The Island School — page 317: what you’re looking at

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

Le : NE Ele ae "ebeprcre tb Se we ; Uy, MN Re 3 ek, : st ii too, well had Morse hore his earl Not only was “i | the path torn to chaotic masses, but it had been piled a v up in- every conceivable variety of jagged confusion. of destruction, some split or rent, with ragged edges that were bad to come against in the gloom. ‘ The way up was a great trial tothe men. So long, 2 that what was ordinarily the work of a few minutes— at ; used to be no more to the fleet-footed Bevan | wu hem. nearly an hour. | With all their care, many received minor injuries “gl ie "hind with an injured foot. But the rest followed [ he Dent, determined woman, come to avenge a lover _ who had richly earned his fate. Ae As they drew near the castle, she looked up at its me dark outline. There was no light, no sign of life, _ nothing to indicate that their advance was suspected. y “Ne _Apparently she had everything as if she had Ne a al rranged it for her purpose. ; eH vs “ ‘ : Wag f , ci Al TVs t aoe |. |. CHAPTER CRLIV. a ar “Nor 50 SLEEPY AFTER ALL.—A DESPERATE APFRAY, he “i T length Lucia di Valo came to a stop. She stood on the summit of the old path on a level with the castle. Vamos was close behind her. She motioned to him to come up nearer to her, and he came up. “A dozen _ of ’ she whispered. ‘Set them at mM t sown few blows with the butts of their rifles ought to beat in that rotten timber-work.” Vamos had his doubts, but he was there to obey, sd backing among the crowd of men in the rear, he laid a rae upon one and motioned for him to go forward. The man obeyed with the feelings of a eS in the old days who was selected to lead a - forlorn hope and strongly objected to it. oY a But he received no intimation of the work he was required to do until the rest of the chosen men came up one by one. Then Lucia motioned to them to go forward. “Beat in yon gates,” she said, “as many as can ee stand in a line, and let your blows fall together. _ Tinkering will do nothing.” oe ee ‘ ¥y ? Abe a | eo ny M . 4) ; wae 4 ae Pas . Lae “ ey |! oe a % ‘ t A a a Pan vy, D we }| A P) . er (AS fee <The a Gare EP te os cay ‘ _an honourable front place. it : Then there were the trees lying about in all varieties . | barely left her lips when one of the cannon nee | o sua the splintered tree-trunks, and one had to be left. Oecst vod ae é i wa ; - Bea Oat | ; . ; : * i, \ Mt es ht Bsc tle eae a] ; ‘ m ve ; Pap ak " mf ’ ; Y Wha wy ie: nig yoy \, i % UNS TE aA? oy) UE * ae i ig ) iy "5 Py, > CANS! 4 ‘ x fase MS af : we . eee HOOL. ia eh IAW a iu . q ‘The men noe on with as was some manceuvring : among “They? rea and halted. Though appointed to this duty th no leader among them. It was a mistake ont of Lucia di Valo not appointing one. » “Go on!” she exclaimed, impatiently. The men had no time to answer, for the words hha | . ‘ inside the portcullis was fired, and a ringing : shout was heard from the battlements. Half of the twelve sy selected men fell, and scattered shots played havoc mi with as many more among the main body. ab Mi en 7s The roar of the cannon was succeeded by a ‘volley ae e from young riflemen posted above. 1 But either from “a the elevated nature of their position, cr inability tor jet take aim in the gloom, very little execution was done. ma ae 4 The attacking party was staggered, dumbfounded. : The half-dozen of the forward party left alive, rushed | back in alarm until they were checked by the sereech of fury that burst from Lucia’s lips. “ Back to your work, you curs !” she cried. them on, Vamos. Where are your Sesh, you in < a the rear? Shoot the young dogs above!” | nt aa The men blazed away wildly for a minute or two, bs hy showing a tendency at the same time to back out of 4 the fray. Lucia, using terms of address happily rarely | 4 heard from woman’s tongue, urged them to remain. .— 3 But, in the midst of her tirade, the dismayed horde of Spaniards and half-castes were assailed from another quarter. From the right of the castle, where the path led rah the upper wood, a dozen rifles poured out their fire, is and many of the attacking party fell. Then, before: the rest could retreat, a body of men and boys came | down upon them like an avalanche. os : Lucia di Valo, who was looking towards the castle- — a gate, was swept downwards by her own followers, < and, ie with Vamos, carried out of the fray. All who could retreat by the shattered path promptly did so. But the way was not clear,and — some, perforce, had to turn and fight like wolves avs an bay. Rifles were a useless encumbrance at quarters — an so close, and both parties cast them down. i The revolver and the knife on one side, and the ee revolver and short bayonets belonging to the rifles On vag the other side, came into play. ee a It was too dark up there for a time; but, too aM after the fray began, a packet was tional from the’ i. vf aly ramparts, and dropping on the ground, flared up soas. ie ore oe i wt Dell 4 toa to illumine the scene with a brilliancy approaching — ay that of day. Shouts of encouragement Barer “Sonn above, aha | cries of the same nature were sent through the port | A cullis, where other spectators were watchin; ng t the: ae As Well to the fore came Jim Gordon with, Ma: ih ee a aks pee HOPS if, i £1, Q 00C a