Jack and His Seven Foes — page 115: what you’re looking at

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

106 JACK AND do you mean by rapping my head, and making me see blue hehts? “Vil make you see lights of all sizes and colours,” said the Swageerer, advancing to repeat the compliment i But ihe Sneezer retreated and dodged about. “You let me alone,”’ one of your own size, you surly brute.” Tl make. you smart for this,” muttered the iniuriated Swagegerer. “eYou. defy me, . you beggar. . Who next, I wonder!” ‘“ It don’t matter ani I do,” said the mneezer, recklessly. “I’m a doomed man. Shout yourself.” “What’s the little movement going on there?’ asked the voice of Make- peace Jibber, as he suddenly appeared betore them. “ What are you two quarreling 10 Ol | ‘Never mind us,”’ said the Swaggerer, hurriedly. ‘ There’s another we have to think about. The cub 1s hereabouts ; he 18 alone, andit was he who frightened us, asses that we were. Have you anv men handy ?”’ * Talf-a- dozen distance.’ “Then bring them in; the storm 1s hiting, and you will have him at your mercy. Keep your part of the contract.”’ ‘““Show me him alone,” said Make- peace Jibber, “and consider it done.”’ “Ina minute,” said the Swaggerer, fever ishly ; oe teewill be cleanin ten minutes.” As he spoke, the sunlight through the diminishing storm, a tew moments the snow ceased to fall. he‘ said.) ‘Hit Shout yourselt, within shouting broke The objects on the plain stood out clear to the view. Halfway between Jibber and_ his companions and Maple Mountain were Jack and his friends, They were moving on ata swift pace towards their temporary home. “There he is,” said the Swageerer. “But not alone,’ replied Jibber, thoughtfully, scraping his chin; ‘he’s got others with him, and if they are only half as good as himselfi—”’ ‘“‘T see,” said the Swaggerer, with a short disagreeable laugh, ‘‘you are afraid of him.” “Tama prudent man,” he answered ; “but if all my men were here, I'd have ad and in) HIS ‘SEVEN | Jibber, ferociously. in! FOES, arunat him. But jest look at them. All over the plain lke old. women. scattered by a mad buffier.” Taere were, however, three near him, and one oi them was the Panther, whose quick eye had distinguished Jack. “So we owe the scare to him said, as he advanced. “Seems so,’ said Makepeace Jibber ‘‘and he came over for our booty, stake K she J ap only knows how he scented. pumpernickel | b i) “ He aie everything, groaned the Sneezer. “Are you going to let him run off with the bi ase? ae. manded the Swag- gerer. ‘“No, hang me if; 1 anit’? - replied. “Will you. jane 9» “Tm on for one,” said the Panther : “Tecan fight a bit in daylight, but L shirk my grandmother’s tom-cat in darkness or in a mist.” Some cf Jibber’s band had espied him, and were running towards Lim as. ' fast as the snow would allow. He signalled to them to hurry on, and went forward in Jack’s trail. | Tlis coming was noted, for Jack turned. his head for a moment and saw him. He said something to his Henge and they hastened on. “By George, they run!” cried the Swaggerer. es Wh at the devil is there to be afraid. of ?”’ asked the Panther. “Nothing,” said the Sneezer, with sudden boldness; adding, in a whisper =: ‘‘ He’s' -atraid. of, us.. “Hark, dorwardst Hey! tallo, tallo!”’ Jibber’s men were coming in fast, and. he now had seven or eight at his heels. In a few words he explained the nature of the work betere them. “Aim at the boy,” he said, ‘‘ when we rush in. If he’s down, the others: will cave in.” | Makepeace Jibber, with one of his. men, headed the pursuers, the latter — being a nimble-footed rascal who had had to stretch his legs and feet for more than one escape from _ the hands of justice. He was known among his friends by the sobriquet of Bolter. . Side by side the pair ran fast for a a2 time, but at length the Bolter began to Go OO) Cc S.COUNM an