The Island School — page 169: what you’re looking at

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

142 the boys in a body marched to the scene of operations. As expected, Mr. Farrell, on hearing of this move- ment, objected toit. He always objected to anything unless it originated from himself. But Jim had taken time by the forelock, and interviewed Mrs. Farrell prior to their departure. He explained to her that the forts at least would do no harm, and might one day be ofservice. They also in erection gave employment to the boys, most of whom would otherwise be idle. She entirely approved of them, and Jim in the most artful manner obtained a written assent to their being erected and completed from her. Armed with this he was not dismayed when, in the middle of the afternoon, the schoolmaster, accom- panied by his two remaining juniors, was seen coming up the path. It was clear that he had dragged Storeby and Turner into the affair as a moral support for himself. ““ May I ask what this is P” he demanded, eyeing Jim with bent brows. ‘We are completing the forts, sir,” answered Jim. ** Mere folly—childishness, besides a wanton waste of time, resulting in the destruction of tools.” “Well, sir, itis approved of by Mrs. Farrell,” said Jim. Mr. Farrell came down three steps of the ladder of haughtiness, and exclaimed : “ Indeed !” “T have her written consent to go on with the works,” continued Jim; ‘ see here, sir. She is of opinion that they are desirable in more ways than one.” Mr. Farrell got off the ladder altogether, and stood on level ground. “That,” he said, “ahem! entirely alters the aspect of the case. aihataver 5 is of a pleasing nature to my dear wife cannot be otherwise to me. You may re- sume operations, which may after all be beneficial to the health of the boys.” He turned away, and vanished downward with as much ease as he could summon under the circum- stances. Mr. Turner laughed softly, and a quiet smile passed over the face of the other master. “That letter,” said the latter, ‘was, I suppose, ‘Gordon, a bit of countermining °” “Well, I thought Mr. Farrell might object,” said Ji im, “ and prepared for it.” _ So the work went on that day, eS as Morse took the precaution to have a sentry by the castle-gate to keep out intruders, nobody entered it. When the evening came the workers retired, and it was left sombre and impressive in the deepening gloom. By-and-by, when the fulness of the night had come, the form of a man emerged from the wood and stole down to the castle, with the caution of one who fears death if hemtruded. He looked about him as he THE ISLAND SCHOOL. drew near, paused on the Haale awhile to listen, and then crept across it. In the dark shadows of the gateway he stopped again, listening with all his ears, and again moved forward. One step—two steps, and then a flash of light under his feet. There was no sound of explosion, but the ery of terror that burst from the man’s lips might have been heard far away. He sank upon his knees, with a white, luminous mist: rising from the ground and surrounding him. It enveloped him in its insidious folds, stifled his senses, and finally svauadete him upon the ground as one dead. The night was still, as. the nights had been for a long time past, and the whole flooring around him re- mained in its phosphorescent state for hours. But it was not of that material, for the aroma it gave out was very pleasant to the nostrils, although the fallen man was unconscious of it. He simply lay as one sleeping, with the dim waves of light rolling over him. In the morning Morse was up with the sun and on his way to the castle. On his arm was hung a coil of strong rope, intended to bind the limbs of the captive he had so strangely secured. CHAPTER LXXV. THE PRISONER. r ORSE had im- =I aa proved upon his = em By =\\_ first invention of : aE a soporific com- Hel §=pound, and the ey Yi, £-° condition of the | ~~, visitor to the castle was the proof of it. As the youthful chemist drew near, he saw the outstretched form of the man lying with his. arms extended, and looking, as people say, Ls “as dead as mutton.” But Morse was not alarmed. He knew that the appearance of death only had followed bis experi- ment. Without any feeling of apprekension he walked briskly up and gazed at the still face. An exclamation of surprise eae him, It was the smuggler Giuseppo ! He was the last man who had pens in the thoughts of Morse, for he verily believed that he had left him buried beneath the ruins a the gate of the Dead City. (@{ 0) nN Cc 900 CS ( Gt @ ) Ni €