Jack and His Seven Foes — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

158 JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. — hesitated, not from fear, but from com- mon prudence. Why should he deliberately place his life at the mercy of his foes? And it seemed certain death to enter the cave. 3 To enter with a rush was impossible, owing to the narrowentrance. It could only be done by creeping in, and he must inevitably, in so doing, place him- geil at the mercy of his foes. “They are caged,” he thought, ‘and I must wait until Ralph and Jacob re- turn.” To guard against any attempt to escape, or a cowardly shot from within, he deliberately rolled down a large stone, and closed up the mouth of the cave. ‘‘ My seal is upon you,” he said, as he laid a finger upon the stone. With quiet footsteps he returned to Ben’s side, and watched there until he saw ttaloh and Jacob, with a number of the men of Silver Settlement, approach- With eager haste he beckoned to them. ‘““T have found the Siete he said to Jacob and Ralph, who hurried up ahead of the rest. “Where c ” they asked eagerly. “Ralph,” said Jack, “ where were your trapper’s eyes? Do you see yon bush ?” Ralph stared at it for awhile, and then an oath burst from his lips. “T’m losing my cunning,” he said. ‘“‘ You see all now P ” “Aye, Master Jack.” “ve covered their lair with that piece of stone, and now we must have them out.’’ “Tt can be done with smoke,” one. When the men of Silver Settlement heard the news, they uttered fierce cries and drew their knives, but Jack bade them put their weapons up again. “These men are mine,” he said; “when I have avenged myself, then you may do with them what you will.” Ralph and Jacob had already gone in search of brushwood to make a fire, and some ot the others joined them. The rest laid poor Ben upon a bier they had brought with them, and covered him with blankets, said “Poor old man!” was all they said, but there was no lack of sympathy in their honest hearts. Gladlv would they, one and all, have wreaked vengeance on the murderers, but Jack had claimed them as his own, and they yielded to him. Jack exercised a fascinating influence on all with whom he came in contact. The pitiful nature of his early story, the terrible following, his handsome face and determined air, all tended in making him an object of deep interest. And, besides, none could dispute the justice of his claim. Not even Harold Deane, weather, and Martin, who stood in a group, a little apart from the rest. ‘‘If they escape him, we will put in our claim,” they said. And in gloomy silence they watched | the proceedings. Ralph, and those assisting him, soon collected a quantity of brushwood, and Jack rolled back the stone. “Just enough to smoke them out,” he said; ‘‘no more.’ But when all was prepared and Facoe Sturmby ready to fire the pile, he sud- denly changed his mind. “Stay! hecried. “I'll not descend to this even now. It is a coward’s trick. They must be unearthed with- out it.”’ “How ?” asked Ralph. It was a pertinent question, and Jacob Sturmby repeated it. ‘To enter that cave is certain death to the foremost,’’ he said. “My wrongs will be my shield,”’ said Jack. ‘‘ Why have these dogs been silent while we have worked? They are frozen with fear. Mune be the task to enter first. Let who will follow me.” ‘““Madness!”’ cried Jacob Sturmby. “Throwing away a lite,” said Ralph; ‘‘ond if one must be wasted, let it be mine. I’ve nobody to leave behind me.” “Ts it my wrong or yours that is to be avenged P”’ asked Jack. “The man who stops my way 1s my enemy.” With a proud step he advanced to the hollow, coolly knelt down, and crept in. ‘He goes to his death,” said Jacob Sturmby, with a gesture of despa ie ‘but there is no turning him when his JOC (E(0) (CO CS 4 \ Le oe , Pe. .% ~s wae - , - Oink Ea <2)" ee eas Pee Cy he re AN Le ay Be ier a ty ty Cth eS aaa e PO ee jo Baw rears ae tics = phe LA Merry- LANCE aS +a : ey