The Island School — page 350: what you’re looking at

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

4 ‘E, os ; OVE Wow on CES 16 ra narts, well ane of sight of anyone Pion aed as mice. ei) a and eric just lifted his head over the corner of the. back Pe nipes, and looked into the courtyard. ‘The ‘sight he i beheld was suggestive of whirling shadows accom- ‘panied by teethie voices. Valo. She was trying to rally her disorganised horde -of ruftians, and her efforts were pended by Vamos. Presently the turmoil began to subside, and many .of the men who had sought refuge in the hall came - -out again. Jim's eyes growing accustomed to the _ gloom, he could watch their movements with tolerable ae -clearness of atmosphere to assist him. - They were gaining confidence, as he thought they a would, by the cessation on the part of the boys of ae active warfare. ~“ Are you men,” Lucia cried, vehemently, “ or children? The cubs of the castle ”—she put as much contempt into the words as she could muster—“ have resisted as far as they are able, and fled. Will youlet them escape, knowing that I have sworn not to leave one alive to tell the tale of their defeat ?” - Vamos forced his way to the front and called upon -them to follow him, and once more the horde of rascals iB gained ‘heart, pistol in hand, and brandishing their knives. Some had rifles, but these weapons being in- -convenient when the men were closely packed, they ~wore them slung about their shoulders. All that were capable of movement hastened through the gateway to the outside of the castle, Lucia di Valo walking in the midst of the throng, encouraging her men with the words and actions of a fury. a stn CHAPTER CLXI. A SUCCESSFUL DODGE.—MADDER THAN EVER. OMPLETELY successful,” mut- tered Jim, as he _ rose to his feet. His companions looked at him dering’ what would be the next move. He arm, and signed for the blacksmith to follow him. Together they bed down tie: dark vias) “ ; Cm ae te . r, Ber See — i. : 1 ,' > = : iS a mn ] et “asd = mS — =4 —— on nae “ Keep as you are,” te whispered, a until I know Ee what they will do below.” Above it all, however, Ne ‘he could now distinguish the clear voice of Lucia di ~~ -C O nee They answered her with’cries of vengeance. On they gushed to destroy the “cubs of the castle.” anxiously, won-' touched Martin on the fA ai! hy Me PEN FUL DODGE. ane ie “What can he be scheming } ” was the thought that passed through the minds of many. Morse had — a shrewd suspicion of what was going to be done, and — a smile—sad in a measure, though—passed over his face. | , The followers of Lucia di Valo were not ae away. Not having any clue to the direction they supposed the boys were taking, they were gathered together by the Redan, the graveyard of many of their country- men. — | | Lucia di Valo knew it but too well; and even in that hour of excitement she could not keep from the grave of Espardo Reonardo. But it was not to shed a tear over him. She was in no weeping mood. She — stood by the mound and renewed her oath of venge- — ance with all the venom of a woman in her bitterest hour. | : Vamos, with a party of men, hastened to tke back of the castle, but only to speedily return and report no sign of the boys. It was practically at the same — momen¢ that Martin returned to the ramparts. : “Trueberry,” he said, “ you are wanted below. a Boys, it’s the captain’s orders that you thin out some | of that lot below.” ‘ “Take it coolly,” said Morse, as the eager boys began to clamber to their feet. ; i The movement of the youngsters must have becn ‘ heard by Lucia di Valo, although she was unable to — locate it, for she was heard calling for silence. The buzzing of voices among her men subsided. Strange — to say, no one looked aloft. They turned their eyes to the right and left, before and behind them, and saw nothing. i “They are not far BNA ’said Lucia, “for I heard ig AOR ISES a moment ago.’ \ a ' Along the whole length of the ramparts was a line [ of boys, each, as he carefully thrust his rifle over, taking aim at the thick of the dimly-seen group. e Thirty rifles in all. 4 “Fire!” whispered Morse. | i Almost as one, the muzzles of the rifles sent forth : their fire. Right into the thick of the thrice-startled — f) foe sped the bullets, riddling some through and — through. | 2 Unconsciously, most of the boys had aimed at Hike 4 centre of the group, some more directly than the others ; and the effect was that the centre practically _ i received’ the whole charge. i Half a dozen men received the thirty bullets, andl dropped down lifeless where they stood. As for the rest, this was to them the greatest H) surprise of all. indeed they had no definite idea _ where the firing came from, until the loud cheers of the boys upon the ramparts revealed the truth. ne Then it became known to them how they had been | fooled, and a tenfold fury laid hold of them. Vamos | sia bso a +> ba ‘ f >t . AY) Pe 4 a heer Ls ’ : : a Over < : Tis {ey j hey i ? . t ‘ é > rave, ; aa Seat ; yt py Va ww nts