The Island School — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

* Oe al . ots kite 5 PLOT AND COUNTEERPLOTY. “and it was helpless when the smugglers’ boat came up. The two duffers on board were made prisoners and brought on here. Chorker has joined the enemy, and is playing sentry over Farrell, who is in the lowest depths of abject misery.” “This is staggering news,” said Terry. “But who do you think was there to-night? Well, you will imagine it was Groby, after what Romeo told us, and Groby it was. He was hobnobbing with that scoundrel Reonardo, and a blackguard called Vampa. They were discussing the details of a nefarious plot. Jim, it concerns you most, although it concerns us all. Itis to carry off Eveline to Minorca, and marry her—to whom ?— why, to Groby, by force.” Jim sat very quiet, but he was terribly pale, and his under-lip quivered. “TY understand the change in Groby more clearly than ever, now, he said; “he has fallen off the pedestal of decent manhvod, and plunged headlong into the slough of depravity.” “The plot,” said Morse, “is to be carried out to- raorrow night. It seems that early this morning Reonardo received intelligence of his friends having succeeded in bribing the officials of the palace he robbed, so that he need no longer fear prosecution. He is thereforejat liberty to return to Minorca, or to roam at will in any portion of the Spanish dominions. A felueca brought him the good tidings, and to- morrow it will be used to convey Groby and Eveline and Reonardo, with a fitting escort, to Minorca, where, as I have learnt, some scoundrel priest—one of the few who disgrace their Church, even as other supposed good men disgrace their particular body—will perform the marriage ceremony.” “It was Reonardo who originally wanted Eveline,” said Jim. “Ido not understand it.” “T do,” said Morse. “ When Reonardo returned to the island, he was alone and fnendless. He entered into a compact with Groby, whom he seems to have become acquainted with, to help in this matter, in return for food and a safe hiding-place. Reonardo intends to play him false in the end, as one might _ expect.” “ But that will not save Eveline,’ muttered Jim. “No, that is for us to do,” said Morse; “there will be time to-morrow to act. Meanwhile, we might settle on something to be done with Chorker and Farrell.” “ Are they worth helping ?” asked Felton. “Farrell is a cur,” said Jim, “ but Iam not disposed to be hard on him. We had better have a fool at the head of the school than a knave, as Groby has proved himself to be.” “ Hear, hear!” cried Ganthony. XP “Weil,” said Morse, “nothing now remains to us ___ to-night but tolock up the crib and get as much sleep e 115 as we can between this hour and sunrise. Then we must proceed to act, and if we do not circumvent Groby | and all his works, we ought to suffer, that is all I can say.” “There is something to do,” remarked Jim. “My place will be underground,” said Morse, gaily: “T am the sapper and miner who will astonish them suddenly, if so be we decide to act in that direction. But, boys, I have had a fatiguing evening, and must away to rest. I see the beds are made. \Who was chambermaid to-day ?” “ Felton,” said Terry. “T trust there are no bumps,” said Morse, “ for my present feelings prompt me to long for the froth of the sea as a pillow, and the fiuffof groundsel seed fof a bed. The first who wakes in the morning will please call me.” “T shall not sleep for awhile,” said Jim, “and will go out and keep Charley company. There is a moon to-night, and it will be very pleasant.” “Poor Jim ;” sighed Terry, as the door closed, “i¢ is the peril of Eveline that upsets him. He would never think of his own. But he will not sleep to- night.” : Terry was right. Jim sought no repose, but with Charley he stole down to the schoolhouse and kept watch over it the livelong night. CHAPTER LVI. TLOT AND COUNTERPLOT, HEN the night was } past and Jim felt that there was not the least proba- bility of any at- tempt to carry off Eveline being made, he hastened back to the castle. But had _ he waited five minutes more he would have seen Mr. Groby come forth and hurry away in the direction of the chine. The master was in haste, with the double object of getting clear away without being observed, and making his arrangements with Espardo Reonardo with the least possible delay. Up to a certain point this had been done, but there were still many details to arrange so as to ensure, as Mr. Groby thought, the complete success of his nefarious scheme. He was expected ; the Spaniard was on the watch for him from the elevated ‘Com ic bo oks-com