Jack and His Seven Foes — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

156 “but how the varmint got clear away puzzles me.’ “Can we not help you in any way ?”’ said Jack to Ben. ‘No, dear lad,” he replied, ‘‘it’s too late.” ‘Tf we could get you down to the settlement, [—” “No, dear lad, don’t think of it. [I’m dying, and moving would only make me uneasy. My life’s running out fast. Let it go easy.” He spoke quite calmly, and now there was a beautiful hight glowing in the old man’s face. It was like the silver light of an eastern dawn. There were tears in Jack’s eyes as he knelt beside him, and standing close by were Jacob Sturmby and Ralph, grim and stern. 3 Sorrow darkened their faces, and lay like a leaden weight upon their hearts. “Tl ask you to carry me down by- and-by,” said old Ben. “I sha’n’t keep you waiting long. When it’s all over, take me to some quiet spot, and bury me deep, where no thing of prey can get at my bones. It’s the last thing I ask of you “T wish I could do more for you,” said Jack. ‘‘ You may be mistaken, Ben. Let us take you down and see what good nursing will do for you.”’ “You: couldn’t. do:.it,”* said Ben’ “the bit of lead’s touched my spine, and I’m no more than a broken figure of aman. Let me be, I’ll go quietly, and not keep you lingering.” “Why talk in that way ?” said Jack. “Tf you lived for weeks and months, none here would willingly desert you. The sun’s getting warm. I will put something up to shade you.” ‘Let the sun shine on me,” Ben; ‘it’s a blessed thing. My boy was fond of it. Ah, I’ve seen the sun- heht dancing in his eyes, as he wandered over the plains, and he would laugh so that his voice was better than most music. He was a dear, light-hearted lad.” | said old Le. » poe CAC SEAS ALY tan eR rd) oe SE ea lad eet eR Co ade a be OB! den ¢ j + ) ee Oe 4 he . aN mes, + ete ee Py aa | mer ge me ph hy Phere TD Mat hoe! fs eee byt i use ey ee BAN Ce VOM nN 5 ales rai y}s ' Fe hhe SOLE JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. a Hip death will be avenged,” said q ‘““He was a brave fellow.” “So he was ; but ourselves to love. together.’ But he went first, Jack. “TPve no thought of that now,’ replied the old man, his voice growing fainter. | ‘No, no; I suppose not.” “Tf we were never to meet again, it might be different, but I feel that he is coming near me. Master you’ve been a good friend to me.” ‘No, Ben; it is you who have been my triend,” said Jack. “Well, I can’t argue on it, as ’m going. Whichever way it is, dying I bless you. Take my hands. I see Bill near me—I—I—my boy—my boy—the Jack, sun is on his face—I’m a coming, lad— | ay a Jack had taken his hands, and when he got thus far they suddenly closed with a convulsive movement, then relaxed, and the spirit of old Ben had left its tenement of clay. Jack remained with head bent, and the stern-eyed men behind hima saw a tear drop upon the dead man’s hand. Then he suddenly looked up. “Go down,” he said, ‘‘and bring up something on which to bear him to the settlement. I will remain here until you return.” “Dear lad,’ said Jacob Sturmby, “ there 18 danger in your being lett alone.” “Why talk of danger tome? ”’ aed Jack. ‘But there’s a hidden danger, lad— a foe that skulks.” “Jacob, you ought to know me by this time. Why do you hnger? Go, both of you.” And with some misgivings in their. hearts, they left him. COV LF OD OD LD? LOD LOAD UDA ate PCE AT SES CP> LD LPR DD LPP LPP CPAP efene Go 0)(0)©) AUUC Ha(E@ ae: and he loved me. — ‘Father,’ he used to say, ‘we two are in 4 the world together, and we’ve nobodv ~ We ought todie — poor —