Jack and His Seven Foes — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

166 JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. On opening his eyes he thought at first that he was enjoying familiar rest upon the plain, and looked above him for the stars. “ Dark as pitch,” he muttered, “ but no rain as yet.” - Then the true state of things flashed upon him, and he started in‘o a sitting position. Inky darkness surrounded him. For aught that he could see he was alone. But hard-by his friends were sleeping, | and their breathing fell softly and gratefully upon his ear. — | “T’ve sleptlong enough,” he muttered, “but Pil not disturb them.” So he lay still, thinking and trying to make the best of their perilous position, hoping on, he secretly feared, against hope. His meditations ere long were dis- turbed by a sound that he had at first thought was the roar of a distant beast. But a sheht shaking of the ground dispelled this idea, and the dread trath burst upon him. “Tt is the warning nete of an earth- quake,’ he said, and he felt his hair stiffen with horror. “Wake up!’’ he said. danger of earthquakes.” They were awake and on the alert in a moment. Jack asked him what he said. ‘“‘Harthquake coming,” said Ralph. As he spoke, the roaring sound was heard again, and the ground trembled. “ Light a torch,” cried Jack. It was done by Harold Deane. Martin’s hand shook so that he was un- able to perform that office. As its glare fell upon their faces they could see that all were ehastly pale. ‘“"Lhesoundcame from that direction,” said Jack, poimting down one of the openings. ‘‘ We had better fly direct irom it.” He took the torch himself, and led the way, running quickly. They all followed with as much speed as they could make. “It will soon be every man for him- self, and the devil take the hindmost,”’ muttered Deane. Martin stumbled and fell, cutting his forehead badly. When Ralph picked him up, he stared about him wildly. ‘ We are 1n ae Fan ee “Are you much hurt?” asked J soe He muttered something of a confused nature in reply, and leaned against the | wall, sick and faint. Ralph put his whisky-flask to ine hips, and he drank some of its contents, but he made no effort to go on. “Try and keep with us,”’ “we must get on.”’ Martin only stared about him, quite unconscious of where he was. Again was heard that dreadful rumbling, and the walls of the cavern palpably rocked. A cry that was half a groan, burst from Jack’s lips. “It is L who have brought you here,”’ he said. ‘‘ Forgive me.’ “Dear lad,” said Jacob Sturmby, “vou must not talk so to us. For m part, Pll not grumble if I have to die with you.” “Nor I,” said Ralph. “It is my poor wife that I think of,” groaned Harold Deane. “What will she do in the world alone ?”’ “All is not lost yet,” said Jack, with compressed lips. ‘‘ Martin, drink some of that. Now, my good fellow, do you feel better ? ”’ “Tt’s too early to go to work,”’ Martin, vacantly. ‘“ There’s only the said Jack; moon to see by.” ‘“‘ Nevertheless,” said Jack, “you must come out with me.” He took him by the arm, and led him a little way. Again he pulled up. ‘It’s all nonsense,’ he said. ‘‘ We shall be better at home and in bed.”’ Jack begged of him to go on, but a sudden obstinacy took possession of him. ““T’ll go when I please, and not before,” he said. ‘* You let me alone.”’ “What shall we do with him?” asked Jat.s. “ He’s had a nasty knock,” said Deane. ‘Perhaps he will be better in a few minutes.” The earth shook and rumbled cnce more, and was followed by a noise like the firmg of guns on a far-off battle- field. There was a rush of air, and the torch was extinguished. “Stand firm,” said Jack ; alarmed.” With asteady hand he struck a match, and applied it to the torch. Fear was “do not be ‘ i; ° - Pr pone y> . t - > 5 D> Dey? os Ree On A Toe eG 9 AS TF ion Opts AG aes es OF TE ea Oe BD tel LM gS eS ea at te ti ak ai ee n> mee eh tr ah Pn RPA ere gee A tan SRT en RSS we TS Steen "2 DORSET ih et Ua hd anes Tee Loe TP NE TM eNO eee CANA nS UT, BIS Pen Lot g RON Re atop we PO hal FM 0 SE a pat es Cae Oe eer aes ee gr me replied - , 7 np » Pv a”, ee ee * LP RAEN N 5 RT ENS PS wie AA ICL IME GEL I ene RPI HIS IE Eonmicsooksco 1 os. erie “ A <A me, [kr a SO i as 4 Ter mga