The Island School — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

A LULL IN THE STORM OF EVENTS. 129 mouth of the chine. There’s a big flat stone with a bit of a holler under it. Vl make that your cup- board.” ‘A chap can’t live in the chine.” «<A chap’s got to live in the chine if he ain’t got nowhere else to put his headin; which ’minds me that Mr, *Farrell says as you was to live in the chine and in that ’ere cave. If you put up anywheres else, he’s have’you shot as a traitor.” “They durstn’t do it.” “ They'd do it whether they durst or not, for, as I said afore, you ain’t no favourite, and all the flowers at your funeral could be put ina thimble, and then not blossom over. Go along, old man. In half an hour the youngsters will be out, and I understood as the bear was to be brought out, too.” “Tl go,” groaned Chorker, “ but it’s rough on an old man who’s sarved his country and his master well.” “You jined the enemy ?” “ Only to look more kindly after master. But there ain’t no gratitude in men, and so I chucks it up. You won't forget the wittles and the ’bacca P” “No, and a rug or two to make a bed of. Though you sank my launch, Vl act friendly with you and on the square.” It was barely ten minutes later when Chorker went pegging away with all speed in the direction of the chine. In the house he had heard the sounds of the boys stirring, which inspired him with a desire to clear out with all speed. Changeling, smoking his pipe comfortably, watched his hasty retreat with a smile of ineffable satisfaction on his face. “He puts up for bein’ clever,” he muttered, “ but what afool he is! Fancy his swallering that yarn! Nap laid it on him pretty thick, but he said nuthin’ about going to send him away. That’s my werdict to even-up the taking of the launch, as 1f it was his own property, without consulting me.” Changeling, it willbe seen, was in a revengeful but playful mood. The loss of the “ Dart” had wounded him sorely, but he was devoid of all bitter animus. Still, he was impelled to have some sort of revenge, and he conceived the plan of worrying Chorker in every way without inflicting on him any real bodily harm. Anyway, he was a man who was not likely to be keenly missed, and if missed at all, there would be very few interested in his fate. Jim and quite a host of his closer admirers turned out early, bent on beginning the task of building a residence for Charley, the bear. As the choice of a site was left to Jim, he decided it should be erected at the rear of the post-oflice, using _ the blank wall side of that structure as a lean-to for Charley’s residence. No. Q. Steene was there with the key of the carpenter's shop, which he threw open, and a score or so of youngsters, who were learning the business, were summoned to bear a hand in the cutting up of timer into suitable lengths, and to fashion the chief wooden supports. Jim and the young blacksmiths worked at the forge, making holdfasts and nails of the requisite length, while Morse planned out the simple structure and set others to work digging the foundations. Although they had every faith in the pacifie nature of Charley, it was considered essential that he should have a place which would keep him in when once the door was closed, and defy all attempts on his part to get out again, supposing he should, in a fit of excite- ment, endeavour to do so at a forbidden time. The men took no part in the work, but they looked on with amused interest both before breakfast and afterwards. “If they only go at their lessons as they do at that job,” said Martin, “they will turn out mighty clever boys.” “You could moe expect ’em to do so, remarked Changeling ; “one is pleasure, and t’other isn’t. It ain’t nateral for them to work so hard at work as when at play.” There was so much obvious truth in this statement that nobody attempted to argue the point. During the morning Mr. Farrell came out and watched the operations going on in gloomy silence, until it suddenly occurred to him that he would like to see the object of all this labour. He did notaddress himself to Jim, but to Morse, whom he had always looked up to with something of a feeling of awe, since he had learnt how clever he was as a manufacturer of explosive materials. “What has been done with that creature, Morse ?” he asked—*“ the bear, I mean P” ‘He isin the ordinary woodshed for the present, sir,” replied Morse. ‘‘T suppose I can see the animal ?” ‘Certainly, sir, if you wish it.” “You had better show me the place. forget where the woodshed is situated.” This was a terrible crammer uttered by the school- master. He knew where to find the woodshed, but he was unwilling to go thither alone, even though he fully expected to find Charley securely chained up. How much less willing would he have been had he known that that sapient creature was loose! Morse, of course, had no fear of the bear, and on arriving at the woodshed he threw open the door, and Charley calmly walked out. “Murder !—help!” cried Mr. Farrell, backing up against the wall opposite. Put him back, Morse, for merey’s sake !” 97 I almost Eom Cc 900 q55 Com