Jack and His Seven Foes — page 77: what you’re looking at

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68 JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. in the street, but not thinking of them. Their minds were far away with the absent. “Tt is time, and more than time,”’ said Sturmby, suddenly breaking the silence, “that we heard of him.”’ ‘Ah, just so,’ replied old Ben; “ but it seems to me that we shall hear of him no more.”’ “Don’t say that!” exclaimed Jacob Sturmby, alarmed. “It isn’t time to croak yet.” ; “Time or not,’ sa.d the old man, doggedly, “I dreamt last night that I saw him stretched out on the plain with the vultures over him. That ought to count for something.” “T wonder what his idea was in coming on alone,” said Sturmby, rest- lessly ; ‘“‘and why did he leave the ship ?” “That was a sort of superstition, wasn’t it?’ “Well, yes. Having in away missed with Jim Black, he thought it best to leave the ‘ Rattlesnake.’ He’s got his own notions of revenge, and he'll carry them out.”’ “Tf he’s alive.” “ Ben, I won’t hear you croaking. I was up town to-day, and asked about the ‘Rattlesnake. She's now long overdue, and they have given her u Nee “That's a hitch,’”’ said Ben. | ‘So it 1s,” returned Sturmby; “an I'll tell you another sort of hitch that’s coming on. My little stock of money is running out. Weare all right here as long as we pay, but when we don’t, we shall be wrong, friend.” “ We must work, Jacob.” “Aye, that’s very well. I’ve tried to get it, but my rig-out is against me. ‘We've got no beavers here,’ says one. ‘Is there a strike on the prairies?’ axes another; and that’s the way they chatt me.” ‘“ We sha’n’t get work here, you think P” “T’m dead certain that we sha’n’t. Hush ! isn’t that a knock ? ” “‘ Aye, sure, and that’s his voice.” They both leapt up, just in time to see the door open, and Jack appear. He looked wan and worn, but the fire of his eye was undimmed. ‘“‘T am behind my time,” he said, as / he gave a hand to each; ‘but let it suffice that I am here.”’ | “Welcome, dear lad,” said Jacob Sturmby, and old Ben murmured his greeting. “IT won't ask you for news,” said Jack, as he took a seat, “for you can tell me nothing I do not know. The ‘Rattlesnake’ is lost. They have given up all hope of her.” “And no survivors P”’ said Sturmby “¢ My enemies still live.” | “You have heard of them?” said Sturmby, raising his eyes. “Ah, I hear from them and about them, here,’ said Jack, smiting his breast; “‘my heart tells me that they are among the living.” ‘‘ And living where, dear lad ? ” “We shall know that in time. The world is very small. But hide where they may, they shall not escape me.” He rose up, and, walking to the window, stood there looking out. The others said no more, for they knew that it was his humour when not speaking not to be spoken to. The lamps were being lighted in the street, and the gloom of night creeping down. The ordinary business of the day was almost over, and clerks and shopmen were hurrying home. “Jacob,” said Jack, after a long silence, ‘‘can you give me anything to eatP I have tasted nothing all day.”’ ‘“‘ Dear lad,’’ exclaimed Jacob, amazed, ‘“‘why didn’t you say so before? You must have been starving !”’ “No; it was my choice,” replied — Jack, sadly. ‘‘Twodaysago I was here, in New York, but I wandered forth again. Shall I tell you why?” “ Aye, do, lad.’”’ “T saw the spirit of my brother Willie in the Broadway as I was coming hither.”’ “T¢ must have been fancy.” “No, Jacob—no. I saw him on ahead. Do you think I should not have known him anywhere? These eyes of mine beheld my murdered brother.” “Tt must have been somebody re- sembling him,’ urged Jacob. “ Could I be mistaken?” exclaimed Jack, impatiently. ‘I know his figure, and, what is more, he turned, and I saw his face. Amazed I stood for a moment, CORMIECOOOKS CON |