Jack and His Seven Foes — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

' JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. Par “What will your comrades say?” asked Jack. “They will envy me, nothing more, was the reply. “So be it, then,” said Jack. ‘More than welcome as a friend, I accept your noble, eenerous offer to share my sad lot. | We will start at dawn.”’ — CHAPTER X. THE NEW GOLD-FIELD —AN UNLUCKY CLAKM—LUCK AT LAST, AND A BID FOR IT— THE STRANGE LETTER. Tue Findwell Gold-field was in full activity, and eager men were washing the soil from early morn till dewy eve with the varying ‘luek that attends ane digger’s lot, Some hundreds of men of various nationalities, but mainly English and American, had gathered together as if by magic, as soon as it was known that gold could be found in that sterile spot. It lay about a hundred and twenty miles north of the spot where the “«« Albatross ’’ had come aground, and as the vulture goes by instinct straight to the carcase, so did the Swageerer and his followers find their way to the diggings. They were in time to selze upon a plot of land that promised well, but the spot they had chosen proved to be a barren one in the midst of plenty. They dug, and sifted, and washed, and could only get just sufficient to purchase the bare necessaries of lite at the eating and drinking saloon started by an enter- prising “Yankee named Bilberry Tucker. He was a pushing man in his way, but scorned the labour of the field. He knew there was a better way to get rich than by digging and washing the earth and sand. “They shall tind the metal,” he said, “and V'll take care of it for them.” It was not the first time that he had “opened shop” at 4 diggings, and he ore) knew the class of men he had to deal In every pocket he had a revolver, a bowie-knife down his back, another in his belt, and two more in his boots. “You may be standing upright,” he would say, or bending, or lying oie When they come at you, Savitl it is as well to be > Teady f for em. Many a man’s lost his life through having to feel about for his wepping. I don’t waste time that way. They were a rough lot, truly, and when they cathered round the bar at night to brag of their good fortune, or curse their ill-luck, the assemblage was not that class which the Peace Society would admire. Brawling was common, and bloodshed a thing of everyday occurrence. Some were wounded only, and, if they were strong men, soon got better, but during the two months that the field had: been worked, at least a score had died, and lay rudely buried by a clump of ushes at the river-side. A life of excitement, feverish and dangerous, but it suited the majority of the “gathering. “A short life and a merry one”’ was their motto, and some were short without being particularly merry. It was a hot day at noon, and Bilberry Tucker, leaning easily in the bar, trifled with a toothpick as he watched the- diggers at work. His shanty was without customers, few men were mad enough to drink away the daylight. night to that pastime. “ Another shout,” said Bilberry; “more luck to the finder, and better luck to me. Here’s the health of the digger, whoever he is.’’ ‘He filled a small olass with .raw spirits from a tap he kept for his own drinking, and tossed it off. As he put down the olass, a shadow darkened the entrance. Looking up, he saw a tall man, with They gave up the a heavy brown beard, and a sombrero” hat pulled down over his eyes—a man he had never seen before. “ Good-day,”’ “Good-day, st ranger, berry. ‘“ Want adrink? ’ replied Bil- BA said the newcomer. « connicloookKks (C©)