The Island School — page 226: what you’re looking at

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

VA ae ean) fs UNLOADING THE T could not get near enough to see her face, but I reckon, Jim, thatit was the Spanish girl you know— Lucia di Valo {” “Bother her!” muttered Jim; “it is unfortunate she should spot the ship. But we may still have time to clear off her cargo.” “ And thatisn’t all,” pursued Stiff ; “¢Qne moment,” interposed Jim. see you?” “To tell the truth,” said Stiff, looking rather sheep- ish, “I skulked behind the rocks and did not show about——” “ Did the woman myself. You know I am not a bit of a ladies’ ‘man.”’ 7 “A good excuse,” said Lal; “but you did right.” “ Quite right,” said Jim. “But you have more to tell us?” “ About an hour ago,” said Stiff, “that old beast Chorker came back, and he’s gone on board, kindly informing me before starting that if either Lal or myself ventured to show on the deck he would brain us,” “ Where is he now ?” “ Below, rummaging about, I guess. He thinks he is perfectly safe, as he does not know that Lal went off to the castle.” All right,” said Jim ; “we will give him a bit of a shaking up.” He asked how deep the water was, and hearing it was easily waded through, he led the way, asking all to follow him and be as silent as they could be. Without speaking the boys waded out to the vessel and climbed quietly on deck one after the other. By holding their rifles aloft they kept them dry until on board, where by Jim’s direction they laid them carefully on deck. Then he and Lal and Stiff went below to the aft- cabin, where they felt pretty sure of finding Chorker. Their surmise was correct. He was in the chief cabin with many more. Jim held back and the other two entered the cabin. Immediately on seeing them Chorker sprang up with the roar of an angry lion. “What did I tell you °” he cried. “ Off here you go, and keep ashore as you _ vally your lives!” “Chorker,” remonstrated Lal, in mock humility, “have a little mercy on us. sleep ashore alone P” “ Not at all, and I’m not going to do it,’ was the fierce reply ; ‘ there’s two of you. Cut it!’ ‘ At least,” urged Stiff, “let us take some provisions ashore.” How would you like to "HORE, j | EE — “ ORSINI.” 187 “You've been eating and stuffing all day,” roared Chorker. ‘* Boys is never satisfied. Off yougo!” “Stop a bit,” said Jim, showing himself in the door- way; “there are others who have a voice in the matter. Chorker, you are a miserable old beast!” “You will excuse me, Master Gordon,” said Chorker, with an effort to appear dignified, “but though even you are here—and how you came aboard is a mystery to me—I don’t see why I should be trodden me in the dust.” ‘There are thirty of us on board,” said Jim, com- posedly, “and you will Bieaee take yourself off and sleep ashore.” “ But Mister Gordon——” “Tf you do not clear out right away I will call the fellows down and you will be pitched over the side.” “Well,” said Chorker, “if I must go I must; but if I take a few smokes——” * Let thet cigar-box alone,” said Jim. do without your smokes.” “ Well, then,” said Chorker, with assumed cheerful- ness, “Tl take summat to eat and drink ashore——” ‘“‘He has been stuffing all day,” said Lal, gravely. “‘In that respect he beats boys hollow.” “You will go as you are,” said Jim, “and clear off so that there is a good two miles between your car- case and ourselves. We are armed, and if you come a step nearer without permission you will be shot.” ‘Sen’ I may live,” muttered Chorker, “if iver a party rode the igh ’oss you do.” He shuffled out of the cabin, and they followed him to the deck. Finding that Jim’s assertion was true as to numbers, Chorker hopped over the side with commendable alacrity. His movements were hastened on his looking back by seeing several rifles covering him. He had a sus- picion that it was done in jest, but he dared not risk it, and as soon as he gained the shore he started off like “You must | a champion walker competing against time. smoking a cigar which he had discovered in a box | ‘We shall see no more of him to-night,’ said Jim. “Now, boys, to work. We will get all we can on deck while daylight lasts and convey it ashore to-morrow. I daresay you are hungry, but we can grub after dark, and a little waiting won’t kill anybody.” With willing hearts and hands the boys went to work. Half-a-dozen tumbled down into the hold ready to fasten ropes that were lowered to the boxes | and bales, and with many a merry word and snatch of song the boys laboured until the sun was down and the stars were shining brightly aloft, 00 (ee) c cS co