Jack and His Seven Foes — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

39 said Bilberry Tucker, “ if I can read deadly fear in men’s faces.” “It’s cut and run, you think?” said Redbeard. | “Tl bet fifty drinks on it.” “Then we may as well raffle the claim,’ said Redbeard, “unless you think the youngster will take it.” They went back to the shanty, and drank to the young stranger who had given them an evening of excitement, and afterwards raffled the claim. It fell to the lot of Redbeard. “‘ Luck’s mine,” he said. ‘And being in luck,” said Bilberry Tucker, ‘‘ you can go and dig a hole for that chap outside.” “T’ll do it at dawn,’ he answered, “and I’ll give him an odd corner of his own land.”’ | Then the coarse revelry of the evening was renewed, and the recent events, startling though they were, soon gave | way to the great topic—the finding of gold. In the morning, the new possessor of the claim buried Dunmore, and tried his new working. But the yield was not satisfactory. Lhe pocket which the seven had fallen upon soon emptied, and once more it was unprofitable land. ‘“‘There is a curse upon it,” he said, and, taking up his tools, went back to his old claim. The six came back no more. They fled that night, and left the Findwell Field behind them for ever. Terror- stricken, they fled im a northerly direction, and hurried on all night across the sterile plain. ‘“‘ He’s got a charmed life,” they said, “and will bring us down one by one.” “Why not separate ? ”’ suggested Jim Black. ‘‘ With half-a-dozen trails, he would be puzzled.” “Oh, don’t do that,’ pleaded Walker Dribbles, with quite a fusilade of sneezing. ‘‘Qh, dear, I wish that Pd never “been lured on board the ‘ Albatross.’ ‘““We were to make a dari out of her,” said Magson, with anoath. ‘“ Mr. Cocksure there had got all his plans laid so neatly.” “Growl away,” said the Swaggerer, who was the Mr. Cocksure referred to; HOTICE.—With this Number is Given Away @ splendid Coloured Picture. Another wi JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. “but just remember that it isn’t all over yet. long.” © So may the sun come down and roll like a hoop about the prairie,” said Jin Black. ‘That boy’s got a head like a young fox, and he will take his time to drop upon us when there’s no getting away. “There is one thing we might do,” sald the Swaggerer, gloomily. “What's that P” “Make our way to some port, and ship for another land.” “That’s about the most sensible thing you've said for a month,” said the Panther, Sam Silky. “ Let’s make for the sea, and take our chance.”’ ‘“‘T’'m pretty well tired out,’’ the Pantaloon. rest ? 7’ ‘¢ We can he down for half-an- oun said the Swaggerer, “‘ but we can tate a fire. Down with you, and I’ll keep watch.” Gladly they threw themselves upon grumbled “Ain’t we going to the ground, and Hiram Crayton paced . with a cat-like step around them, his eyes and ears upon the stretch. He had not admitted it to his com- panions, but he, too, believed that Jack bore a charmed life, and that their sole chance of safety lay in flight. While in that country, he felt that it would be unsafe to leave his companions, but if ever they reached another land, he was determined to shake them off. Disguised, and under another name, he might escape the fate he feared. All was silent around him. No cry broke the stillness, but his imagination more than once created. advancing foot- steps to terrify him, and twice he was sure he saw two forms dimly outlined against the sky. "When he fancied the time he named was up, they arose and went forward, weary from broken sleep, and shivering with cold. The Swaggerer could hear their mutterings, and he knew that he was the subj ect of their anery thoughts. “They would kill me if they daned: & he said to himself; ‘ but they dare not. I alone among them can choose a route by the sun and stars.” We may bring him down before | titted C) SS (CO)