The Island School — page 348: what you’re looking at

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

ha p THE | ea . tek sy ie qc r "The « cares awful, ond fall of cers sounds of we coming struggle. ris ms a4 “oo. CHAPTER. CLIX, ‘i. aa toy , } THE BREAKING OF THE DOOR.—“ BETSY” SPEAKS. HERE was no light leftin the hall, Even the fire had pur- -posely been allowed to die down to a few glowing ashes. Outside, the night was descending. Resting on theirrifles, the boys talked in whispers. Martin and ‘Trueberry, the i only two men left, stood by Jim, who leant carelessly against the alae apparently wrapt in thought. 4 Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo were outside await- i ing the command to shift such things as they had nee removed from the castle to the lower ground. ‘- __ At intervals, while there was light enough, Morse Plcoted to the cannon to see if it were properly _ «the necessity of it. Bang, bang! incessantly the riot inside sits on, _ -save when there were short pauses, originating in the B- _ «shifting of the gang of toilers. The screeching and : Ree thoutine never ceased. The rifles of the defenders My were loaded. Nothing was left undone to open the :active part of the fight with fitting vigour. _ “They have splintered away most of the wood- wor » said Morse, after they had been waiting an ee or more. ‘Twig the difference in the sound ? cr ‘They are striking metal now, and it is the Pea 4 that keeps the door fast.” _ It was so; but even that would not stand for ever. ‘aig “Strong Led desperate men were endeavouring to _ break through, and, it was odds on their doing it. Ri But there was only sound by which the measure of their success could be estimated. The darkness of ~the night lay on the hall. Outside it was only re- ‘lieved by the stars shining into the ped confines of the courtyard. _ The chosen riflemen moved up to their posts. Jim *took up his weapon and asked if all were ready. | it “ We fire,” he said, “then, Martin and Trueberry, yon run back the cannon. We who have emptied - rifles, will back to the rear and reload. The hers rs will then come to the front and fire, Divide selves into two companies 80 that we shall have eA iy 1 B eted It was more for something to do than from ni ast na Mov es o i ac] ross the | Ot REARING OF THE ‘DO OR. | yard unless they make a rush. WN Be +¥ ay rok ‘ aise Nat '* ee j ) ” ay eH. by Fe “on Ae a wf Then retreat as a | quickly as you can. We are not strong enough io stand up against heavy men.’ if ‘ “Hush !” weltepered Morse ; “ there goes one of the — sheets of iron.’ a It slipped down, as he spoke, behind the barricade, a 3 and fell, with a clatter, upon the floor. There was no light to show the opening that was made in te i door, but the watchers could tell it was there by the ie increased volume of sound. One plate gone the breach was made, and the others would soon follow. Motionless stood the boys in the doorway, unseen __ by their foes. Their presence was not, at the time, ui ie suspected. It was believed that, having shut up the | Ms t invading party, they had retreated from the castle, ne Therefore it happened that the one consuming — thought of Lucia di Valo was to geb out of their _ place of confinement. a cf r . It had been almost unbearable at the outset, and, Ne as time wore on, it became necessary for those in the | room to change places with those below. There was iM a measure of fresh air in the cave, but in the labora- s | tory there was none. “ts ‘ ai: Now that a hole had been made in the door, the ~ welcome fresh air poured in, and the heated men ki were heard expressing their thanks in various ways — and in different patois. on But still the foremost worked on. The second — Re plate was wrenched off, the breach in the door ‘i Ras and then there was a pause. i ‘ig - “Courage, my children!” cried Lucia di Valo from the rear. “ Weshall soon be free. Then we will have 4 rare sport torturing the dog who has brought us ooo this trap !” is Here the voice of Chorker, in a very choky state, was heard asserting, with great vigour, his complete innocence. i : “Ts it likely,” he asked, “that I should bring» myself into a trap P” “T cannot tell,” answered Lucia di Valo. * Vout i ‘ Englishmen do strange things.” om ie Then she called on her men to resume their labours, and the third plate was removed with exultant cries. * The shattered woodwork fell in, and the key pieces on Me, | the barricade, lately resting on the door, collapsed. — ae The rest was scattered right and left, and the horde nN Va of ruffians began to pour through. Oe “Now,” said Jim, and, with a roar, “Betsy” spoke. Searcely had her voice roused roaring echoes in it “ the hall, when the rifles were fired, ata the flame from their muzzles lighted up the interior of the huge 3 ‘ | hall. ai) In the midst of the smoke a crowd of the foe was seen i i standing aghast, staring wildly about. Several had Ss ag ‘T \) | fallen, and in the laboratory there was a seething mass of wounded and terrified ROTA) 1) aunnvaeiin aN iia ni Has ei aha 4 ich mt ae i Ay uy Ay, i) ve bi ‘i i Fe NEE tale iy 1 ry, i AN yt ao) ) chooks (@