Jack and His Seven Foes — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

28 “Two, was the answer. Bilberry filled two glasses, and from experience knew that one was meant for him. He nodded his head, tossed it off, as he had done the first, and pocketed the coin the stranger gave him. “Come to dig?” he said. “Perhaps,” was the reply. Then there was a pause. “‘ Rum lot here,” said the stranger. “No dancing-masters,” Bilberry re- plied, ‘‘nor dukes, nor lords, nor parsons. “ Good luck, I believe ? ”’ «© Some has; it ain’t all findings.” “T was thinking of buying an un- lucky claim,” said the stranger. “ ‘There is such a thing here, I suppose | pe? ‘‘ There's one yonder,” said Bilberry Tucker, “just where that bit o’ rock sticks up lke a big egg, that ain't worth one ounce a day, and yet there are seven poor devils working it.”’ “Seven you say ?”’ said the stranger, and his eyes glistened. ‘“‘That’s the number,” said Tucker. *‘ All came together, and keep mighty close about where they came from.” “That don’t matter much, I reckon.”’ “ Nothing to me.” And then there was another pause. “Tm bent on buying a bad elaim,”’ said the stranger, ‘‘ because it’s the luck of some people to dig till they come to within an inch of the gold, and then lose heart. ll buy this one if they’1l part.” “They'll jump at an offer that will give them a couple of days’ drink,” said Bilberry Tucker. “Good,” replied the stranger. “ I shall see them here to- night, perhaps.” ‘Sure to drop in—everybody comes.’ “Then I'll just go back, and get my tools, and if they should come in before I return, just give ’em this note. It’s asking them to hold off selling until they see me.’ “You knew they had to sell, then?” “T heard of it.” “ But it’s a fool’s trick to ask them to hold off. They will double the price.” “But they won't get it,’ said the stranger. ‘‘ Have another drink?” “Don’t mind if I do.” They had their drink, and with a nod of the head, parted. Bilberry Tucker, left alone, took up the letter, and looked at it curiously. be I JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. It was simply a piece of paper, folded - and sealed, but folded in such a way that it could not be peered into. ‘Tucker tried to get a glimpse of the contents, and failed. “A rum go,” he muttered. “We ain't a letter-writing lot. Word o’ mouth and money down is all we look for. But I guess there’s something in the wind, and something dangerous, too.”’ The address on the letter ran— “To the Chief of the Seven Diggers of Findwell Field.” The storekeeper tucked it between two bottles on a shelf at the back, and resumed his watching attitude. Familar with the sights of the dig- cings, he could interpret every move- ment and every sound. By-and-by, about two hours later, there was a great shout from the neighbourhood of the rock that was shaped like an egg. “The seven in luck at last,” muttered Bilberry Tucker. ‘“ Our stranger will have to bid up for the claim.” His judgment was soon confirmed by one of the diggers, who came in hot and thirsty for a hurried drink. ‘“ Heard the news? ”’ he said. “The seven in luck.” “Right. Tumbled on to a lot of dust, and they are all swearing because they haven’t got a full day before them.” “ They swear pretty well, however things may go,” said Bilberry Tucker, coolly ; “it’s as natural to’em as barking is to a dog.” The digger assented and retired. Shortly after other visitors began to drop in, and in due time evening came. The last to appear in the shanty was the gang of seven. They had toiled up to the last moment, and came in exulting. The Swaggerer had never been more boastful and arrogant in his demeanour, and, with the air of a baron of old, he handed some gold-dust to Bulberry Tucker. “ Weigh that,” he said, ‘and give us something for it.” Tucker dropped it into a small pair of scales, weighed it carélessly, and called out— “Two ounces. Three bottles of spirit and dinner for the lot. Will that dor’ ‘Hand over,” said the Swageerer, contemptuously ; ‘it’s near rae. There were rough table e iar CONMIGCL ae <SriGO