English Jack

By Ernest Douglas Hall

It was when Bob and Jackson were up at the mine when they heard little Joe shouting and running towards the mine.
At first they could not understand what the boy was trying to tell them, then Bob said. ‘Look Jack it’s the bloody Webster gang and Ed Webster is with them but its not the whole gang there were just five of them.
When Webster pulled his horse to a halt, Jackson looked at the four men that were with him they were all rough looking all except one he was clean shaving and he had a smile on his face.
Ed Webster got down from his horse and turned to look at Jackson then he said. ‘So your English Jack well English Jack do you see that guy the second horse from the end well one word from me and he would love to mess you and your family up a little all I have to say is go and he will go straight to it.’
Jackson said. ‘I don’t want any trouble here why don’t you come to my table and have a cup of coffee and talk this over, I mean why do you want us to go we are not doing you any harm.’
‘You had better keep your coffee because you are going to need it on your journey home.’
‘Do you mean to tell me that you don’t have a reason for asking us to go.’
Just then Jane came to the cabin door.
Webster turned to face her then he said. ‘Don’t forget your family Hobbs they could be in danger.’
Jackson said.’ ‘If you think you can frighten me you had better think again because I don’t frighten that easy.’
Ed Webster said. ‘English Jack I will give you one week to pack up and go back to where you came from.’
‘What right have you got to order me off my own land and if you keep on saying this I will get the sheriff he will put you right.’
Webster burst out laughing.
Bob said he killed the last sheriff the town had.
Then Webster tapped his gun witch hung down from his hip and said. ‘Oh you will go my friend.’
‘Well now who said that I was your friend, I tried to be friendly but you wont let me so friend is off.’
Webster tapped his gun again.
Jackson said. ‘You’re very brave with five men behind you but I wonder what you are like on your own.’
Then the man who was shaved said. ‘Listen Mr. Hobbs do as he says because he is not joking, as far as he goes there’s no law in this neck of the woods, and I don’t want to see you get hurt please take your family and go.’
‘Well Mr. I don’t know who you are but thank you for trying to help us.’
Then Webster got back on his horse and said. ‘This is a warning to get off this land and go back to your England or I can't be held responsible for what might happen to you.’
‘Well now I don’t frighten that easy Webster so you can go back to your ranch and suck on your finger.’
‘I’m not joking you stupid English pig move or I will bury you.’
‘Now I’m telling you Mr. Webster if you threaten my family again you will find that the English are not as soft as you think.’

CHAPTER 8

It was three weeks later when Jackson said to Bob while they were eating breakfast. ‘Bob We will give the mine a miss today because I want to go into town to get more timber to shore up the tunnel it’s getting deep now and I don’t like it.
The roof came in on me yesterday, oh it wasn’t very much but what if we get a cave in.
No I will take the big cart and get it filled with timber and what I want you to do is take your rifle and go and see if you can get some fresh meat it’s been a while since we had a rabbit. So go out and see what you can get you had better take the small wagon incase you get a deer you never know.’
After breakfast the two men hitched up the wagons and they went in different directions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ernest Douglas Hall
• Release date: Sep 3, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301175833

Ernest Douglas Hall

I am 77 years of age and I live in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne England. I was born on the 14 September in the year 1935. I am a married man and have five children and 35 grand children and great grand children. I have written 55 books and my one aim in life is to see my work published.

Book preview

English Jack

By

Ernest Douglas Hall

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © Ernest Douglas Hall 2013-1-30

All Rights Reserved

CHAPTER 1

The year is 1864 and the place is Newcastle upon Tyne.

Jackson Hobbs is standing on the dockside looking at the sailing ship, which was about to take him to the new land called the Americas the name of the ship was The Blue Dolphin.

Jackson had his wife Jane and his son Joe that they had named after Jackson’s brother child standing besides him.

The family was taking a big risk going out to the Americas they were hoping to strike it rich gold mining Jackson had received a letter two months earlier from his brother Joe.

The letter had raged on about how Joe found a claim and then made a find of a lot of gold and that after a few years he would retire with a fortune.

And if Jackson wanted to go out and join him, well he would share the mine with him.

There was plenty of gold for both families, the name of my mine is The Mary One Mine. The mine is registered in my name and can be in your name too Jackson, if you have the courage to bring your family out here, but make no mistake Jackson the journey out here is not to be taken lightly.

It’s a long voyage and things happen and at times the sea will frighten you but have heart Jackson the rewards when you get here will be great, give my love to Jane all the best Joe.

When Jack had picked up the letter it was several months old but this was not funny because it took so long for the sailing ships to make the crossing.

Since that day that Jackson had received the letter he had saved every penny he could get his hands on to pay for the voyage to the Americas It was just about a year since they had started saving and now the moment was here and the.

Then a sailor came to them and said. ‘Be ye coming aboard The Dolphin then.’

Jackson said. ‘Aye lead the way we are ready.’

The sailor led them up the gangplank and when the stepped on deck the Captain came to Jackson and offered his hand and then said. ‘You be Mr. Hobbs.’

‘Yes sir that’s me and this is my wife Jane.’

The captain hit the tip of his hat and said. ‘Pleased to meet you Mam and I hope your journey is good to you.’

Then he bent down and said. ‘You too little man.’

Then he patted little Joe on the head.

Then he turned back to Jackson and said.’

‘We will be leaving the dock in about ten minutes sir, now if you will go and stand by the rail there until we are on our way.

Then one of my men will see to you and show you where you can stow yourselves away and then food wont be served tonight until we have cleared the Shield’s Bar and we are out to sea.’

Jackson led them to the ships rail and they looked down at the dock and Jane said. ‘Look Jackson it’s your Uncle Henry he has come to see us off.’

They stood at the rail waving their arms until the ship went around the bend in the river.

It took two hours just to travel down the river Tyne.

Then they came to the mouth of the Tyne and when the captain had said that when they would reach the bar they would find things a little rough.

Then a sailor came and led them to a hatchway that went down to the next deck.

When the got to the bottom of the steppes they were in a long passage and on each side of the passage was door after door.

The sailor said. ‘This here be your bunk sir now be good people and don’t give our captain any trouble thank thee very much.’

When Jackson open the door he got a shock the room was very small it had one bed and a small cot and a stool stood in one corner where they could put their bags.

Jane organized it as best she could and she said to Jack. ‘I wonder what we would have done with a bigger family.’

‘Well I suppose that we would get a bigger cabin.’

Then they settled down to the journey.

They had been sailing for four weeks now and the sea was very rough the ship had run into a storm.

Jane was starting to get worried about Young Joe he could not stop vomiting the roll of the ship was starting to make Jane feel rough but the captain had more than one family to worry about.

There was a doctor on board the ship but he too was very bad with seasickness.

‘So all Jane and Jackson could do was keep the young Joe’s head cold and damp.

The storm lasted three days and just when Jackson thought his son was in danger he the storm stopped as quickly as it had begun and poor Joe started to get a bit better.

Then the next day Jackson carried Joe onto the outer deck where they all got some fresh air.

When they got out onto the deck they could see