The Island School — page 378: what you’re looking at

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

to come to the rescue. AN ANXIOUS. NIGHT. 3 there must be some road out of this jungle of peril ? Bian - But by what road? Not by the sea, for they had mo boat. Not by the way he had come, for it would be impossible to get helpless women across the water. _ Then there came a ray of hope. Might they not steal over the rocks between the enemy and get to the boats below in the lagoon? They might even ‘shut the foe up on the rocky land—for a time, any- way—by taking away all the boats, There was one chance, and he roused himself from thought to give it utterance.. But the answer that came from Sleery showed that it could not be done without sacrificing Mrs. Farrell. “‘ She’s dead lame!” said he. . “ Eveline,” said Jim, “must be saved. Romeo, you could_guide her to the boats, and the rest of us could remain to fight it out.” “ Miss Eveline neber leab her moder,” said Romeo. “Of course not. I might have thought of that. (ne thing yet remains to be done. Romeo, you must. away to the castle and let them know there the fix we arein. I donot ask them to risk their lives State the case, and tell them they are to do as they please. You have four hours to get there and back. If,’ added Jim, “they will mot come, do:not throw away your life by returning here. It will be a needless sacrifice.” “Dat “bout what me shall do,” muttered Romeo, | *' Good-bye all, frens, if me nebber see you again.” He slipped out and vanished in the gloom, as he scaled the rocks with naked feet and without a sound, © “"Bout de bess son dat eber bress a fader,” said Hamlet, scooping a tear out of his eye. ‘“‘De comfyter ob my ole age,” sobbed Macbeth. And, despite the troublous nature of their position, the listeners smiled. They were amused to learn how circumstances changed their views of the gentle Romeo. In times of peace Romeo was all that a son should not be, but when there was war and terror in the air, who so perfect as he ? They might never see him more. Therefore did they, after the manner of mankind, mourn the dear departed. And they were a little maudlin on their own account, for in whispers they began to bemoan their lot, and to repent of their lives in general. | Macbeth, being the elder, was the more fervent in his utterances of repentance. ) But a request from Jim for silence closed their tale ‘of woe and sorrow, and in grim stillness another hour passed away. “Romeo has not been stopped,” said Jim, speaking in a low anid.guarded tone. It was perhaps more of a hopeful expression than a positive assertion. Nevertheless, the stillness was encouraging. Romeo would not have yielded himself up to an enemy without some show of resistance. He certainly would have made his voice heard, unless he had been attacked from behind and suddenly struck down. “Let those who can, get a little sleep,” said Jim. ‘We may want all our strength for the morrow.” “T am that ’ere wakeful,” murmured Changeling, “that I couldn’t sleep fora week. Mister Gordon, you had better lie down.” | Jim understood him. It was Changeling’s -way of taking the first watch upon himself. ‘For an hour, then,” he said ; “but do not make a mistake. I must be aroused after a short sleep. All our lives may.depend upon. it.” They all knew that. Not one there possessed the ready wit to act if. an emergency arose. Changeling faithfully promised to arouse him, as near as he could guess, In an hour’s time. All but Changeling huddled under the shelter, and sleep came to them asa boon. Jim went right away into unconsciousness, and for an hour anda half never stirred. Changeling was about to arouse him, when he awoke suddenly. His faculties cleared as breath flies from a mirror at high noon, and he emerged from the shelter, giving himself a shake to dispel the sense of chilliness. “You have let me lie too long,” he said. “T do not think it is more tham an hour,” answered Changeling. “Look at the stars.” Jim looked aloft, and saw by the position of the Great Bear that it was early times yet. “Go and lie down, Changeling,” he said. awaken you when I want you.” A slight sound away to the left caused him to turn sharply. “What was that ?” he asked. “ A bit of shingle shifted,’ Changeling answered. “ You can hear it, off and.on, all.night, just as you hear stairs in a house creaking. In my opinion, something is always moving.” Jim stood still listening, but the sound was not re- repeated. Whatever had caused it, it was very slight. Charley had come out with Jim, but he bade the bear return with Changeling. The bear was the ‘“‘ warming-pan” of the sleepers. So Charley went back, and Jim was left alone. “T will -comicbooks.com_