The Island School — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

foie i ” Feet Porc that the chances were ten. thousand to one against a collision. ath SS io _“ By the law of chances, bapa? said the school- a Be) master ; “but it too often happens that when it is : considered an. accident is most unlikely tc occur, it comes about.” - The darkness deepened, ate night spread its brood- ing wings over the sea. A gentle breeze blew from off the island, and Tee “Dart,” slowly impelled by it, - drifted on. Mr. Farrell, aatoal aft, Fepaded over his lot, reviling By his folly in not having seen that the launch was in a Me condition for the trip ere he put to sea. _ By-and-by he fell asleep. -Chorker meanwhile sought comfort from a pipe and a a glass of beer, a bottle of which he had discovered me, below. . The old man was not endowed with too much ey. courage, but he had more real heart in him than the PE schoolmaster, who had none at all to speak of. at, He was also less sensitive and aslower thinker, and a was, therefore, not so “Bp: of possible b: danger. | | Still he was well aware that he and the schoolmaster were in a fix, the outcome of SNe was not particularly » clear. ee After his pipe and beer, he too fell asleep, and for hours the launch slowly drifted on with the two un- conscious companions in misfortune on board. ‘ Suddenly Mr. Farrell was awakened by a scream _ that sounded like a shriek of mortal agony in his ears, j _ Springing up, he saw, hard by, the high bowsofa big ocean steamer. DY Apparently it was making straight for the launch, k and its being run down was, in his eyes, inevitable. It was stillnight, but at the last moment the watch on board must have detected the periloas position of the launch, for the bow was alive with men shouting Be and violently gesticulating. | _ There was also heard the voice of one in command _ giving orders in an effort to avoid a collision. _. Chorker also awoke, and for an instant the two Then the big ship slowly oS J e nit ee : Me Bie 4 i } terrified men saw death. _ swerved to the left and shot by, some of her outside _ gear knocking down the funnel of the “ Dart,” and _ then the launch was left spinning in a sea that was _ eddying and churning like a small whirlpool. _ “Whew!” gasped Chorker, “that was as close a shave as lever knowed.” Ae Why did you not keep a lookout *” demanded M r. Farrell. | ve “Keep it yourself,” grunted Chorker ; “and sup- pos @ I had a-done it, ' what then 2? Weare as helpless 3a, ees on Seen sea, ; i ine stecr eee anything. A ais Lor y. 7 ~ ~ ; thy pean. he ‘ i ta * <i ; 4 AM ee) PN \ \e? A A . yfybe te} ene es Harrell groaning o over Seka Chorio Sead | wah g any i ah ay ny val ‘i ‘ i roaming over the sea, beheld a boat of the larger fishing-class bearing down upon him. It was a stranger to him. of alarm. Utne “The Spanish brigands!” he shouted.’ “ We are both dead men !” | eS ee CHAPTER XLVI. ~G@ROBY SHOWS HIS TEETH. MRE. the school when known that Mr. Farrell had — practically deserted (ie oe Ag to their fate. a ae aah a — and the other trade structors was very great, and among the boys there was a feeling of contempt for their pusillanimous i _ head, Mr. Turner, the under-master, always pale. and fluffy, became more pale and fluffy than ever. effect. He was about sitting down to dinner, when he heard the intelligence for the first time. “ What!” he exclaimed, “ gone away—left us?” “Tt 1s so,” said Mr. Groby, who had given him the information, “and Iam empowered by Mrs. Farrell to meanwhile act as head of this establishment.” __ “Why you more than anyone else?” demanded Storeby. — $° “There is no occasion to discuss the matter,” said Mr. Groby, coolly. “I simply record the fact, and you will be wise to accept it in a becoming spirit.” “ Tf,” said Storeby, ‘I were not a man of peace, I— I——’ | | He turned from the table and walked quickly out of the room, straight from the house and into the post-office, where he closed the door and was alone. “ Groby boss,” was all he said, and then he grasped the counter with both hands to still the terrible passion that was rising within him. He mastered it after a struggle, and it left him, at pale or white, but yellow. jaundice. Y, Nia - ey J i 4 ay a ‘ af Rot, A Mr. Farrell, with a groan, resumed his seat, and there was a long silence. Not so to Mr. Farrell, who in his turn perceiving it, sprang up with ascream _ CONSTERNATION that was ‘ almost general prevailed in > - it Was oie , the > ea island, and left its little ee ay colony of teachers and boys The indignation of Martin _ in- 4s a On Mr. — Storeby the intelligence had a very remarkable, _ But he ate his food, and made no further ae a Tay aie) the ener of the schoolmaster. | al ech ee Ata pe iy But neither slept again, — Then slowly came dawn, and the eyes of Choe eae < 4" oo Ae mf ” 4 # ye moe | ee » = 7 AM On his return to the dining-room he looked like a man suffering from — ef ry : ml ih «4 i Ny ‘ ys ri ‘, i BY pak pee e v f A " ff pty Va Ww h Pe } iN A, ann Ae oF iieey wae " i a