Jack and His Seven Foes — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

G4 JACK AND HIS SEVEN: FOES. the Swaggerer, who seemed to have found something delightful in playing the affectionate son to the exasperated Pantaloon, found that business tiresome, and gave it up. The Spaniards exchanged but few words, and smoked their “cigarettes in silence. They drank little, and the supply of strong liquor was limited. But there was plenty of dried buffalo, which was rich fare after so much biscuit and bad pickled pork, and even the “‘aged suffering father” ate heartily. “Senor,” said the leader to the Swageerer, “we shall go away at dawn, and we must leave you “here.” The deuce you must!” said the Swageerer. ‘Then I suppose we shall starve?” ““ No,’ was the answer; “ wecan give you a breakfast, and 7 to you some friends of ours, who are not far away. They will take care of you.” “Tam grateful,” replied the Swag- eerer,~Wwith aitected humility.. Then obeying an irresistible impulse, he turned to the Pantaloon andadded: “ You hear that; father dear? Be thankful!” The Pantaloon muttered something that might have been thanks, but his eye was evil. The Panther laughter. Tt makes me glad,” he said to the Spaniard ; ‘ your kindness { is very touch- ing.” “You Hnelsh laugh at everything, replied the Spaniard, “even when you are going to be hanged.”’ burst into a fit. of 3 But dinglish iouglt they were, they did not laugh at that; on the contrary, a portentous @ oravity fell upon them all, and the hapless Dribbles had a fit of sneezing that made him hop about like a parched pea in a frying-pan. The Spaniards lay down to rest, and by some of them sharing their blankets with each other they found covering tor the strangers. But they lay ¢ avoid their peas The Swageer er and his companions fell asleep, and slept long. When they awoke, the Spaniards were nowhere to be seen. “ Now what may this mean?” . Irttle apart, as if to cried etl Ste the Swaggerer, leaping to his feet, an example followed by the rest. ‘There they go,’ said the Panther, pointing to a body of moving figures in the distance. ‘Anyhow they've been civil enough to leave us some breakfast,’ said the Sneezer. | ‘But will they send their friends?’ asked the Pantaloon. ‘“ We will wait and sce, father dear,” replied the Swaggerer. “Oh, drop that game,” growled the Pantaloon; ‘it riles me more than you think.” ‘Govern your passion, my friend,” . said the Swaggerer, ‘‘ for be sure that 2 it is my humour to call you tather, or anything else, ’Iidoit. Now, Sneezer, pass up the beef.” They had breakfast, and found thev had enough left for moter meal. Then they loo! ked about them, and debated what they should do. “Give the Spaniards’ friends an hour or two,’ said the Swaggerer, “and ik they don’t turn up, well go along the coast until we find some other fools to feed us.”’ “And if we don’t find them?” asked — Dribbles. “We shall find something to S.5 replied the Panther, with a meanine~ look at him, and Dribbles closed his eye and sneezed. ire noon they saw the promised friends approaching on foot, and as they drew near, the Swaggerer made out a. leader who looked like a Spanish sea- man. fis followers were Lascars, and they were all armed. “T don’t lke the look of that lot,’ said the Panther. But any attempt to fly would have been fruitless, and they waited for the newcomers, who were speedily upon them. | The leader saluted. “Four shipwreck Englesemen ?’’ he said. “Yes,” replied the Swaggerer. “Good, senor; will you come with mer’ “Where to?” “Beyond yon rising land les our : > LE ship,’ was the answer, and the speaker looked at the four in a peculiar manner ss « (e() 9)(6)(0) C <S E(O) any ‘=