Jack and His Seven Foes — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. 47 ing one of his biscuits on the deck, and viciously sticking his knife into it. ‘‘T’m a man that must be obeyed, I am. Shiver my body if it isn’t so. We all eat the same, and we all grub together on board the ‘ Rattlesnake,’ we do.”’ “You were dreaming,” said the Swaggerer, softly, to Dmbbles, ‘The cub isn’t here.” ‘‘He is,’ said Dribbles. “I heard his voice, and I saw t’other chaps.” ‘Your nerves are loose, and played a trick upon you. They are not here, I tell you.”’ ‘‘T’m a merry man, | am,” continued Spanker. ‘‘I make free with people, and there’s no tarnation lying or shift- ing abcut me. Just hearken, you five.” ‘““We are listening,” the Swaggerer said. ‘“Qpen your ears, then. I tell you five that when I took you aboard I got leave to do with you as I lked.”’ ‘‘ And who gave you leave?” asked the Panther. ‘Your master,” said Spanker, lean- ing forward and looking straight into his face. -“‘ But he didn’t say to me, ‘Do this or do that’—not he. He knowed I worn’t a man to take orders. I give em. Slocum Kerry, am I a liar or not ?”’ “You're a hanimated himage of truth,” rephed Kerry, grinning from ear to ear. “That’s my mate speaking,” said Spanker, “and he’s served under me ten years. He ought to know me. Wal, I speak the truth. Iwas told I could do what I lked with you five.” ‘““It 1s a curious thing to say,” said the Swaggerer, with an effort. “I don’t know anybody who has any hold over us. ‘“No, of course you don’t,” Spanker sald, with a sarcastic smile. ‘“ You are a dealer in milk and honey, you are. Now, listen: I was told to make your lives a burden to you, and to take my own way todoit. Now, amI a liar or not, Slocum Kerry ?” “ You are as straight as a gun made by a man with a squint,” replied Kerry. Apparently refreshed and supported | by this assertion, Spanker went on— “So it comes to this—that I, being a | Inan given to taking my own way, I can do as J like with you, and, as you are living men, if you give me the least of trouble, Pll make you play Tom Titbit’s game of hop and howl. I can do it, Slocum—can’t IP” “Tf any man can,” replied Kerry. “So now you've breakfasted, up and swab the decks, you: five bits of pig- timber, and don’t leave a speck on the ‘Rattlesnake,’ for ’m aclean and tidy man, and must have a craft to match me.” The work set them the five performed, while the ordinary crew of the vessel lounged about and looked on, smoking and grinning. And this work was done with a com- paratively light heart. For Abraham Spanker’s manner and words led them to believe that Jack and his friends could not possibly be on board. To Jim the Settler, the relief was in- expressible, and he sang at his work until Slocum Kerry dabbed a mop in his mouth, and asked him what he meant by making a howling-shop of the deck of the ‘‘ Rattlesnake.”’ “Can’t I sing?” asked the Settler. ‘‘ Only when you are asked,” was the reply; ‘‘ we'll ask you for a tune afore sundown.” The morning passed, and neither by sight nor sound was there anything in proof of Dribbles’s assertion. His companions were sure he was mis- taken. “Or perhaps you have lied,” the Panther said to him, when the deck- cleaning was done, and they were rest- ing. me What should I le for?” Dribbles asked. ‘“ Because it’s natural to you,’ was the answer. ‘‘ You have to jump about your inside a long time for a bit of truth at any time, and lying comes handier.”’ “T haven’t lied,’ said the Sneezer, gloomily; ‘‘but I may be going mad. I have had enough to turn any man’s | brain.”’ ‘You sneezed all your brains away before you’d done cutting your teeth,” said the Pantaloon. The Sneezer looked venomous, but said nothing. He had brains enough to know that fighting on board the “Rattlesnake” was work that would scarcely pay. COMmiIcloooe (Cc 6S (CO) am