Jack and His Seven Foes — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. 21 It was Dunmore who said, ‘‘ Come in.” The door opened, and the head man of the settlers stood between them and the heht of the morning. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man, , with an honest sunburnt face—thirty years of age, perhaps, but looking older. “JT want a word with you men,” he said, sternly, gazing round upon the shrinking crew. ‘Il want a word with you, I say, and, what’s more, I mean to have it!” The Swaggerer was the first to speak. “You can have twenty words uf you like,” he said. “T can see that I’ve nothing to tell you,”’ said the man, “‘and you can guess why I am here.” ‘““ Weare none of us good at cuessing,”’ said the Swagg¢erer, with a defiant scowl. ‘“My name is Jacob Sturmby,”’ said the man, ‘‘ and that name has never been stained with crime.”’ “Nobody said it had,” cried Jim Black. “And what’s more, I can’t breathe the same air with them who live by foul ways,’ pursued Sturmby ; “therefore I say to you, one and all—clear out.” ‘‘ There’s no objection to your saying it,’ said the Swaggerer, with mock politeness; ‘‘but of course we shall consult our own convenience about oing.” “J’m afeard that we must hurry ou.” “Don’t threaten—you have no wea- ons.” ‘““None but the things we use in our trade, our strong arms, and the stones that are lying about the beach,” said Jacob Sturmby. “ But we'll make ’em enough, perhaps.” ‘Look here,” said the Swaggerer, “youre no match for us, so don’t try the bragging game. We could shoot you down like rabbits in a warren. I’vecovered younow. Whatif I fire?” ‘To you and them as came with you,” said Sturmby, unmoved, “‘ we gave our best. We took you in as strangers cast among us, friendless and poor. If you - find the heart to put a bullet in me, O 1t. | The Swaggerer was not proof against | his simple bravery. He lowered his weapon. “ Understand us,” he said, ‘we don’t want to harm you. But you’ve got a lad with you who is a bitter enemy of mine. Give him to us.” ‘And suppose I don’t P ”’ “Well, make up your mind for any- thing. We are not the men to stick at trifles.”’ ‘““So you would have me give up this poor lad to you?” said Jack Sturmby, slowly. “Give him up, or toss him back into the sea,” replied the Swaggerer. “Then my answer to you is this,” said Jacob Sturmby, and with two quick strides he was close to the Swaggerer. Like a quick flash of light, his clenched hand struck the villain in the face, and dashed him to the ground. Then in a moment the door was clused, and he was gone. “The fiends seize him!” cried the Swaggerer, leaping to his feet again. Revolver in hand, he dashed to the door, and opened it. An unexpected reception awaited him. A shower of stones poured down upon him, and rattled against the door like hail. Hurriedly he reclosed the door, and a loud shout without proclaimed the triumph of the settlers. “We are boxed in like rats in a cage,”’ said the Swaggerer, with an oath. “Then let us make a rush for it,’ said Jim Black. “They are three to one! ”’ “We ought to be able to fight ten to one, revolversand knives against stones.” “We can’t fight,’ the Swaggerer said; ‘‘it would be a waste of time, and some of us might come to grief.”’ “Well, if you are afraid—”’ “T’m not afraid. I only wish to be prudent. The cub is alive, but he shall not live—I swearit. We have bungled once, but won’t do so again.” “Tf you can’t fight,” asked Dunmore, “what will you do?” “Run for it,” replied the Swaggerer. “T’ve taken the bearings of the land. Close behind us here is a thick wood. We'll make for that. Men have lived in a wood before, and can do so again.” “Tt’s the only thing to be done, I suppose,’ said Dunmore, with a sullen face; “a pretty mess you've made of things.” GOnnlGoaoo (SC SS (CO)