Jack and His Seven Foes — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

JACK AND HIS He stepped forward, and just touched the temple of Walker Dribbles the Sneezer with the barrel of the revolver in his right hand, and the wretched coward, giving vent to a groan, fell back. ‘When and where I please,” said Jack, and coolly turning, as if he indeed were proof against all we eapons, he strode away, and was lost in the darkness. The Sneezer lay upon the earth, but for a slight movement of his lips, like one dead. The others sat and stared at each other. Makepeace Jibber broke the silence. “Snakes!” he said. And then they were all quiet again for a minute or more. “Snakes!” exclaimed Makepeace Jibber again. Another silence. “Snakes!” he exclaimed, third time. Walker Dribbles groaned. ‘“T suppose it was him?” said the Swageerer. | “Of course Panther. him ? ” ‘He had his eye on me, covered.” “So wasI; but you, have brought him down.” tor the it was,” Jibber, snarled the > “Why didn’t you let fly at | and I was could | | SEVEN FOES. ¥ G 9 “ Per—haps,” said Jibber, deliber- ately; “but, you see, it wasn’t my business. He didn’t come forme. I’m not in this transaction. I am all neht.” Oh; Sneezer. “Strikes me,” ain’t he selfish,” grinned the suid Jibber, “that there’s a touch of that emotion about you. What are you howling about?” “What am I howling about?” asked Sneezer, appealing to the others. ‘“ ILear him!" “Oh, yes,” hissed the Panther, “we hear you both. Look here, I’m tired of this game, and I vote we bring it to an cnd somehow.” ‘““ Aye, but how ?” said the Swaggerer. “Change about—go on another tack,” said the Panther. ‘He hunts us now, let us hunt him. ‘“Jibber,’ he went on, taining to that individual, “vou have told me that you often take jobs at a price.’ ‘““ Aye,’ was the answer, “I’m ready when there are dollars about. ain't got any—at least, not many.” s We? ve some,’ ead the Panther, “and we may have more. We are coing on a business that may be profit- able, and I, for one, will sign for you to take two-thirds of my share if you will undertake to get rid of thisimp of dark- ness who kills us off, lke rabbits in a warren, just when he pleases.” aw a 1 OOD MDA IDA OD OO in OD UA UPA A DUE LAr CHAPTER XXX'V. A NOTABLE ARRANGEMENT—ARRIVAL OF THE GANG—THEIR FUTURE COGNOMEN. «Wat, you see,” said Jibber, lowering his voice, “it’s a difficult job. It’s like handling infarnal mac chines that you don’t know the make of.’ ‘So you are afraid of him?” Panther, with sayage scorn. aks [iE m a follower of prudence, said the J} bb er, ‘and a lover of sate Gin “¢ There’ s risk in everything you do,” said the Panther, “ = T don’t se e why you should not make this as safe e rest,”” “«“ And I don’t see° why you don't make it safe for yourselves.’ “T see,” said the | Swaggerer, ‘¢ that you shirk the job. Let it be.’ ~ replied | “Go easy,” said Makepeace Jibber, calmly. ‘I’ve not said no yet, but f may say yes if you come tu my terms. felt inst of all,’ added Makepeace Jibber, ‘‘ T’ll have 1 look round.” Ile TORE: and made a cirele of some anes round the fire. Satisfied that nobody was near enough Lae overhear anything, he returted to his SCQt. “Don’t move,” he said, “I’m going to speak low, but loud enough for you But you — to hear. My terms are two months’ work for nothing.” “Thats«a long time,’ said the Swageerer. COME DOO <“S (C©)