Jack and His Seven Foes — page 34: what you’re looking at

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JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. 20 They could see the men were moving about some distance from the hut where Jack was lying. They could tell where that was by the elare of the light shining through the opening that served for a window. ‘He is alone,” said the Swaggerer, ‘‘or, at the most, has only one with him. I make out a score moving yonder.” Creeping from rock to rock, they got close to the back of the hut where the window was, and Hiram Crayton, the Swaggerer, stole up and listened. Jack was breathing heavily, and that was the only sound he could hear. Stealing back to his companions, he whispered the good news to them. “Alone,” he said, “and sleeping. Two can watch, and one can work. Settler, you are handy with the knife.” ‘Handy when there’s need,” growled Black, “ but you are so fond of keeping workmen. Suppose you do the little job yourself ? ”’ “Bah!” said the Swaggerer, “ you are afraid.” “When cowardice comes in,” said Jim Black, laying a hand upon his arm, and looking steadfastly into his face, “you are not quite outof thehunt. Il do the job for the pleasure of it.” He was kneeling behind a rock, and, drawing a big clasp-knife from his pocket, opened it. ‘“‘ Feel the edge of that, master,” he said, mockingly ; ‘it’s a good tool for your business, isn’t it?” “Go and do-it,” * muttered the Swaggerer. ‘Dunmore and [ will keep watch and give an alarm if any of that lot move this way.” Jim Black put the knife in his teeth, and lying down on his stomach, crept along as silently as a snake. “He’s not new to that part of his work,’ at any rate,” said Dunmore, with @ erin. “Be quiet, can’t your” said the Swaggerer, savagely, “we are not play- | ing pranks at a fair.” Black had now reached the hut, and was lost in the shadow of it. To get into the hut, he must work his way round to the front, and into the moonlight again. “Tf he can reach the door, heis safe,” said the Swaggerer. “ What on earth are those fellows doing ?” “Dancing a jig, it seems to me,” muttered Dunmore. ‘ Fib me all over, if I can make ’em out! ”’ “ There’s Settler,” said the Swaggerer, “cooing round. Quiet, my lad! He’s nearly there. Now, will he bungleit?”’ “ What on earth is that? ’’ Dunmore cried, leaping up. A sudden flash of light, and a great flame was roaring in the air. <A shout from the hut where Jack was lying, the banging of a door, and Jim Black came tearing round the corner. “Run for your lives!” he gasped, as he joined his astounded companions. “That big brute that floored you, Swageerer, 18 with the boy.” At that moment Jacob Sturmby appeared, with a huge club in his hand, and the flames rising higher, made the beach almost as light as day. The three villains stood revealed. Jacob Sturmby, and at least a dozen of his men, saw them at the same time, and, with a cry of fury, bore down upon them. The trio ran for their lives, and they ran well. Outpacing their pursuers, they reached the wood, and plunging into its dark depths, were lost to view. If hard words or threats could blight or kill, the trio of rascals would have ended their career that night. But they escaped, and the honest settlers returned to the hut, there in turn to keep watch and ward over Jack until the daylight came. He slept soundly, and knew nothing of this attempt until many days after- wards, when he had regained his strength. It was slow work, for he had suffered sorely, and these rugged men had not the manifold apphances of civilisation to help them. But they did their best, and httle by _ little he regained the colour of his cheeks, and the strength and activity he had known before. Nay, his strength wasincreased. It _seemed as if Nature, deigning to help him, had developed his muscles, and strengthened his sinews with wondrous | rapidity. He landed on that coast a youth, on the brink of death, and came back from the dark gulf in everything but years —a man. COMmicoooe Cc SS (CO)