The Island School — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

36 they would think of, and the deputation bowed them- selves out of the room. This was just before breakfast, but for more than an hour previous Jim and Morse had been busy arrang- ing for the beginning of their proposed work. All the available spades, pickaxes, hatchets, saws, rope for hauling down timber, and other things need- ful, were being hunted up, the whole school assisting, save afew who were in the post-office preparing the mail-bags for departure. Chorker wascleaning up the felucca with the other men around him. They were allto have an idle day. ‘Why not make a pleasure-party of it P” suggested Martin. “A blow at sea willdo us all good. The boat can carry the lot.” ‘What she can carry, and what she is agoin’ to take,” replied Chorker, “are two different things.” “Do you mean to say you are going alone ?” asked Martin, - “T does,” answered Chorker. “Take me, anyway,” patheticaily suggested Kob Changeling, grinning all over his face. “Td as soon take a bag o’ pison with me,” grunted Chorker. “Once for ali,I goesalone. Now, then, gi’ me room to twist my mop.” They gave him room, to avoid a sprinkling, and alter some remarks about his being an old curmudgeon, and other equally objectionable things, they left him alone with Rob Changeling. ‘““Chorker,” said Rob, temper, anyways. party on it ?” “ Because it’s real business,” replied Chorker ; “ the mail-boat people would think I was a-giving you a sail at thruppence ahead. Besides, I prefers your room to your company.” “Well,” said Rob, “if I was of your dispersition, I'd ask somebody to tie a hundredweight of iron to my feet, and sink me in fiye fathoms of water. I had a dream about you last night.” “Jigger your dreams!” growled Chorker. “You was jiggered in my dream, if that is any com- fort to you,” said Rob Changeling. “A nice mess you were in !” | “T don’t want to hear nothin’ about it.” “You was in the hands of pirates——” “ Dreams is all lies—derlusions.” * And tied neck and heels together, and left (6 Old Chorker picked up his mop and whirled it threateninely over his head. “Go and tell your dreams to them as believes in ‘em !” he roared. ‘‘What do you take me for—a baby ?” Pha “Well,” said Rob, “I thowt I’d tell you, for when I dreams as I did last night, the things come true.” “yon don't improve in Why couldn’t you have made a THE ISLAND SCHOOL, — Whistling softly, he walked away, leaving Chorker troubled, in spite of himself. He always professed not to be in the least superstitious, but he was like most people, he could not help thinking there was something in certain signs and omens—and, perhaps, dreams. } On the whole, he was sorry now that he was going alone, and yet what a foolish idea it was to talk about pirates in the Mediterranean! Who had ever heard of such a thing ? “The idjot,’’ muttered Chorker, “is allus trying to skeer me. But I ain't the man to be took in with his dreams.” The summons to breakfast soon turned his thoughts into a more agreeable channel, and having the felucca now in readiness for sea, he hastened indoors with the throng. There was an all-round disposition to hurry over the meal, so as to make the most of the day ahead. Even Macbeth, Hamlet, and Romeo were on their mettle, and performed their wonted duties with more than usual alacrity and despatch. They were stimilated thereto by the prospect of a naif-holiday for themselves. In the afternoon, “if they were good”—Mrs, Farrell put it that way—they would be allowed to go out and assist the boys. She and her husband and daughter would also be there—looking on. In short, the whole house would be out enjoying themselves. A rough kind of tea was to be served in the open alr. | Breakfast over, the boys were off, with Morse and Jim Gordon at their head,and in a few minutes they were marching up the path in the direction of the castle, some with pickaxes on their shoulders, others with spades, and all--or nearly all—carrying some of © the other requisites. Martin and the men—Chorker alone excepted— followed at their leisure, and took their seats upon the bridge of the castle, or on convenient places, where they could obtain a view of the proceedings. Morse and Jim had their plans ready. On the left-hand ‘side of the castle, on a level patch of ground a short distance below the old building, a fort, shaped on the Redan principle, was to be made. it may briefly be lhkened to a straight line of moderate length, with two wedge-shaped projections from it. In front they proposed to fix a sloping stockade of pine, each piece of timber to have a pointed top. In this position, chosen with the eye of a general, the approach from below was well covered, and an ~ assaulting party under fire would have hot work cut out for them. On the other side of the castle, and nearly on the same level, the fort was to be on the principle of an 900 Mic (ele) (E{ @) CS mn