The Island School — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

28 an expostulation from Rob was cut short by his being violently dragged out of his boat into the water. “‘Confound you for an old idiot!” he roared, as they tumbled about together like a pairof grampuses locked in deadly conflict. Well for both that the water was not deepand Rob pretty strong, or the pair might have been drowned in real earnest. But the younger man soon feeling his feet, he unceremoniously dragged Old Chorker to the shore, where they fell upon ie sands together. Even then the swimming-“ master” could not realise, as he ought to have done, that the peril was past, but continued to roll about and call for help until he was exhausted. Then, and not until then, he became aware of his being safe and sound on ferra firma. Rob Changeling—wet through, and his duck suit of clothes pulled into all sorts of twists, and rent in places—got upon his feet and surveyed the old seaman in bitterness and disgust. “Well,” he said, “you are a pretty swimming- master, aint you? I calls you a human cork—a reolar bung, Ain't you ashamed o’ yourself?” “Can’t I have a bit of fun,’ roared Old Chorker, “without you interfering °” “Oh! fun you calls it?” sneered Rob. “What else do you think it was?’ demanded Chorker. ‘Ises to myself this mornin’, ses I, ‘ When the boys are a-bathin’ [ll hupset myself and holler like a drowned pusson, just to show them how ridicklus a man looks ina skeer.’ Then afore I could shift abeut and show ’em how to take it coolly, you must shove in a oar.” There was a grinning lot of boys around, just emerged from the deep like young mermen. Rob stared at them in a way that invited them to say what they thought of Old Chorker’s performance. Lal Brodie was one of the party, and he called out: “Of course, anyone could see that Chorker was joking. It was so well done that we should like to see tt again, with his taking drowning coolly to follow.” “Yes,” cried a chorus of voices, ‘that’s the sort! Do it again !” “I for one,” said Rob Changeling, emphatically, “should unkimmonly like to see the fun repeated.” “And do yer suppose,” said Old Chorker, with over- whelming scorn, “that ’'m agoin’ to lower myself by doin’ of it P” “You can’t swim for winkles,” said Rob. “T’yve done more in the swimmin’ line than you iver dreamt of!” sneered Chorker. “Now the next time you see me a hillustrating the art of keepin’ cool in the water—you hear, keepin’ cool in the water— you just mind your own business.” “Take your hoath of that,” growled Rob, pulling THE ISLAND SCHOOL. off his wet jacket. ‘‘ Mind this—the next time you go a hillustrating the art of keepin’ cool, I'll let you finish it right orf.” “That’s all [ axes,” said Chorker ; “and now, if one of you boys will jest seve my boat in, we'll resume the work of the morning.’ Jim Gordon having had a eee dip in the sea, haa re-dressed himself, and with a smile at the picture presented by Chorker and his rescuer, hastened up to the castle to keep the rendezvous with the rest of the Council of Ten. He was absolutely the first to start, the others only being half-way through the process of resuming their attire. Jim saw no fear for himself, especially as he was armed. The revolver entrusted to him by Mr. Farrell he had retained, and carried it loaded in his pocket, ready for any emergency. It was a dangerous weapon for a hasty-cispositioned or nervous lad to possess, but Jim was neither one nor the other. He had nerves of iron, and could be as cool as a cucumber, even under very startling cir- cumstances. We have before now made reference to the light tread that was natural to Jim. When bounding up the stone path leading to the castle the sound he made was infinitely small. Unless some attention was paid by a person in his vicinity he would scarcely have been heard. This morning his tread was-even lighter than usual. | He was fresh from a dip in the sea, and the influ- ence of the morning elevated. his spirits. He skimmed up the pathway as a swallow flies up the hill-side. On reaching the bridge outside the castle he paused to get breath. Not that he had lost much, but the pace he travelled at necessarily set him brewed & little quicker than usual. As he did so a woman emerged from the interior of the castle, walking along pensively with her eyes upon the ground. The amazement. Jim felt was overwhelming, for this woman was not only a stranger, but young and beautiful. In dress and face she was Spanish, and of the better class. , Her simple dress, worn rather short, was of the best material, and her lace veil, hanging down her back, of the richest workmanship. _ An exclamation of surprise burst from Jim. The woman started, and thrusting her hand into her bosom, snatched out a stiletto. But as her eyes met those of Jim she as quickly replaced it; The whole thing was the work of a moment. “ Pardon,” she said, “‘I thought I was alone.” Her English was good, with a strong Spanish accent, however Jim, not knowing what else to do, raised his cap and bowed. nicboo ‘Ss x @)