The Island School — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

of . ~ © ~ ~ Oe zm © -~ i — si _ clear. brains out. See A Fe Lois hinge ee te iB i aS Pp J f ddet eon liquid, which Lal, on a Ee it, declared ‘to be frum, / _Chorker, and with a mechanical movement they parted. Lal poured some of the liquid into ne mouth, and _ it went down his throat, as Stiff declared, “as naturally "as possible.” This stimulant brought back some of the scattered wits of the old man, who turned his eyes from one to the other and slowly recognised them.” “Bless yer, boys, fer coming,” he said, huskily, “T’ve been nearly as dead as Phairy.” “Who's been aboard of you?” asked Jim. “ A lot o’ warmints,” answered Chorker. ’ “ That goes without saying, seeing how wy uley treated _ you. Who were they °” “Blest if I_know. The cut of their jibs was Spanish, and they tuk the mail-bags — “Took our mails ?” | | “That they did,” said Chorker. ‘They was in a egish boat, that overhauled me inno time. I didn’t expeck any mischief until they was within a few yards on me, going on the same line side by side, Then up jumps one with a gun, that looked to me to ‘| be about twelve feet long, and he p’ints it straight at_ my head, saying something in a lingo I couldn’t under- stand. But it was a haction that made his meanin’ It meant, if I didn’t heave to he’d blow my }- Give us another drop out of that bottle.” ‘He looked as if he wanted it, so it was administered to him, and he resumed his story. “T brought the boat dead up in the eye of the wind, and they came aboard, three on’em. They knocked me down, tied me up as you found me, and then chucks the mails-bags inter their boat. Then they | On the felucca sail right atop of me and goes_ away.” fe What time was thiz 2” asked Jim. “Apout eleven, I reckon, as near as I can eidae I warn’t above two mile off the shore at the time, for I was standing -off and on easy like looking for the. smoke of the steamer.” | “ Did you notice where the boat came from ?” “Not at the beginning ; but it seemed, when I did spot it, to be coming from the island, somewhere on a line with Silver Bay.” “We had better get back Sabnts ” said Jim, abruptly ; “this is a thing that must be looked to. Give a hand with the sail. Il run the felucca home.” The felucca grounded on the shore, and the boys springing out, hauled it up, so as to make it secure against drifting. | Old Chorker went stumping on in the direction of 7 és _ the » schoolhouse, and the boys, full of their portentous t d in 5, spe fee ~~ cS towards the castlo. a ae iat: x NV oe | fa tet i “i Wat \ ain Ione Gace aba Meat “BOXED UP ON THE ISLAND. Usp vate ia Oar Danie yp Oe They put the mouth of the bottle to the lips of CHAPTER XVII. | BOXED UP ON THE ISLAND. HEY were all very merry by the castle when the boys oD and Chorker appeared. Ap-_ a parently their absence had — i not been observed. ‘ ye It was past four, and the | three niggers, having lighted Me a fire, were boiling some water for tea-making. The * ponpalmaciee looking brighter than Jim had seen My him for days, was lying on the sward near his wife : and daughter, with whom he was chatting. fhe: The other masters were near, occasionally joining : in the conversation. he: On the battlements of the old castle, Martin, Sccry, ty he ni, op ma —_ 5% ee Sao >} eB aes 4 ay ne ‘et seam and others of the men, including Rob Changeling, . were seen lounging by the wall with their pipes in full ~ * blast. Below, the boys were resting from their iM labours, gathered in groups, exchanging jests or ng sarcasms, according to their dispositions, as they Rei | resumed their upper clothing. . : Morse was inspecting the work done with the _ ‘ gravity of a full-blown foreman, but on espying 7 en - ss he went forward to great him. “Where have you been?” he asked. “ What's — i wrong? Ican see you have something totell.” Be, “ Chorker has been robbed of the mail-bags, replied — a Jim,in an undertone. ‘ Don’t make any fuss about it as yet. ZI must see Nap. Lal and Stiff, you oe a mum for a bit over the lost bags.” hi ig “ All night,” was the reply. ; i “ Come with me, Morse,’ said Jim; “it seems a pity. a to upset Nap. We locks happy for a change. But ib hae must be cone.” Wi “Do you propose to suggest anything to him! on im “Yes. You will nea what: it is when I put it to ne i him. Back me up.” oir, ny Morse nodded assent, and Jim, presenting hiniete ye i before the schoelmaster, dofted his cap to the ladies. iy. aa ' ds “Come back, sir,” he said. ie tity) ‘“‘T was certain—at least, I have been so during the Jast hour—that nothing could have gone wrong. I : saw the felucca returning with your boat in tow. My — daughter Eveline pointed it out to me from the a i yonder.” - i “There is something I should like to show you, an sir,” said Jim. “It canno$ beseenfromhere. Ifyou — 4 would not mind coming up to the battlements of the castle it will be clearly visible.” ie “ Will not after tea do?” asked the echoolmaster, he lazily. | “Tea will not be fealy, for half an how,” said i it bis mic boo cS ue al hi} eee ee sisi open ae col co Ay wy iA) un. Ne AS ay