The Island School — page 370: what you’re looking at

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

4 ft Nt y ries tay Lave tt cate ae sae TN ag CW . Rah Sei ies £8) uh Tie at 7 sae , 5 ane Nit aye rh ae Fa i aR - sleeping-room. But his visit was ‘intended. for the a § pall store-room for his chemicals. He was absent a aie of an hour, and then returned. | “T do not want a light,” he said, “and I go alone.” ON he spoke, a booming sound was heard from the aa of the castle. nt “They've begun!” yelled Chorker. “Silence!” cried Jim, sternly. ‘“ Cool and steady is our motto. What are you going to do, Morse ?” “Oh, block the way, as I said,” was the even-toned a eply. “a No light, thank you, and no ae [Tam iy ‘better without both.” Jim did not believe him. He was sure that Morse __ simply wished to spare him and others in case of acci- _ dent. But he was never to be argued with, and he P went, off alone. It was a time of dread anxiety. Jim stood by the sha open door listening. He heard Morse ascend to the _ upper room. . Then came series of explosions, which | he had learnt to recognise from their sound—so short, _ gharp, and decisive—as the work of Morse. Cries of rage were heard from the enemy. But they were GET followed by the booming of the big ‘eh ae _ Jim fancied he heard 4 arn. of masonry, but was ‘ cag iy ae? ~ S 4 “ fa Nar yer ie Ss — ot J nla May oe mi ane A ‘not sure. Wie: ‘i _ Again he heard the footstep of Morse in the pas- wi sages below. It turned into the kitchen. _ The reader will probably remember that there was a a flight of steps in the kitchen leading to a gallery - above, where windows gave light and a view of the Ne scenery outside by day. Morse, who had almost feline eyesight, at aia up - to this gallery, and there laid down a small parcel with a fuse to it. This he lighted, and, with the A - flaring match in his hand, dashed down below. Ne ne Under the gallery he placed another package, also | _ with a fuse attached. This he likewise ignited, and ne then dashed for the door. Baico and lock it.” — ' For once he seemed to be in a hurry. Jim promptly Poked him. Me “There is a breach in the wall,” said Morse; “a iy -émall one, it is true. I daresay thee are preparing their mine. _ I am sorry for the fellows at oe upon it. Stop your ears.” , i _Tnstinctively everybody did so, abu they knew |. more. ot why. But it was as well they did so, for almost nediately afterwards two explosions, so close upon h othe ar oH they might almost be Peat aie one, ness. 5 i | a sae 8 Sunde Me e Gh - ning of VEMEN T B. sa Te ‘rose up and disappeared in the. direction ee a i Ppinenadoa almost as deafening as ine roar ore 4s door which Jim had closed, but did not break through. - 5 (tae es By RON tal ay Me Ot Ee ih, Ae i te x ey aie ee Ao aif any ae Ce PS . A “ if ¥ 5 : Sra oe Al a "ip +1 4 se , . atte ' : ; ’ Pee oa ‘LAGOON. the explosions. Something thundered against the “Go to the sentries,” said Morse, “‘and relieve them — from all ae Jim, open that door, but do’ at. cau= 7 Sule a tiously.” i one Jim opened it as desired, and saw outside a mass of | fallen stones and rubbish. Sons big stones had fallen — a was completely blocked. A cnn \ : enemy in the rear, dumbfounded and dismayed, heard against the door, anda short distance vO it the way if ot -. PX ~ “They will not come in that way in a hurry,” said Morse. “TI gave them a few trifles with the catapult, but I do not suppose I did much execution. All who — were busy preparing to blow down the wall have been buried under it. I do not suppose there are more i: than half a dozen. But surely ee last hint will suffice for them, and they will now go.” We ao iy _ “Thave said it before, and I say it again,” ’ said Sim, a Morse, you are a wonderful fellow.” ag : Then, as if moved by one impulse, the boys Brive into cheering, and, dashing out into the courtyard, re- newed their demoneteltions of joy so loudly that ‘the — ‘ » yl hiker them. Nay, even to a lonely ship out at -sea extended the sound, and. the seamen of the watch, unable to tell exactly whence it came, talked of a coming storm, or Ba } it might be an eruption from stern Vesuvius, whieh — es | often gave out warning rumblings far away from the a seat of his violent action. : CHAPTER CLXVIII. ne MOVEMENT BY THE LAGOON. | Nn LTHOUGH there was no part of the castle accessible to the boys that gave them a view of the position of | the enemy, and — i: \_< NM oe 0 ou eee a AlaEad-. -— on wy \ \ rr = \ Wy =“ E wr « \ |}they could only guess = recent exploit, it was : certain that for a time: i the siege was given up. The morning came, and the cannon boomed no Not a sound was heard from the woods, ania "in the direction of Silver Bay, the moored. boats be- — longing to Lucia di Valo’s men, anchored close inshore, rocked idly on the sea. They could be seen from the summit: of the great ‘tower. | art Wp ; et an i We $ was in so preneaia a wintry day.» The sid us Rit a ih a com nicbook KS.COI ies the fullresults of Morse’s ; ia } et