The Island School — page 295: what you’re looking at

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

‘ ie 4 ' ~ RN AN GAS SE ay Yaad bt, ry) ak ah ray uf ae pe: oe ‘ aie ER EN SRN nen Wi i i ; 4 4 y3 ¢ 4 vr 4 ; 4 4 Ph ate ’) ’ Me, iy my a 2 Key ae cs ble | x ay A ‘ fy Te A hie NG ihe: oh * : it ~ enjoyable—* almost! as. dod as a Sag as “ciahed | Ca _ remarked, and there was as much merriment as if it ene " ‘ had been an occasion of great festivity. Meanwhile the two close chums, Jim and Morse, having taken up their post on the ramparts, looked down below. They did not expect to hear anything, © and there was little to see, nothing more than a light __ or two moving to and fro. «We have not scared them away,” said Morse. _ “They have Lucia di Valo with them,” remarked age Jim. “She is here for a purpose, and she won't i P budge until it is attained, or while she has a man to ‘ stand by to aid her.” E. _ We shall not be troubled by them to-night, Jim.” a “No, nor in the morning, perhaps. I don't fear - them if they have to leave their cannon behind.” ~ 4 a ay We wh : + eT) \ ity cfient Wk 7 {9 ee It was all but completed. _.. Another two hours in the morning would finish it, and then Betsy and Bella, the two small guns, could be put into position. ees Changeling came out of the hall to take his turn at sentry work. He stopped to salute and grin—his way of expressing respect and admiration. “T reckon, gentlemen,” he said, “that one of these days you will be a-blowin’ the ole island out of the Well, not just yet,” replied Morse. ‘I have not ee further than thinking of blowing off one side of it.” “You will be the death of old Nap,” grinned Change- ling, as he stepped up the stairs. | They had been away from the hall about an hour and a half, and when they returned the first feeling of hilarity waz over. The coffee and bread-and-butter had been partaken of, and the merriment was more subdued. Some of the boys were dozing peacefully in their seats. The women folk had disappeared. By the fire sat Napoleon Farrell and his two assist- ant masters. They were gloomily conversing in whispers, but on perceiving Jim they became silent. “ Hatching another bolt ?” said Jim. Bi “If they want to go, let them be off as soon as they i like,” said Morse. te As there was still some coffee left, the two friends partook of.it, and afterwards joined the sleepers in a short but refreshing nap. When they awoke, somebody said the day was about _ todawn. There were not half the boys left in the _ hall. “Many had stolen away to their rooms—* just for forty winks,” and those that were there exhibited all - the signs of having been up all night, in the way of “You fellows want a good sluicing with cold water,” said Jim, and there was a general movement to the back of the castle. Fs t Ly > 1 aL te P . fe < * ae rh ey at ‘ AN Sen SA SRLS et satan te Ti tA Sten Te eae © (sae ~ red eyes, yawning and languid movements generally. ! Feeling that all was secure, they went down to ‘The ioe nen of the building was 8. ne D, matter. It was ever running from a ‘spring ; that cer turies before had beer conducted through the wall b ue. | means of a stone pipe. It wasa perennial flow result- s: y ing from the drainage of the higher woodlands, — a Tho water fell into a stone basin which was ‘of the ty : : nature of the modern scullery-sink, insomuch tha a t it ae a had a drain-pipe to let off the surplusage. ‘Thee cons mi : quence was that there was no overflow. a an The boys got two or three buckets, which they f al le yi Le i with water, and gave themeelvea a thoroughly in- Bi a vigorating wash. Pranic hi Then Jim hastened away to the ramparts, an Morse retired to his laboratory. Chan eling was = on duty, and by the time Jim joined. him the daylight had arrived, and the sun was well above the 1e: horizon. ey ms ) “ They’ve started a boat ANA Master Gordon,”s 82 nic AM Changeling. ‘There she goes.” «AL an ee Jim looked in the direction pointed out by Change~ : | ling, and saw a boat with two men in her teatioet ae for Minorca. a On the sands, ashore, the men were e busy vuitte a Do ie early morning meal. 3 ‘a ‘T know what that means,” said Ji im; * they hovel come to stay, and those two men have been sent for i“ reinforcements.” Ks He wondered how many men had been killed the ‘ previous night, but his curiosity on that head was soon oa satisfied. The meal being over, some of the men went, hy . to work digging three graves near the camp. Panic x They did not concern themselves to. make the very deep, but deep enough i in all probability, for that spot they were not likely to be disturbed. The graves being ready all the camp: turned out, ‘ and the dead were brought forth on improvised — a stretchers. ‘They were buried with their clothing, andi aa some show of reverence. | ) Pies curt " During the ceremony nothing was seen of Lucia 3 Valo, but when it was over she came out from her tent, and by the hastily filled graves gave an oration that seemed to rouse her followers to.a pitch of mes) ness. Nothing could be heard, save the softest of mur murings arising from their combined vorces lifted in anger, but the upraised hands holding the g lithonia, ‘blades were sufficiently Se: “ A fierce, implacable woman,” said Jim, as ae wate: tl back to her tent, followed by her men cheerime wildly. “ Now it will be a fight to the bitter end.” Ry ‘She certainly do seem to be a hot ’un,” aateotbieal Changeling, “ what they calls a bit of a scorcher. I pities the man: who may make the see: of marry- Ing her.” | ts le We a os “Thal ee ee 7 a oie mi: “iy ” , - a a Ap me, re = ! +t Ny AG u a