Jack and His Seven Foes — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

JACK AND HIS not to say mocking politeness, ‘‘ he is more than drunk—” “What! Dead?” If he had suddenly produced a brace of revolvers, and let fly into the thick of them, he could not have created a ereater commotion —they fairly stag- gered back, and opened out as the words left his lips. “Dead!” cried the Swaggerer. “Tt is so, senor,’ was the calm reply. “Tt was an affair of honour, and he has come off—what do you call it P—the best of the seconds.”’ “What have you to tell us?” cried the Settler, roughly. ‘“‘ Out with it, or it will be the worse for you! If our friend is Killed, look to your own life.” ‘“‘ Senor,” said the Spaniard, smoothly, “do not make things so much worse for yourself than they are. Hi I lft my voice, | have a hundred men who will come tome. I did not kill your friend, he died by the hand of a young friend, a countryman. let me explain.” He flicked the ashes from his cigar- ette, and, after a whiff or two, con- descended to relate all he had to tell. “ Your friend,” he said, ‘‘ came home, and went upstairs. Close on the heels of him I hear others, and thinking it is you, I do not wonder. By-and-by I hear voices calling for me. I go, and find three strangers in the room.” “Three!” said the Swaggerer. “Three,” repeated the Spaniard. “An old man with wild eyes, a man in his prime, and a youth who was more terrible than the others. Itis him my eyes first rest on. Lastly, I look at your friend, who steod against the wall, white _and shaking. “T ask what I cando? ” the Spaniard pursued, ‘“‘and the youth say, ‘I have a quarrel with this man, and we must ficht. He has no second, no friend near, will you take that place?’ Always happy to be of service at such times, I say yes.” “You are always ready to help in killing another,” muttered the Swag- erer. “With revolvers they fought,” said the Spaniard, ‘‘each was to have six shots, and on the signal, fire as fast as possible. Your triend had lost his nervye—he fired wildly. There are five ate = e allies peeeaiaciameeenenneetenieeeeameniinaes —— TL SEVEN FOES. 41 of his bullets in the wall of my room. The young stranger waited until they had been fired, then he brought down his man with two shots. Ah, me! it was well done. ‘Quite so,” he added, with the action of firing a pistol; “‘ one, two, and your friend stand, straight and stiff for a moment. I saw the light go out of his eyes before he fell upon his face. It was well done. It was workmanlike.”’ ‘And where is he?” the Swaggerer asked, shivering. ‘‘T left him as he fell dead,” said the Spaniard, “the strangers followed me shortly after.” ‘“‘Oome upstairs,” said the Swaggerer, breathing hard, “and let us see whether this is true.” ‘“‘Senores,” said the Spaniard, drawing aside, ““why should I he? It matters not to me how you all live—or die.”’ With gloomy faces the five went up-- stairs, and entered an apartment they had used as a common sitting-room. There, lying on his face, they saw the form of their companion, who but a few hours before had exulted in his good fortune at the gaming-table. They stood and looked upon him, and exchanged glances, shuddering. It was horrible to think that the avenger had come upon them so secretly and suddenly. “Only this day,’ said the Panther, with his dark eyes roving restlessly about the room, ‘‘and we were con- sratulating ourselves on having escaped this avenging boy.” “We are all doomed men,” said the Settler. ‘‘He has a charmed life, and will choose his time to put an end to us one by one.” “ Who will be the next?” asked the Pantaloon. ‘There is a paper pinned to his coat,” said Dribbles, shaking all over. “ Pe-erhaps tha-at will te-ell us some- um-thing.” The Panther stooped down, and un- _ pinning the piece of paper referred to, passed it to the Swaggerer. He bent down, so as to get the lght of a small lamp burning on the table full upon it, and read it first to himselt, then aloud— You “<¢ You cannot hide from me. COMmicooo Cc <“S (CO)