The Island School — page 200: what you’re looking at

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

mu ich aie ae as eee was in a ae of semi- sorder. The domestic Been of the mine he, of Ben ee would of vieobeutes ber many hifts, a 6 will occur to the reader that the accustomed eo iorts of the school would have in a measure to be “oa In short, roughing it would have to be e order of the day. — ~ Still, much could be done by exercising ingenuity, 2 and by all who had a bit of gumption in them lending a hand. The youngest of the boys could make the db ede ct a very heroic office, but, under the circum- stances, meritoriously useful. ? Ci im held a meeting in the hall as soon as the boys ‘ vere up, and explained his views. “J know,” he said, addressing the youngest ‘especially, “that I have not told you off for a very a class of duty, but it is a dead sure thing that no 4 form of labour dishonours anyone if a necessity arises for ‘it to be sa Idleness alone entitles a man to C condemnation.” | _ The youngsters rose to the situation and said they v v ould do anything to help, and if he wanted them to fight as well as make beds, and do other domestic ae rk, they would doit. Jim commended them for their : pluck, and expressed a hope that their troubles Ww would be over in a few days. | He did not say in what way he thought they would 2 “over,” but he was hopeful in his manner, and they 4 batt hered heart from it. ¥ ne of the things imperative was done early that ! orn ing. Mrs. Farrell overhauled the stores, and in h x opinion they would need replenishing in such se as flour for bread and biscuits, etc., within a ie etn ee at the latest. ~ 2h | | ale from the Date Mention made by Eveline, i the effect that, fully four months before, additional st bores had been ordered in due course, and might po: ossibly arrive in time. Bh But the dismal fact remained that the stores had not ; been advised in due course by any letters as yet ace ved by mail. As the letters came by fast steamer , anyway, for Spain—and the stores by sailing- a Ak ane es ] ves: els, there ought to have been some intimation by the ee: mail to hand that they were on the way. But I know the letter went,” said Jim, “for I de- live red that mail on board myself.” ring this, the early part of the morning, he had a, d Morse, but a council having been called for ten o’c lo ck, he met him there, and Morse showed an ttor u un cor oie of having: done a Rig ty 10 “B a. shad chs (or 4 heir x iend Sf se ei io at ete y Pag i We 4 Ree i iy ; an : om An ve iy : ¥ oe TEN, VAR ee 4 i Vr eG maa UNE Virdee 3 WO Wide « vag. § iy ‘ ne fi 4 As) ve “ wih Ly 5 A } an i ha) hse) aN 4 PAM TU at ; 7 » + a) TAS ‘ yy ' fe) Ast i's Loti cd - ; f 4 ‘ ee ery in’ ‘ , Fr aha at Me “ P tory, he having assured them that everything castle as he revolved this matter in his mind. In the touches to ene me and around ju every era hon Jim | ne, { % hl { ‘ s parte ‘ } br erie i i nt < Hide ihe AS nl oe ha Ya of course, ‘was himself, and as the men had been invited to attend, they met in Morse’s labora- dangerous had been carefully put out of the way. There was a long and earnest debate. It was considered essential that the position of the enemy should be ascertained, or some intelligence of their movements obtained. For this purpose two scouting parties were formed. One under Morse, who would lead them to the chine ~ by the underground ways, and another commanded by Terry, who were to scout in the open. Jim, as commander of the castle, remained behind. ** Be careful how you go,” he said to Terry, as with a half-dozen followers, all armed with rifles, he was about. to start down the path; “make sure there is nobody in front or- on either side of you, the latter particularly. The moment you sight anyoneandhave = the least idea of your being discovered, hark back nes be all speed.” “ And should we meet with one of the fellows,” said Terry, “and he bolts 2” i “Shoot him,” said Jim‘; “it would be idle to spare a single member of that ill-conditioned fraternity. i think our one chance of present safety and future peace lies in our effectually cutting them off We must not allow one of the band to leave the island | alive {” } ale CHAPTER XCI. “BETSY” AND “BELLA. ; FORTNIGHT,”’ thought Jim, “it isn’t long before we shall have tomake ~~ some terrible wae mi unless the shiparrives.” i He had thought of the possible strait before,but never so seriously. It came upon him with a rush. Hitherto the full responsibility of providing for the little host belonging to theschool had beenin other hands. Now it had mainly devolved upon him, and the magnitude of the task lost nothing by his being so young. “Tf those blackguards have any gumption,” he mused, “they will not risk their precious lives in attacking us, but just starve us out.” He sat upon the parapet of the bridge outside the THE RETURN OF THE SCOUTS.— forts some of the boys were busy giving the finishing ay "Ares 4 & a a! Nis ay A “be re Sa ven % ‘ iy Mi Bite Pins ‘co ad , : OD» N ae atl ye une mn e9 PERN Mk tala aea b ae iJ Ant nf ae Vy Pate