The Island School — page 288: what you’re looking at

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

TN ae AD : Minti « # cy, J Li Dal : Te tae os: ae 3 4 5 Caria " e: ae ; wey aid. Loa Gi Sih * ads yi Vie ue ae if ’ 4 Say Al at pra " =f pice / r ¥s J i M : mal R Hy eis fay! ats Wy ec Aes lam aes pe eed in oO a Fe er. aot AEE Te ay have the “eal res ready,” aa Morse. “1 . . : aan require you and Martin and half a dozen of our coolest hands with rifles. What we propose doing - must be known to none of the others. Romeo will _ have to act as gatekeeper.” | | “Ts that all?” asked Jim. ah ~ _.-*No; Martin must bring a drill or two, for pre- | & Pie this rocks below for blasting: We must begin S at the very bottom of the path.” y _ “Can you give me the details 2” «Sit down. hes x * ' aa ce og) ia is : | a and Morse aloud him the eetdhes he had a made, explaining the details of the work he proposed i to do. When he had finished, Jim drew a deep, long J 2 — breath. | Ps, ‘i “hold them off for the time. But will it be for long ?” & Deal with one emergency first,” coolly replied _ Morse, “and when the next arises prepare to meet that in “turn. That is what all good generals do, I - i, a ee 4 co yet. Those fellows are pretty well provisioned, but cit Brey, hope to starve them home.” CHAPTER CXXXI. ig PREPARING FOR THE NIGHT.—THE EXPEDITION. : N my word,” said Mr. Farrell, as he stood by the fire in the hall, “ keeping school on this island is re- | duced to a mockery.” Mrs. Farrell sat near him, knitting, and Eveline and Miss Elegantine were seated hard by. Both were engaged in needle- ; work, Miss Elegantine having . _ started making a pair of slippers for some person unknown. ‘The boys and men were buzzing about outside, varying the monotony of talking with flying visits to the ramparts, or to inspect Sleery’s platform for the cannon, which was well on the way. For assistants he had Changeling and some of the boys that used tio » be with him in the workshop. They all toiled with VER. yi" Fa ud P 2 vy ; - tr 5 7 yo nahn ane anc ihe ‘tol old me that the rma might g0 ony if you BOR iiah) sk at nN f a a » i ipa rae ; ye “ fit i | : « P vey See Fe—™ OY : a i my wh 4 CA H a Aun re Ty att . ‘ ' Me He was” thus engage ed when sim | _ work.” “ft 1s a bold scheme, and should it Auccaed it will went straight to the laboratory. Rainstone came up i? - fancy. We are cooped up here, but not captured A ; Re ls provender won't last for ever. We may any-_ av Y wil Ul, as if a prize awaited each at the conclusion of sp Bk: to Gordon,” said Mrs. Farrell, quietly, / : je ah ry, hoes ? wat ' ‘ oh f ‘ ; , ey Wi? hen frisued He with only a few of the bows ratouce fron “ And who is to teach in all this uncertainty and turmoil?” demanded Mr. Farrell. “TZ can’t.” “You must make up for lost time when ie troubles are over,” said Miss Elegantine. | ae “You think we shall come through with them, Ae then ?” said the SECU Sse nervously, ““T suppose so,” said Miss Hlegantine. 6 Why ae should we not, with such a boy as that young Gordon — i % at the head of affairs 2” ie “Do you believe in him also?” ee ye a “Whom am I to believe in if I don’t p Certainly none of you masters. You ‘go about like A x At carried on a dish by a wobbling butler.” ro ‘4 i -6- a and, taking up a book, sat down as if to read ; but va Mr, Farrell muttered something under his breath, ‘ having held it upside down for some nee he laid it aside. i At “TI would rather live alone in the woods than endure Ki ue such a life as this,” he said. a Rainstone and Morse now The latter i. , came in. to the fire to warm his hands. iad “Anything stirring, Rainstone ?” asked Mrs. q ie Farrell. | it ee “No,” he answered. “Those fellows below are lying é about outside their tents; it is warmer down there: " ; than up here. They are playing cards and dice.” = = = “As I imagined,” said Mr. Farrell. “Itis some picnic party from the mainland. Il this prepara- tion to defend the castle is tomfoolery.” | It was in his nature to talk in this foolish way om the slightest provocation. Mrs. Farrell impatiently shrugged her shoulders. | “The men are all armed,” said Rainstone. Mr. Farrell started, and looked apprehensive f again. a Aye “They have brought with them two big ees.” Rainstone went on, “which will knock the castle | walls about our ears if they get them into position, — y : a f Jim Gordon says they will make no more of it than ® cn 4 ¥ a cake of gingerbread.” a : i “Better yield to them at once,” said Mr. Farrell, hake hastily. It—it will sp-a-re bloodshed.” a an “The woman, Lucia di Valo, is in command, ” said pen: Rainstone; ‘‘and she has sworn to have all Our aun lives !” ied i Miss Elegantine looked up from her work, | oe “Tf a woman is in command,” she said, “it willbe __ useless to ask for mercy. But,” she added, grimly, i} “if she likes to settle the matter by single combat, ia Suni: am ready for her.” rR ea “Td back you, miss,” said Rainstone, laughing, == “ What is Morse doing’ in his room?” asked Mr, — — RA Maece ives ; 4 yan j : ie aN PON i : - ; f k ih VA Pu 4 , bes ae OD Lea Me x : Ms Bes" ¢ phd “AAS iF “4 to ti e 5 = Wh i Rp f Fs ‘ yy oy AM pi mn f iy sud ny HAAS shiva wi 2 rd rye iF,