The Island School — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

ye i “ces (ayed ducats. ” Ae ape a ie Good. Tam content.” ‘So the bargain was sealed, and the two utter scoundrels sat down side by side to discuss in whis- ~ pers the minor details of their counterplot. CHAPTER LVIII. MORSE MAKES A MORNING EXPEDITION. if ORSE, the calculator, was awake right early. He was, in- 4 deed, the first of = the band, excepting Jim Gordon, to open his eyes. Instead of awakening the rest, he rose up quietly, washed and dressed, and scrib- bled the following note, afterwards placing it Im a conspicuous position on the table. Do nothing until I return. &¢ R. M. 3? Jim, returning from his long vigil below, was the first to see it, and having read it through, he put it ~ into his pocket and lay down to rest. om MW ii ea o et re rar pa ES 2 ~* c- = = ij “T have gone below! He did not think it essential that any of his chums~ should be immediately informed of its import. Kre he had been long asleep the rest awoke, and seeing hizn there sound asleep, left him in peace while _ the morning meal was being prepared. The discovery "4 of the open trap-door showed whither ae had oa?) eone: Felton, in the capacity of sentry, went upon the _ battlements to keep watch. There he was presently Byrne by Jim, who, with a small pocket telescope of extra good quality, carefully surveyed the surrounding : Feaow, the boys were seen running about like ants, ay until the clanging of a bell summoned them within | 4 i. doors. Then Mr. Groby was seen returning from the ee of the chine, walking gaily as a man who ___was particularly well pleased with something. Jim was able to cee his features, with the aid of the _ telescope, very distinctly, and it flashed upon him that the man had been working evil. But he could @. 7 ‘ N _ not, of course, guess exactly what he had been doing. cn” aN Near the house he was met by Storeby, his junior a master, who addressed him with apparent rudeness, a nd some hee words were undoubtedly exchanged, A el re Mi ri) ire) Dy von into 1 the ) house. r 28 it ek sce iS id ree at the A Oe fl Aft fter 1 PY Jt i r is NG ki and i Jim cae ao to ie council-chamber, where | simple breakfast awaited him. “Terry was not long i in disposing of his, so that he ; ‘could change guard with Felton, and as he was abou to vanish, Morse appeared with startling suddennes amongst them. “Give me something to eat,” he said; “the air that cave is, as I before remarked, a tonic.” Stee “You have something to tell us,” said Jim. “ Whe ie you have, your appetite is generally affected.” RY? ‘ . Morse laughed in his quiet way, and fell to with ae breakfast. In afew minutes he began his story. ee: “You know I have been into the cave,” he said, u: “and, of course, I have paid a visit to those who < es : at present abiding there. Chorker is keeping gu ard i, over Nap, and bullying him like the old ruffian he is; | but that is a small matter. The Chief thing I have eto Me speak of is a scheme afloat to seize Eveline this afte r= noon, and bear her away to Minorca. Groby h AS arranged it. The fool is in love with her, and thin ks \ she will, under pressure, yield to him, and become his | wife.” ‘. e Bie: Wi “There is at least a quarter of a century differen 1ce in their ages,” exclaimed Terry, indignantly. Bhs. Ai v7 ph Nag “Not quite so much as that,” said Morse. “ Tjuc o ge 4 _thereis about fourteen years’ difference between the om. That is not so much, as men and women go. Thee a ee) thing is that this man, placed at the head of i the © school by a variety of circumstances, violates he principles of truth and honour i in attempting to ¢ canny. away Eveline Farrell.” ff “He ought to be shot,” said Felton. 4 “ For him there is no profit in store in the ma as 1 have before suggested,” said Morse; 63 ‘it is Reonardo who hopes to reap all the benatits i 2 2 ¥ the originator of the chaotic state of the school. This mother, to a spot midway between here and i he ground below. Reonardo with some men are - 0 I be vin afterwards, at nightfall, be conveyed to Silver E Bay ayy f where a boat will be in waiting to convey her ¢ to ! Minorea. I think you will agree with me the a ie re dastardly plot was never conceived by man.” ee i carried out,’ said Jim, with a grim smile, ft Th zit “ But of course it will not be carried out,” said More 5) i: ‘it must not be,” said Jim. ty “In a time like this we must not be dainty,” con= qa tinued Morse. on and we must give them pepper Hl The back of the castle commands a view of the woo Yo a | spot. I suggest that we look up a suitable sg of. aN Bei: ani le: afternoon Groby comes up here with Eveline and h 3 ambush to seize and bind and gag her. Ss ew wil iD “Thereis one gleam of comfort in it, even if it w . were arch-villain Groby will not profit by it.” MPekin t, ee iy. AD “Reonardo and his men can be ‘i watched for, and they must come by that route to the i _ vantage and let fy into ses without Warnineia bane it