The Island School — page 236: what you’re looking at

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

ai mothing. THE ALARM. the cannon in position that very night. It could be done after all but themselves were in bed. “ And [ would suggest,” said Morse, “ that we place the small-arms for sixty and the ammunition there also.” “Suppose the Seiten should find them there ?” suggested Felton. ‘¢ Suppose they find the cannon,” said Morse ; “we must riskit. If I understand your plans Lestht, Jim, we are not to take possession of the forts until the last moment, asit were ?” Cs Practically that is what it amounts to,” said Jim. “ A watch will be kept as usual,” ““ Must-be. Now let us make out a list of those who are to assist us, and let them know what is ex- . pected of them. They are to understand that outside themselves it is not to be mentioned. Should our arrangements reach the ears of Napoleon—save his name !—hke would certainly spoil it.” ‘Will you want any of them to-night ?” inquired Rainstone. “All that has to be done to-night,” said Jim, “can be done by ourselves. All you need tell them is to be ready.” They soon made out a list of the boys who would most likely be ready for service, and each undertook to speak to a certain number: That done, they had nothing more to do until they metin the hall at mid- night. The meeting broke up, and the niggers, who were cooling their heels in the passage, called back to their sanctum. Macbeth, on entering the kitchen, cast a suspicious glance roundas if he feared to find some evidence of malpractices common to youth; but there was All things were in order as he left them. The boys went away, and the trio were left alone. “Spect dey gettin’ up a s/prise for old Nap,” said Macbeth. “Mose likely,” said Hamlet. “What sort ob sprise hab you got into you cradderums ?” demanded: Romeo. ‘“‘ Bread-and-butter his bed, squirt water ober him,” said Macbeth; “anyting to annoy de duffer.” “You ‘got a good ijea ob tings, you hab,” said Romeo, scornfully. “Pr aps you got a berrer one,” dilated nostrils. “T hab ’bout dat,” was the easy reply. “What am it 2” “Dat my busmess, and me wonder at you axing for inflammation from such a young fool as me.” He was on vantage ground there, and they allowed him to keep it. Romeo kept his idea to himself, and qu may be said that he was on the right track, if he said his father, with had not arrived at the absolute truth. By, SS ey Se At an early hour the boys retired, and by ten o’clock there was silence in the castle. As a matter of form Jim sought Mr. Farrell at the last moment and sug- gested that a watch should be kept. But that in- flated personage declined to receive a suggestion from Gordon, against whom he had revived his original animosity. “The suggestion is absurd,” he said. What person without artillery could hope to break in here ?” Jim was. satisfied, and did not argue the matter further. He had the castle to himself and friends for the night. At the appointed time they were by the outer gate Morse with a lantern to give light there. he did not propose to use it. In that elevated spot, free from the shadow of the trees, the full benefit of the light of the stars could be obtained. To guard against surprise, Jim took up a position on the pathway, because he, of all there, was the least likely to give way to unnecessary alarm. Morse saw to the placing of the two guns, Betsy and Bella, in two small embrasures, and pointed so that both their muzzles commanded the path to the eastle. The small-arms, with a good supply of ammunition which had been prepared during Jim’s journey to the “ Orsini,” were laid close under the walls of the fort, and covered up with some old sacking to keep off the damp. That done} Morse said the others were to go to bed, for he had something else to do. “ Goodness!” exclaimed Dawson, “ what is it ?” ‘What I can best do alone,” replied Morse, in his quiet way. ‘To have assistance would hinder me.” They all went in but Jim, who thought he under- stood the reason for Morse’s desire to be alone. “You are going to do some dangerous work,” he said, ‘‘and object to our sharing in it P” “ When by myself,” said Morse, ‘I have nerves of steel, I see no fear—feel none. But if any of you fellows are near me, I get into a blue funk, and then an accident is likely to happen.” “But surely I can stay ?” “You make me worse than all the HERE put to- gether, Jim, because you are more to me.’ There was no standing up against this line of areu- ment, so Jim entered the castle,and finding the others, pretty well worn out, had retired, quietly awaited the coming of Morse. A. full half-hour elapsed ere he appeared. “Tt is done,” he said. “I have made a special mine of my own near the Redan, and another immediately in front of the Roman Camp. If we are not attacked in the morning, I shall spring them by way of experi- ment. Meanwhile, nobody must go outside here unless I am with him, ‘for fear of accidents.” 195. Outside, - nN (@ 900 455 (Ol @) (@{ 0) mn & :