The Island School — page 170: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRISONER. But it was clear that he had escaped, and he must have been the soie survivor, or assuredly he would never have visited the castle alone. From the face to the feet of the man the eyes of the boy travelled bya natural transition, and then he saw something to account for the peculiar footmarks made on a previous visit by the smuggler. They were heavily swathed in bandages, and the inference was clear. On that night when the gate was shattered from its sockets by the melinite improved by Morse, a portion of the ruins must have fallen upon Giuseppo’s feet and injured them. Possibly he had also been rendered insensible, and that would account for the complete silence on the part of the gang of smugglers following the ex- plosion. What that man must have suffered! Wounded -and sore, he must have crawled through the forest on his way to find his friend Reonardo. Halting here and there to rest or to dress his wounds, the time had lagged on heavily. At length, following the trail of Jim’s party, he had found his way to the castle, and there halted, not knowing which way to go. Morse could not quite understand why he lingered there. It might have been in search of food, for the wan cheeks of the smuggler told a terrible tale of privation. _ Like Nebuchadnezzar of old, he must have lived as the beasts of the field, on roots, on grass—on any- thing available—just keeping body and soul together, and kept alive by the vitality of a strong consti- tution. But there he was, anyhow, and Morse proceeded to bind his arms and legs ere he took measures to restore him to consciousness. His prisoner secure, he went into the laboratory and got a small phial, from which he poured a few drops of thick, whitish liquid into the half-open mouth of the unconscious man. In a few moments its potency became apparent, for Giuseppo opened his eyes and ‘stared heavily round. He looked at Morse, and the light of recognition leapt into his face. “Diablo!” he muttered. “ You!” * You seem to know me,” said Morse, serenely. A shudder passed through the form of the smuggler: He closed his eyes, murmuring : “Not boys, but fiends.” ‘Are you the sole survivor of the party that came down to the gate P” “Tt is so,” was the answer. “TI alone live—if this 18s life.” } Morse looked to the weapons that the man might possibly have about him. He found a knife and a revolver—the latter empty, for all the ammunition the 143 man possessed had been wasted in vain efforts to shoot something to subsist upon. Morse placed the weapons in his pocket. “ Before I know what is to be done with you,” he said, “T must consult my friends.” “Spare my life,” said Giuseppo, humbly; “it is all I ask. I give in. I confess I am defeated. You are too much for me.” “ But what is to be done with you?” asked Morse. “Say, is Reonardo on the island still?” inquired Giuseppo. “No. We shot nearly all his men, and those that escaped have retreated.” “It was an accursed task he took in hand, and I told him so. You will spare my life ?” : We could not kill you in cold blood. Giuseppo, I learn that, in leaving, your friend left a boat behind him. Itis yours. Swear, if we help you to escape by it, that you will molest us no more.” “I swear it, by the tomb of my mother!” “T will trust you, as far as I am concerned,” said Morse; “but, as I told you, I must consult my friends. Forthe present I must put you out of sight, in case anyone wanders this way.” It was a heavy task for the boy, but he succeeded in accomplishing it. Taking Giuseppo by the shoul- ders, he dragged him into the castle, across the court- yard into the council-chamber, and there, having seen to his bonds, to make sure they were secure, locked him in, That done, he started for the school, proud of his success, more as a discovery of a complete anzesthetic than on account of the victory he had obtained over such a man as Giuseppo the smuggler. His coming was looked for by a little knot of his confidants, who were awaiting him outside the school- house. He delighted them with the story of the capture of Giuseppo, but no decision was come to, owing to the temporary absence of Jim, who had, with Lal Brodie, gone up the lagoon in a boat for a deep- sea bathe. Pending his return, nothing would be done beyond making arrangements to put together a small basket of food for Giuseppo, who sorely wanted it. Romec assisted them in this matter without being confided in as to whom it was intended for. It was laid aside, to be taken up after they had partaken of their own breakfasts. Meanwhile, Jim and Lal Brodie had had an adven- ture of minor importance in some respects, but which calls for attention in the next chapter. (@{ 0) an (G0) an (@ 900 ES