The Island School — page 215: what you’re looking at

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

178 “There, that job is done.” Lal, who was also toiling lke a Trojan, raised his eyes, and passing his eyes across his brow to remove the perspiration, nodded approvingly. “ And I think,” he said, “that there is a sensible hehtening sensation of the ship.” “Tam sure of it,” rejoined Stiff. goes the rubbish—oh! Hang it.” “What's the row ?” “And see! there “I forgot we fastened the boat to the rubbish and it is floating away with it.” Lal Brodie sprang to his feet, and a glance over the side showed that it was so. The boat had fallen behind with the rubbish, and was as good as lost to them for ever. “You are a guy!” he said, derisively, “‘ but it’s no use howling. Here we are on board this craft, and here we must stay, wherever 7t may go.” “T can’t help it,” said Stiff, despairingly. might have thought of the boat.” ‘Give me a hand with my mast,” said Lal. He had drilled several holes with the auger, so as to form a small circle of them. By knocking out the centre with the axe, he made a rough socket for the mast. Naturally, of itself it would have slipped through, but having lowered it a foot or so, they drove in some stout nails, and so steadied it. But it was a poor thing at the finish, and when they got a bit of canvas spread upon it the first puff of wind pushed it over, and gave it a drunken and very disreputable appearance. “YT am a poor hand at this work,” said Lal, scratch- ing hishead. ‘And this mast and sail are about as much use asa tablecloth on a walking-stick would be.” “T don’t think it will heel further over,” said Stiff, hopefully. They stayed the mast as well as they could with euy-repes, and then squatted down by the helm, which they secured in a position that would guide the “Orsini” the way they desired to go. By-and- by, as the sun got warmer, they rigged up an awning, and lyig down under it they fell asleep. Healthy boys sleep long, especially in warm weather and under the circumstances that induced our two young friends to seek repose. Lal Brodie and Stiff did not awaken until the afternoon was far gone. It was Stiff who first opened his eyes and wondered fora moment where he was. A slight jerk and a grinding sound assisted him to clear his faculties, and sitting up, he gave Lal a jerk with his elbow ere he rose to his feet. | “Let a fellow have another minute,” said Lal, sleepily ; “it can’t be more than six o'clock.” “That’s about the time,” said Stiff. -“ Pull your- self together. We're on board the ‘Orsini.’ Blowit! what’s that ?” 3 “You THE ISLAND SCHOOL. It was a curious, grinding sound that drew this exclamation from him, and another jerk followed. Running to the side he saw exactly what was the matter. The “ Orsini” was aground. She had drifted right on to the island, but the exact spot Stiff did not know. It was a comfort, anyway, to find that they were there, and so far safe from the perils of the sea. Though aground, the “Orsini” was not by any means high and dry. There were at least forty yards of shallow water to wade through—a mere nothing to boys who were not afraid of getting wet. “There is one thing we must think of,” said Lal, “before we leave the ship even for an hour, and that is— the chances of her floating again.” “IT don’t see ’em,” said Stiff. ‘‘ Perhaps not,” returned Lal, “but Ido, A change of wind will doit; but unless it is a very smart breeze, a moderate-sized rope will hold her.” He then propounded the plan of taking a light rope ashore, and afterwards, if they were strong enough, to haul to land one of the anchor cables— without the anchor, of course—and make it fast among the rocks, “Then,” said he, “ we can remain ashore for the night, and in the morning revisit the old derelict. It is almost too late to-night to ascertain exactly where we are’—he glanced at the sinking sun—“but we may be handier for the castle than we suspect.” “ A good five milesaway, I reckon,” said Stiff, “ Suppose we are,” rejoined Lal, “that won’t stop one of us from going up there and getting help to clear out the stores. But first let us secure the ‘ Orsini,’ so that she won’t float off and go blundering away.” There was a plentiful supply of rope among the stores below, and,having knotted three or four coils together, Lal dropped over the side with one end in his hand. | Stiff remained on board to payit out, and Lal sxc- cessfully conveyed his end to the shore. There he laid it on the beach and secured it with two heavy stones. | That done, he returned on board. With an axe he cut through the cable that held one of the anchors in the ordinary state of suspension, and the iron implement fell into the sea. The severed cable was then attached to the smaller rope, and a con- siderable portion of it worked off the capstan. It was stiff work turning the latte: round, but the boys accomplished it, and having laid out the released cable so that it would run easily, they dropped over the side, and together hauled it to the shore. “ About eight hours of this work a day,” said Lal, as he wiped his forehead, “ will suffice for me.” “The same here,” assented Stiff. Cc 900 mn s.co ( GI @ )