The Island School — page 290: what you’re looking at

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ob phe Ae, . cei ai my, te PREPARING FOR THE NIGHT. piece of paper. He was thus engaged when Jim returned. “T have the whole thing ready,” said Morse. “TI shall 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. “No; Martin must bring a drill or ee for pre- paring the rocks below for blasting. We must begin at the very bottom of the path.” “Can you give me the details ?” “Sit down.”. They sat down upon the stone flooring of the ram- parts, and Morse showed him the sketches he had made, explaining the details of the work he proposed to do. When he had finished, Jim drew a deep, long breath. “ {tis a bold scheme, and should it succeed it will hold them off for the time. But will it be for long P” * Deal with one emergency first,’ coolly replied Morse, ‘and when the next arises prepare to meet that in turn. Thatis what all good generals do, I fancy. We are cooped up here, but not captured yet. Those fellows are pretty well provisioned, but their provender won’t last for ever. We may any- way hope to starve them home.” TT CHAPTER CXXXI, 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 Klegantine were seated hard by. Both were engaged in needle- | work, Miss Bidens 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 to be with him in the workshop. They all toiled with a will, as if a prize awaited each at the conclusion of the job. “I spoke to Gordon,” said Mrs. Farrell, quietly, “and he told me that the teaching might go on, if you No. 16. 24} wished it, with only a few of the boys relieved from work,” “ And who is to teach in all this uncertainty and turmoil?” demanded Mr. Farrell. “TZ can’t.” “You ae make up for lost time when the troubles are over,” said Miss Elegantine, “You think we shall come through with them, then ?” said the Ee ies nervously, “I suppose so,” said Miss Elegantine, Why should we not, with such a boy as that young Gordon at the head of affairs ?” ‘Do you believe in him also ?” “Whom am I to believe in if I don’t? Certainly none of you masters. You ‘go about like jellies carried on a dish by a wobbling butler.” Mr, Farrell muttered something under his breath,, and, taking up a book, sat down as if to read ; but having held it upside down for some minutes, he laid it aside. ‘T would rather live alone in the woods than endure such a life as this,” he said. Rainstone and Morse now came in. went straight to the laboratory. to the fire to warm his hands. “ Anything stirring, Rainstone ?” Farrell. “No,” he answered. “Those fellows below are lying 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. All this prepara- tion to defend the castle is tomfoolery.” It was in his nature to talk in this foolish way on the slightest provocation. Mrs. Farrell impatiently shrugged her shoulders. ‘The men are all armed,” said Rainstone. Mr. Farrell started, and looked apprehensive again. “They have brought with them two big cannon,” Rainstone went on, “which will knock the castle walls about our ears if they get them into position. Jim Gordon says they will make no more of it than a cake of gingerbread.” “ Better yield to them at once,” said Mr. Farrell, hastily. ‘ It—it will sp-a-re bloodshed.” ‘The woman, Lucia di Valo, is in command,” said Rainstone; ‘and she has sworn to have all our lives !” Miss Hlegantine looked up from her work. “Tf a woman is in command,” she said, “it will be useless to ask for mercy. But,” she added, grimly, “if she likes to settle the matter by single combat, I am ready for her.” “Td back you, miss,” said Rainstone, laughing. ‘Whatis Morse doing in his room?” asked Mr, Farrell. The latter Rainstone came up asked Mrs, comicbooks.com