Jack and His Seven Foes — page 39: what you’re looking at

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

30 afternoon, but Sturmby took no notice of him. His eyes were upon these seven villains, closely watching their every movement. “Sit still! ’’ thundered Jack, as they attempted to rise, ‘‘and let no man among you seven attempt to touch his weapon, or I fire.”’ There was no mistaking his look and tone, and a dead silence fell upon the motley crowd. They felt that they were about to look upon a scene of more than ordinary interest. ‘“‘T am here,”’ continued Jack, speak- ing to all around him, “to avenge my father’s death. He was foully murdered by those villainsthere. Wiaill any of the seven deny it? ”’ They were silent, but there was a muttering among the crowd, and angry glances bestowed upon the Swaggerer and his followers. - ““My brother, a boy of twelve,” Jack continued, “they bound to a life-belt and cast him into the sea to perish inch by inch. The mate shared the same tate, and the seamen were foully mur- dered as they slept. Sit still, I say.” It was the Swaggerer who attempted to rise, with the ebject of making an attempt to escape; but the diggers formed a line across the shanty, and there was no passage for him. ‘‘“[ have tracked these men,’ said Jack, “and I could secretly have slain them one by one. like that. I give them a chance for their lives. I will fight them one by one, with any weapon they choose. One to-night, and the rest when it pleases me to call upon them.” | “Bully for you, my boy,” cried out one of the diggers. ‘‘ We will see you through it.” And the rest cried— “We will! we will!” The seven were in a trap, and one ‘was doomed. That one and all felt. But who was the victim to be? “Tf there is a spark of real manhood ain any of you,” cried Jack, “let the possessor of it stand forth.”’ But no man moved. “] protest against this sort of thing,” said the Swagegerer, in a tone of wild protest. ‘Who knows this boy ?—he as strange to us—he is mad.” I scorn a dastard act. JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. “But I am sane,’ said Sturmbv ““he has told nothing but the truth.” “Choose a man from among you, and let him meet me outside,” eried Jack. ““Aye, choose!” cried the diggers, “or we will swing the lot of you. Judge Lynch holds court here, you know.” | ‘Tf one is chosen,” said the Swaggerer, “and he proves victorious, what ouaran- tee have we that we shall be allowed to o free?” | “J wish it to be understood that ii I fall everything is ended,” said Jack; ‘‘my mission will have been a failure, that is all.” ‘“‘ Draw lots, and have done with it,” said Tucker; “you seven blackguards are stopping business. JI’ll cut seven bits of string of different lengths, and he who draws the shortest fights.” “We have no other choice but to obey,’ said Hiram Crayton; “you are ten to one against us.” The string was cut, and Bilberry Tucker rolled the pieces up in his hands, leaving only the ends out between his palms. “Who first? ”’ he said. The Swaggerer stepped forward and drew one. “'That’s not the shortest,’ Tucker said, and the leading scoundrel, with a sigh of relief, resumed his seat. Jim Black followed, and was assured that he had escaped; then followed Magson, also favoured, and then Dun- more. As he drew out his piece of string, the eyes of Bilberry Tucker twinkled. The wretched man looked into his face and shuddered. “Tve got it,” he said. “It’s a hundred to one on you,’ was the calm reply. Dunmore was a strong, thick-set fellow, with a big head and the neck of a bull; one of those rufthans without any fecling or consideration for others, but mightily sensitive about himself. With a face as pallid as marble, he eroped to his seat like a blind man, and sat down. The Pantaloon and Dribbles drew the two remaining ends, and they were longer than the one which had fallen to the lot of the ex-pugilist. “You have only now to choose your weapon,’ said Jack. COMIC OOO SS (S@)