The Island School — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

Jae uf? P § = ey olay? : Ly be i & LIFE IN THE sat down apart from the rest, and proceeded to discuss matters that were of import to them. “First tell me, my Vampa,” said Reonardo, ‘“ how you fared with the cargo you ran at Gibraltar ?” “ Fairly well,” replied Vampa, “‘ but we lost some of it through the accursed stupidity of one of our men, who, while climbing the rock, let a big bale slip from his shoulders and roll into the sea.” “For myself,” said Reonardo, gloomily, “ I am pro- scribed, having been fool enough to do a bit of busi- ness in one of the Royal palaces.” “That was weak.” “T crant it, my Vampa, but we all err now and then. For atime I must remain in hiding, until I ean make arrangements for my safety by bribing the palace officials. When that is done I shall be a free man. Meanwhile I am in hiding here, having re- turned a fewdaysago. I have been fed by a stranger, one of the masters of the school.” | ‘“‘ How won you his heart ?” ‘There is not much heart in it on either side. He met me here, and asked what I was doing on the island. I explained to him that I was a poor smuggler who had to hide, and craved his indulgence. He walked with me for awhile, and presently asked me many questions about the island of Minorca; whether it would be easy to get a priest there who woul dper- form the marriage ceremony between him and a girl, and ask no questions. I assured him that there were scores who would do it for a few ducats.” ‘““They would all do it, my Espardo.” “They would. Then he thought again awhile, and presently asked me if it would be possible for me to convey him and the girl to Minorca in aboat. I told him I expected one to call for me, and then we struck a bargain. He was to feed me, and find me with wine, while Ilay here, and I was to take him and his bride, an unwilling one he was sure she would be, away in my boat to Minorca.” “What manner of man is he ?” “A dullard—none too young, but infatuated with a pretty face. But the gist of the matter lies in the fact that it is my lady-love he aspires to.” Vampa stared at him a moment, and then laughed. “Does he know that ?” he asked. “Not he,’ answered Reonardo, with a sardonic grin ; “he has nonotion of it. He undertakes tc have the girl ready here when the time comes. On our arrival at Minorca I will see to the priest, and make the nuptial arrangements.” ‘‘ Hey, then, Reonardo, will you sacrifice so much ?” “I will sacrifice hun at the right moment, my Vampa. A knife between his ribs will end it as far as he goes. ‘Then I will take his place as bridegroom. The priest will neither know nor care who it is that espouses the young and beautiful Eveline.” 4 ———o—o——OOO ee Ee 4. ~ nh i bY « ot en \! \ ' AN My ‘ x MTT) Bese a - \\ . & ‘ 3 . é\- - a . ' ‘ \ as . 4 a v2 a! £9 ae \ ) ie Sh oe ~ ts - - - 8 O 4.6 gh = o— L “ e \ 5 “2 A see Ea .-5- ‘ » . by (ue >, f i. cf id _ \' to fi a TSS Oe at be c- ant % =) - L = a . - “ al pons as Se —— + pms = “s = = -— poet Z = ee oes BOTT ee ee fi ei — SS Aes Tis toa 2 = tre \ on . te " , ef dy eee ete let Be ken a a : oy) SAIN 2 J eat 4 wort OK ¢ Q : 2 z “ : some “ 0G . a “a CELE. 4 - \} = ’ rs ’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘le * _ CAP, Vea, = Cpe ee J Wee s = OLD CASTLE. lil “It will be a merry business.” ‘But I must await the removal of the Royal ban from me,” sighed Reonardo, “and that will take time. Still, it will be done, and the Roya! memory being kept by the officials, it must and will be extinguished with bribes. The cunning dogs only put out the bill offering a reward for my capture so that I might offer them a price to withdraw it. It is a strange world we live in.” “Especially that spot we call Spain.” ** And now, Vampa, for your story.” Vampa proceeded to relate that which the reader already knows, concerning the capture of the launch, and the subsequent events, down to the time when it was sent to the bottom of the sea. No repetition of it 1s needed here. CHAPTER LV. LIFE IN THE OLD CASTLE. .HE recent prisoners in the class-room were in the castle, and Jim Gordon was with them. It was Morse who con- ceived the plan of escaping and taking up their’ quarters in the sombre old building, and the letter he sent to Jim while he was in the post-office was an intimation of his intention to get away that evening about twilight. Jim was desired, immediately on the expiration of his parole, to hasten to the castle and await them there. As Mr. Groby opined, it required two journeys to set the bedding away, but they succeeded in convey- ing it to the castle without attracting any intention. A room adjoining Morse’s laboratory was selected as a sleeping-chamber, and the banquet-hall was the very place for a living-room. Charley, the bear, was overwhelmed with delight when he found he was to have such goodly company. He caressed them all in his lumbering way, but he positively hugged Jim again and again, until his attentions became somewhat oppressive. Romeo had undertaken to provision them. The boys passed a quiet night, with Charley sleeping by the door, as good a watch-dog as they could desire. In the morning, while the boys were dressing, the event in connection with Mr. Groby, which we have 00 C com (el 0) m cs