Jack and His Seven Foes — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

= O2 JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. they passed them over. One was handed to the Settler, who opened it and tried the blade with his thumb. “‘ This isn’t sharp enough,” he said. _ “Try this,’ said Jack, ceiving him the other. Ife took hold of 1t, and immediately with a yell raised both in the air, and plunged at the men of the ‘“ Rattle- snake,” standing on the left side of him. Taken by surprise, they stepped back, and one fell; with another yell he jumped through the gap thus made, and ran for his life. “Stop !”’ cried Jack, him. He did not answer, but, stimulated by fear, made off at a tremendous pace. Jack, swift as a deer, was the only one who could keep up with him. “T don’t want to shoot you,” he said, ‘unless in fair fight. Stop, you cur!” But the Settler ran on, making for the mainland. The promontory on which they had landed was very narrow at the end, but it widened rapidly, and the ground became broken. stones lay thickly strewn about, and soon impeded the progress of pursuer and pursued. The Settler bounded from one piece of rock to another, but ere long slipped and fell. Ina moment Jack was upon him. “Drop those knives,”’ senting his revolver. “JY won't,” said the Settler, “shoot if you like.” bounding after he said, pre- with an oath ; He struggled to his feet, and Jack, feeling that ¢ any further delay was uso- less, took aim and fired. With an awtul shriek the Scttler dropped the weapon, and rolled upon the rock; the bullet had shattered his hand. By this time the others had come up, and he was surrounded. “Take away that other bowie,” Jack. This was done, and he lay groaning disarmed and helpless. “What now ?” asked Jacob Sturmby. Jack stood for a minute silent, with folded arms and knitted brow. “T cannot fight him now,” “he must go.” said he said: Two of the seamen had bowies, and | Huge boulders amet ——— re 1G, “ Better hang him out of the way,” suggested Sturmby. “No,” replied Jack ; him here, and he shall have a chance for his hfe. Hark you, Black !” The Settler glanced at him and groaned. He held up his shattered hand as 1f to plead for him. “Will you take your life as it is?” asked Jack. ‘““ Yes—yes,”’ was the eager answer. “Remember that we leave you in @ barren spot, many miles from human bemes. It is scarcely possible for you to ‘resvelh any settlement alive.”’ ‘“T don’t care,’ said the Settler. “Give me my life, and JE th be thankful Por Iter’ “ Thankful 2” “Aye, thankful,” said the Settler. fale ve your servant, your slav e, if you will only have mercy upon me.’ es Dil not have anything to do with you, . said Jack. *“ By an “accident your. life has been spared. I meant to kill you. Hnough—you are free. But never cross my path again ; all, keep from old associates.” ‘Don’t let him go,” interposed Jacob Sturmby. ‘“ He is not the sort to make a good man out of.” “<T cannot kill him Jack. “Don’t forget that he’s forfeited his life according to law.” ‘‘ Granted,’ said Jack, as he turned away ; ‘but I cannot turn aside from the line I have chosen. I willnot fight a wounded man.” said, now,” “Evil will come of 1 t,” urged Sturmby, “depend upon it.’ ‘Well, if it does we must meet 99 Jack led the way back to the boat, and the others followed. Ile had, ashe said, chosen a path to take, and he would not depart from it. Hor the time Jim Black the Settler vas free, and there was an ominous glint in his eyes as he looked atter ie re- treating foes. ‘“ Tle isn’t charmed,” he said. “ He's no more certain than other people; and if 1 hve and get out of this, [ll laugh at him in the future.” Then, tearing off his handkerchief, he bound it tightly round his wounded hand, and turned his face inland. and, above “we will leave COMICLM@OO® Ha