Jack and His Seven Foes — page 54: what you’re looking at

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vACh AND HIS SEVEN FOES. 45 “‘T suppose we had better do it,” yrumbled the Settler, and forthwith entered upon that terpsichorean per- formance known as the double-shuflle. The Panther and the Swaggerer joined him, and the Pantaloon and Sneezer hopped about hke a pair of geese troubled with tender feet. It was a ludicrous sight, and chuckles were heard among the spectators. Abraham Spanker, however, preserved his gravity, and looked on with the air of a connoisseur. The better to see what was going on, he sent for a lantern, and held it aloft, so that the light fell upon the faces of the humiliated and furious dancers. “That’s right,” he said, “‘ go ahead, toe and heel, up and down. What merry grigs we be! Pileit on, Slocum, let °em have it lively. By the spangled banner of my native country, this is rare fun. “Don’t flag,” he roared, as the Pantaloon showed symptons of giving in, “wake up, you year-old gee-gee. Bless your back and bones, if they want oiling, Pll oil ‘em. Pass me a rope, there.” “J—I don’t want it,” gasped the Pantaloon, as he flung his wicked old hmbs frantically about. “Then it’s t’other chap who does,” said Spanker, as he made for Sneezer, who forthwith broke out, and as the rope fell upon him obliged the company with a nasalaccompaniment to Slocum’s fiddle. At last, when they really could dance no more, Abraham Spankercondescended to tell them that they might stop. “And you can turn in again,” he said, “‘ but don’t be surprised if I make you turn out again ina brace of shakes.” When they got into the cabin, the five cursed everything aboard the “Rattlesnake,” and their fury was all the greater for having to be suppressed. «What does it all mean? ” asked Jim | Black. “ Who ever heard es?” ‘The skipper’s mad,” the Pantaloon said. “Not he,” hissed the Panther, “ he’s been paid to worry us. Two months of this life! Jl not standit. Id sooner be brained with a capstan-bar andthrown overboard.” of such “we may havea turn yet. Bide your time ; a man overboard to-day, another to-morrow, and we shall soon bring it to evens.” ‘Something must be done,” said the Settler, clasping his head in impotent fury. ‘‘ Would we had stopped ashore.”’ “That would have been certain death,” said the Swaggerer; ‘‘here we've got a chance of escape, at least.”’ ‘Anyhow, turn in,” said Dribbles, “and let us get what sleep we can.” They flung themselves down, and one by one sank to sleep, their minds filled with thoughts of murder and revenge. The Swaggerer and his companions were allowed pretty good rest this time, and it was daylight when Spanker was heard calling for Dribbles, whom he called “that sneezing bundle of bad manhood.” Dribbles lost no time in obeying, and was absent for about half-an-hour. When he came back he was pale, and had evidently something of importance * to tell. He closed the door, and held up his hand. ‘¢ What do you think ?” he said, in a breathless voice. “Nothing,” said the Swaggerer, i1m- patiently. “ What’s the row now? What have you been doing? ”’ ‘“‘ Helping the cook, and whilst I was running about,” said Dribbles, “ I heard a—voice in the captain’s cabin.” “That's nothing,” said the Settler, “if anybody was there he would be speaking, as a matter of course.” ‘But the voice washis,” said Dribbles, shaking from head to foot. HIS feo ‘Yes, the young demon’s—Jack Bold- heart’s! Oh, we are all done for now,” and he fell down on the deck, grovelling like a worm that had been trodden / upon. ‘“‘ Can this be true ?”’ asked the Swag- gerer, and all eyes were turned to Jim Black the Settler, the next appointed to die. He was sitting up in his bunk, with his eyes fixed and staring, and a slight foam on his lips. Already, like the culprit on the scaffold waiting for the fatal bolt to be | drawn, he saw the grim shadow of “ Warily, warily,” said the Swaggerer, Death! COMICLM@aO@ 6S (c©) an