Jack and His Seven Foes — page 69: what you’re looking at

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60 JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. “Just so. All right. the boat, and you follow.” “No; » said the Sneezer, with the courage of desper ation, ‘‘ we will vo first, and you follow.” “« And if we don’t allow you ?”’ “Then we stop the game altogether.” <That’s 80,” said ihe Bantaloon: “Tn you go,” muttered theSwaggerer. ** Only don’t let us have any blundering. We'll get into No noise. There are lots of soft things to drop upon. The boat is just nara ou.’ The Sneezer went over the side, and dropped into the boat. Hxcitement and the jerk of the fall brought on his old complaint. “Atchew ! atchew!’’? he gasped. “I beg your pardon, really. Atch-e-e-ew!”’ ‘“What’s going on there?” cried a voice from amidships. “ Kerry's comin g up,’ whispered the Swaggerer; “not a moment to lose. Down with you.” “Thi! bring a lantern here,’ roared Kerry. ‘ What’s this—a boat lowered ? Stop, or Pl fire into you!” “Fire away,’ growled the Swaeeerer, as he cut the boat free with an axe. In a moment the ship was going on ahead. Shouts were heard on deck, and lanterns were dancing about. They could hear the voice of Abraham Spanker at its loudest. “T wonder whether he will see any fun in this job?” said the Swaggerer. “Pull on, Panther. We'll keep her in sicht until she goes down.” “They know what’s happened, the Panther. ‘“ Harken!” The voice of Abraham Spanker rang over the sea— “The ship’s scuttled! boats !” ‘““ Aye, lower them if you can!” said the Panther; ‘‘and when lowered, how long do you think they will float ?” “See her hehts there—all on a slant,” cried the Swagegerer. “She is going down by the head.” his isaq tol 3”? lcan't look on. ‘Then don’t,” -said the Panther. “Now look at her,” the Swaggerer said, ina tone of triumph. ‘“ Houp-la! Hurrah for the auger! Twenty-three holes I’ve bor ed in ‘her, and I drew all the plugs.” *? gaid Lower the casped Dribbles. the ‘f ae help!” er ied the doomed men in the ship. ‘““There’s none for you, my lads!” shouted the Swaggerer. “ You are doomed.” He could hear them struggling to get the boats free, and could see the hghts moving about. Presently some of them began to ascend. “They are taking to the rigging,” he cried; “she is going down. Give her a cheer, boys!” “Hurrah ! 7 Only the Panther responded to his call. The sight of such a treacherous deed consummated was more than even hardened fPantaloon and_ the cowardly Sneezer could bear. They sat huddled up, with their eyes cast down, and their fingers in their ears. Yells came from the deck of the “ Rattlesnake,’ and the captain and mate fired their revolvers as signals of distress. They signalled only to their enemies, and to a deserted sea. The lights in the rigging moved up and down, then suddenly appeared to be moving in a circular direction. The Swageerer shouted with glee. ‘“Tt’s all over. Down they go!” he cried. And as he spoke, the lights glided rapidly down, an awful cry rent the alr, and the “Rattlesnake” went under a hundred fathoms of sea. The Panther rested on the oars, and looked at the blank left by its disappear. ance. No light was visible on sea or sky. «?’Tis done,” he said. “ Aye, and well done,” oerer. “And we are answerable for another half-score lives.”’ “ tlave you grown chicken-hear ted 2” demanded’ the Swageerer, scorntfully. “Tt was a blow for life and liber ty, and we’ve gained both. Pull on, PI take you to the shore; the tide is in our favour.” The Panther said no more, but, with a sound that was like a sigh, bent to his W ork, and pulled On: ‘So perish all my foes!” cried the said the Swag- | Swaggerer, as he settled in the stern. ECONNICLOO© SS (CO)