Jack and His Seven Foes — page 128: what you’re looking at

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an ending more suited to him. Will somebody shift my head a little, please. “L’ve been a despicable villain, all my life, but now I’m a dying man.’ Jack raised him up a ‘little, and put him into an easier position. Makepeace Jibber smiled faintly. “That’s the first real kind act I’ve had done for me since I was a child— and it’s the last.” He closed his eyes fora few moments, and breathed so softly that they thought he was dead, but he opened his eyes again, and looked at Jack. ‘You are a brave lad,” he said, ‘‘ and the luck’s with you. Nature loads the dice for some peeple, and throw them how they may, they get nothing but sixes. l’ve had loaded dice, too, but the deuce has been in every throw. The game’s up.” And then he closed his eyes, shuddered, and lay still. “He is dead,” said Jack, rising from a kneeling position beside the dead man. “In hfe he was a great rascal, but we must not deny him a grave. Jacob, where are the two Bunks?”’ “T left them on the floor,” replied Jacob, laconically. ‘Were they dead?” “J don’t know.” “ We had better see.” They went up, Jack, and Jacob, and Ben, whike Jerek Grittle and his neigh- bours lin gered behind, Jerek explaining matters to his indionant hearers. Old Shdeaway was dead. He had paid the full penalty of his treachery, but his son was still living. Nor was he indeed very severely wounded, Ben having shot him just below the knee in the fleshy part of the leg. “The wound, however, was sufficiently painful, and they ed him gasping and how Jing as he crawled about the room. When Jack showed himself in the doorway, he fell upon his knees and clasped his hands. “Mercy !” he cried. “Do you expect any?” said Jack, with a cold smile, ‘‘ you double traitor and miserable cur!” “1 think, Master Jack,” said Jacob, “that you may safely leave him to his neighbours and friends.” yw ™” ye i S¥iqan gl Fag «SD, r 4 A oe VARS GN) > ad JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. a tek whan. 119 They were approaching, and the murmurs reached the wretched Shde- away’s ears. He shook horribly. “They'll hang me,” he said, hoarsely ; “save mé eme!? “What Shall I do, Sturmby ?”’ asked Jack; “it was but one life they attempted. $ ‘‘ Leave him to his nei iehbours, I say,’ said Jacob. “T will,” replied Jack, “on one condition.”’ “ What is that?” “You shall hear it in a moment.” They were at the door now, a crowd of angry men and women, calling for the two Shdeaways—father and son—to be given to them. Jack stood between them and the quivering traitor, holding up his hand for silence. By degrees the noise sub- sided and he spoke. ~ “One of the men you seek is dead,” he said; “he cannot come to you.” “Which is it?” they cried. “The old man.” “Out with the other!” out!” “Toss him here!” Those and other cries rang in the ears of the terrified Shdeaway, junior, as he lay grovelling on the floor. “Patience, my friends, patience,’ said Jack; ‘‘you shall have your man on one condition.” “What is it?”’ they asked. “That you spare his life.” A howl of dissent answered him, and some were pressing forward, and he “ Pitch him | bade them keep back. ‘‘ Hear me,” he said; “it 1s my life that has been attempted, and it’s for me to be prosecutor. I will not have him killed, but I will put my mark upon him. Can any among you tattoo?” A dozen voices ansjwered— “g Ves be “Then write ‘Cur’ upon his fore- head,”’ said Jack, “and let him go.” The proposition was received with acclamation, and they were rushing forward again, when Jack pointed to the old man. “ Not here,” he said. ‘ The dead, if it is never so vile when living, demands our respect. He shall be brought out to you. Jacob, help him outside.” “They will murder me,’ said Slide- away, junior, writhing in agony. Nii YC ve Ce MOD 4 way \ Pets CORNIELIOC (E cS (EO) m