriedly, because V’ve news for you,” said Dribbles. Hold hard, “ Atchew !—atchew !—atchew !—news_ —atchew ![—that will make all your hair—atchew !—curl.”’ Out with it,” cried Jim Black. “T willin a minute,” said Dribbles; “but, really, whenever I’m excited, this nose of mine—atchew !—atchew !—oh, dear me! — atchew!— the news — atchew—”’ “Somebody lay hold of his nose and stop that game,” cried Dick Dunmore. “ll do it,” said Magson, and his finger and thumb closed on the nasal organ of Dribbles like a vice. “Oh, don’t—let go!” Dribbles gasped. ‘‘I couldn’t speak if you hold on lixe— Qh, let go!” “Your news,” grunted Magson, like a bulldog. “The ‘ Albatross’ hab cub in,” said Dribbles. ‘“"?he what, you fool ?”’ cried Magson, leaving hold, and staggering back. All the rest stared. “The ‘ Albatross,’”’ said Dribbles, “ atchew !—she’s lying ashore, six miles away—the men here have gone down to her—atchew !—and are bringing young Jack Boldheart this way.” “Why, this is news!” cried Jim Black. ‘ Where’s the Swaggerer ?”’ ‘He’s down there watching, and will come soon—atchew! Oh, dear me, all the fat is in the fire, and we are dead men.” “Who talks of being dead men?” demanded Hiram Crayton, as he threw open the door, and stalked in. “Tt’s the Sneezer been dreaming,” replied Jim Black; “he ‘ Albatross’ has come in.”’ ‘“And so she has, lads,” said the Swaggerer; “the wind served us a scurvy trick by veering right round— but what of that?” ‘““She’s a dumb thing,’ said Jim Black, “but her tale is written on her deck.” 7 “What of that, Jim?” cried the Swageerer, raising his voice, and frown- ing on all round; “‘ what need have we to fear this tale here ?”’ “The fellows outside may cut up rough.” “Let them. They have no arms, and there’s none aboard the ‘ Albatross.’ We'll put a bold face onit. Boldheart’s cub is just alive, and no more.” | “Alive or not,’”’ said Magson, ‘ you can’t deny that it’s an awkward business.” “And you would have your way,” said Dunmore; “we wanted to scuttle the ship.” “ And you funked settling the young- ster,” added Jim Black, “‘so don’t deny ates With a bullying air, the Swaggerer turned from one to the other, frowning heavily as they reproached him in turn. ‘Well,’ he said, “have you finished? ”’ ‘Yes,’ said Jim Black, “ I’ve done.” . “ And you'll follow my lead ?”’ “You got us into this hole, get us out of it,” was the surly reply, and there was muttering all round. The Swaggerer glared around him for someone on whom to vent his fury. He chose the Pantaloon, who was mumbling and nodding his head hke the figure of a Chinaman in a tea-shop. A blow straight from the shoulder sent him into a corner, and the next moment Walker Dribbles was bundled on the top of him. “Grunt and grumble, would you?” cried the Swaggerer ; ‘a pretty pack of cowards to be leader of ! If any of you want to join the lot outside, go and do We “No,” said Jim Black, “that won’t do; we must sink or swim together. Listen! there’s somebody coming.”’ A dead silence fell upon them all, and a knock at the door was for a momen’ unanswered. says the CONMicoooksS.com