Jack and His Seven Foes — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

JACK AND HIS The man sat down by the fire. As he did not speak, the Swaggerer spoke to him. “You've lost your httle ones?” he said. “Children and wite,’ the man answered, ‘and it comes hard just as we were going to leave this lonely life, and live down town.” “Had enough of it?” the Panther said. ‘“ Enough and more than enough,” he replied, ‘‘ but I’ve done well here, and made money.”’ “ And banked it, I’11 be bound,” Makepeace Jibber, facetiously. “No, no,” said the man, absently ; rescil know nothing about banks He turned a little away as if he did not wish to talk, and the others went on with their meal. They ceased to converse, but Jibber, the Swaggerer, and the Panther ex- changed 2 clances of significance, and occasionally looked at the silent man by the fire. They finished eating, and drew up to the fire to smoke, their host making way forthem. He drew back into the shadow. ‘Don’t go there,” said Jibber; “ we ain’t the people to drive a man from his own fireside.” ‘““]’d rather be here,” he said, simply, and they let him be. ‘Where shall we sleep?” they asked him, after a time. “ Here,” he said, warmer.” He went out and fetched thém some rugs and blankets, and then disappeared. ‘“Our iriend’s gone,” said Jibber, “and we can make ourselves comfort- able.” They arranged the blankets round the said “vou will find it fire, and put on more wood, then lay | moaned, rocking himself to and fro. down to sleep. After a time the Sneezer was sound | asleep, and old Pipstone, the Pantaloon, | appeared to beso. Then Jibber opened his eyes, and soitly raised himself. “Hist!” he said, and then the Swag- gerer and the Panther rose, too. ‘You heard what he said: -”’ hoarsely whispered Jibber. “Yes,” they answered. “ He’s cot his money here, and it’s no use to him.” { SEVEN FOES. R3. “Not a bit,” said the Swage¢erer. “Tfe'll pine away, and some stranger will come and find it.” “'That’s true,’ assented the Panther. “Why, then, shouldn’t we have it?” They looked at him, breathing hard. Ile was a man of strone nerves, and stood their stare steadily. ‘“Tt’s done in a moment,” he said, “and there is a big burying evound outside. When the money is “found, a bit of fire will burn out the signs of it.” Slt will be thought that he did it himself,”’ said the Swagwer er. “Just so. Then the: question is: who is to do it P” Blood-stained and black-hearted as they were, it was not without hesitation that they gave their full assent to the murderous proposition. ‘Ts there no other way ?” asked the Swagegerer. “No, ” said Jibber, shaking his head. “ Bare robbery is a fool’s trick. Hither complete the business, or leave it alone. He must have made a pile of money to talk of ving down town.” ‘““And we came for money,” Swaggerer. “So why not do it?” said Jibber. “ Let us toss for it? Odd man out.”. ‘No,’ replhed the Panther, “ we'll all three be in it. Dl see what he is doing.”’ He crept out of the room, and was absent about ten minutes. He came back as stealthily as he left. ‘“ He’s kneeling by his bedside,” he said, “‘ praying.” “ Having his back to us,” said Jibber, rising, “‘ he’s handy. Come on!” The Swaggerer was ghastly pale, but he rose also, and they all went out. ‘The moment they disappeared, the Panta- loon sat up. “More blood — more said the blood!”’ he Pe ey, ve lived in it, and I shall die in are the others 7 ”’ “What's the matter?” asked the Sneezer, star ting from his sleep ; ‘‘ where “Can’t you guess?” said the Panta- loon; with a wild stare; “didn’t you hear that poor devil talking about his money 7” “JT didn’t notice anything. “He said very little, but it >] Was mn COMiCcLooe ss) (C©)