Jack and His Seven Foes — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

i10 JACK AND HIS SEVIEN POES. “What do you find there?” “A bit of plaster.” “Ts there a lot of it?” “ Hnough to make a shirt on.’ ‘Behind that ’ere sateen said young Slideaway, slowly and solemnly, “‘there’s a hole big enough for a hen to lay an egg in.” “‘ And who made that hole?” “Tm coming to it,” said Sldeaway, junior. “Go-on.”’ “When I ax a feller to wrastle,” continued Slideaway, junior, ‘I mean him for to wrastle ; not to pick mec up and chuck me on my head afore Pd time to sneeze.”’ ‘““Jt’s hke him,” the Swaggerer inter- posed; ‘“‘his game is to take people unawares.” “You know the catamount?” said young Shdeaway. ‘CAs little,: ‘po, “then; we all> start’ fair,”’ said Shdeaway. ‘J was up the mountain a bit when you chivied him, and I saw the way he turned and let fly at you afore you had time to wink. I also see one of your party give a skip and come down heavy, and I says to myself, ‘ It’s a bad sugar time for him.’ ” ee Well, what does all this come toP ” asked Makepeace Jibber. “To this,” said young Slideaway, ferociously: “that. I 7 pe re you, and help you to clear him ont.” “Good.” ‘“He’s a Britisher, and he’s got British ways, and they don’t suit Maple Mountain. So he must be wiped away.’ ‘“ Better stall.” “And VI bet, on the seta o’ Bunks, which is heard of and afear ed on about these parts, that if I Join you he can be | | Slideaway. bottled up and corked down.” “You can’t say better than that,” said Makepeace” Jibber; “you are a man.” ‘And you are another. Here’s my hand.” “T've got it.” And then they shook hands again warmly, and the bond of rascality between them-was sealed. After this young Slideaway shook hands all round, beginning at the Nwaeeerer, and ending at the Sneezer, who had got over his frig eht, and assumed 7s rn —— ~~ | afraid, or doubt me, stay —— ~ —__ a joviality that was assuredly not from his heart. “T hope I didn’t frighten ye we he said. i | “You skeered me a little,” replied Slideaway, junior. “ You popped sudden, and the bullet sailed over my head like a humming-bird in a hurry.” “The confounded “fool? said Jibber, shaking his fist at the Sneezer; “ didn’t he challenge you: Pes “ Nary bit,” was the reply. Jibber kicked the Sneezer, and sent him up against the Swaggeerer, who kicked haat onto the Panther, who shot him onto Shdeaway Bunks, junior, and he knocked him down. “Having squared that job,” said Jibber, “ let’s to business. plan ? ” “ Tl talk it over while f have a pipe,’ replied young Slideaway. They all went under ‘the rude shelter, and sat down. Most of them smoked, and all listened intently ~ to the suggestions put forward by Slideaway, junior. What they were will soon be seen. Suffice it to say for the present that his new associates approved of his plan. Just before dawn he rose to go. “Now mind, then,” said Makepeace Jibber, “none ci your deceiving.” “ Can’t you see the truth a-shining out of me?” asked young Shdeaway. “Tt might be shining » like blazes,’ said the Swageerer, cand yet an ex- tinguisher could be put over it if you had a mind'to.” ‘¢ Blarm it! ‘said Slideaway, angrily, “Do you thnk I’m going to put up with the tunnel he’s made in my head ? ’” “Not if you are a man.” ‘And who says I ain’tr” demanded “Tt there’s one, let him stand forward, and Pll wrastle with him.” Nobody accepted this offer, and, after erumbling a bit, he became calmed. “To-night,” he said, ‘as soon as the sun’s down, come, 1f you are in a mind to, and “I il meet you. if “you -are awa “We'll come,” said Makepeace Jibber. And then, with a parting nod, Slide- W hat’s your © away, junior, bounded over the show wall, and set his face towards Maple Mountain. COMICIOOKS.COM