Jack and His Seven Foes — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

36 JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. Truly old Pharaoh Pipstone had an appropriate nickname. And while this was going on, ‘hie specks had increased in size, and were coming steadily nearer. “Well, what shall we do?” said the Swageerer, “run or fight ?” “‘ Pretend to run,” replied the Settler, ‘‘and fight in reality. Let us get to the bushes smartly, run to them and drop down, and creep back to the border here. Then, as they come on, let fly at them.” — “All aim at the lad,’ said the Swagegerer; “in his death, I tell you, lies our safety.”’ The others agreed, and they started off as if flying from pursuit, speedily reaching the clump of bushes, which were about shoulder-high. At a given signal from the Swaggerer, they all dropped down. ‘‘ Now silence all, and follow quietly.” On their hands and knees they went, but ere they had got far, Walker Dribbles began to sneeze. ‘Throttle the beggar, or send a knife into him!” growled the Swaggerer. “ Put han face downwards, and sit upon his head,” suggested the Settler. ‘“‘ He wants a bull-dog hanging to his nose, said the Panther. “I can't help it,” said Dribbles; ‘there never was a man yet who could stop a sneeze 1f 1t meant to come.’ ‘« It’s my belief that you’ve a sneezing contract with Nature,” the Swaggerer said, ‘‘and must knock off a certain lot ina given time. But drop the game now, or I'll stop it ina way that won't be agreeable.” Dribbles promised to do his best, but, as he truly said, he was not master of his nose. No man is. If it means to sneeze, it sneezes, and there’s an end on’t. “‘ Here’s an open place they are likely to come through,” said the Swaggerer ; ‘three on each side, and all blaze away at once.” They lay down, the Pantaloon, Sneezer, and Jim Black on one side, the Swag- gerer, the Panther, and the Lifter on the other. “ Confound it!” said the Swaggerer, ‘““how thick these bushes are. It’s like looking through a mist.” “Can you see them?” asked the Panther, eagerly. “ Just, and no more. are about half-a-mile away.” ‘ I reckon they “ A-rashy-tchew!’? went Dribbles, obliging them with a broken and half-. smothered sneeze. ‘If I were near you, I’d settle you,”’ grunted the Swaggerer, pulling out a gE knife. “ Atchew ! ” “Do something to him; tie his head up, or knock it off his shoulders, will you, Settler ? ’’ said the Swaggerer. “Tt wasn’t me this time,” cried Dribbles, in alarm; “it was the—the —ah, Peel enn UE Pantaleenes ‘“‘ Suppose it was?”’ said the Pantaloon, with the grunt of adog. ‘I can do it once ina way. If you want your head knocked off, Pll do it for you.” “You!” said Dribbles, scornfully. “‘T say—atchew !—I say—’” “Stop it!’’ said the Settler, giving him a kick in the ribs that was a settler, ‘you pair of wooden 1 images ! ts “They are coming near,’ muttered the Swaggerer. ‘“‘ Not a sound. Con- found the bushes! I can only just see them. WhenlI cry, ‘Now, lads!’ let fly, and take our chance.” A few minutes’ breathless suspense followed, and then the footsteps of those approaching could be plainly heard. Nearer and nearer they drew, and their voices, 1n subdued conversation, could be distinguished. “Our ambush is not suspected,” thought the Swagg¢erer, with exultation. “We have him now!” Nearer and nearer. A steady tramp—a heavy footfall, and a lighter one. The footsteps of a man and a youth, assuredly. They came on, not dreaming of the foes in ambush, and, as the Swaggerer had hoped, selected the open part of the bushes to pass through. They came on in a : line with him. ‘“‘ Now, lads, fire!’ he shrieked, and six revolvers were let off simultaneously. The youth staggered, and fell forward on his face without a cry. “Victory !”’ shouted the Swaggerer. ‘Now, up with your hands, Sturmby, or I’ll shoot you down!”’ He leapt up, revolver in hand, and the next moment staggered back. The others had 1 risen, too, and gathered amazed behind him. Jacob Go JOO Cc <SriGO mn