The Island School — page 191: what you’re looking at

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

160 There was no promise of rest that night, and at _yntervals of half an hour the firing was renewed until it was about two in the morning, and then the elements suddenly came to the rescue. A terrific flash of lightning opened the ball. It was so vivid that it seemed as if every corner in the house was filled with the electric fluid. The hght of the lamps was as nothing, and even after the flash the contrast was still so great that it seemed ior a moment as if complete darkness had come agaiu. _The thunder that followed was deafening, and it rolled and rolled until it was thought it would nevere cease. Another brilliant display of electric power was instantaneously succeeded by thunderand rain. The latter was a deluge. As it beat against the house it contended with the thunder for supremacy in the matter of noise, and with a considerable measure of success. So great was the downpour that the ordinary shoots of the house were totally inadequate to carry off the water, and little cataracts of it could be heard falling with musical splashing to the ground. It was an appalling storm, but it brought comfort with it. The enemy could not remain in the open. For the rest of the night they would be in such shelter as they could find, and the schoolhouse would be free of their unwelcome presence. CHAPTER LXXXVII. THE DAWN AFTER THE DELUGE.—A GENERAL EXODUS. ROM a downpour of almost unexampled violence the rain max subsided to an ordinary His }° =~ fall, and, as daylight ap- iss proached, entirely ceased. The clouds fied or melted away, and when the sun rose above the horizon the sky had —— sa resumed its familiar serenity. The sea was in a state of violent agitation still, and a breeze, bordering on a gale, blowing. Jim looked forth and saw nothing of their enemies, save one lying on the doorstep dead, and another some distance away, who was huddled up on the sands, apparently asleep. But Jim remembered that Charley had pursued the men in the darkness, and acry he heard re-echoed in his ears. The nature of that sleep was evident to him. But though the enemy was not in sight, it could not be hoped that the Spaniards were gone for good ote THE. [ISLAND SCHOOL. and all. The probabilities were that they would not attack in daylight, but when the night came again they would assuredly renew their efforts. And the end, if the boys remained in the schoolhouse, was certain. Fatigued with watching, most of those who had performed that duty were sleeping in every imaginable posture and wherever they could make themselves temporarily comfortable. : It would have been ludicrous, if 16 had not béen pathetic, to see the youngsters in the schoolroom stretched upon the desks, on the forms; upon the sround, anywhere they fancied at the moment of being overcome with fatigue, unconscious of all trouble past and trouble to come. Then the smallest boys, who came creeping down from the dormitories, with their faces white with the terror of the time and their eyes red for want of sleep. Jim bade them have a good wash with cold water, and then give a hand in preparing and laying an early breakfast. For Jim had already formed plans of what he con- sidered ought to be done to even temporarily ensure their safety. It would, however, be only courtesy if he held a consultation with the rest. Kveline appeared early and took upon herself the superintendence of domestic matters, generally per- formed by her mother, who, after a restless night, had fallen into a sound sleep. Jim had a long talk with her and revealed his plans. She had such faith in him that it was hardly possible that she should see anything but perfection in them. Soon the house was awake, and the word was passed for all to hurry up with breakfast, as an important movement was pending What it was could only be surmised, for those concerned in arranging it were shut up in Mr. Farrell’s room. Changeling was outside, doing duty as a sentry, to give the alarm in case the enemy should return. But there were no serious apprehensions on that score, and it was only as a wise matter of precaution that Changeling was appointed to perform that duty. He was very proud of it, and, armed with a long iron bar, paraded up and down in the orthodox sentinel fashion. Lal Brodie and a few others joined him, The youngsters tried to look and speak as if nothing un- usual had happened in the night, but it was a failure. “What's going to be the end of this, Bob?” asked Brodie. Changeling shook his head mournfully as he replied : “1 wouldn’t care to say. It don’t matter to a chap like me, who was changed at his birth, and haven’t any parents as he knows on to shed a tear for him 900 cs com @ Co mn