The Island School — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

HE FOE IN “THE ‘CHINE. pe ¢ and got into ‘the ‘engine-room. “They've druv bits of PALIN : engine. It a ‘gies a bet fur me fe drill ’em out ___ and to get the engine in order again.” “We are boxed up on the island, by Jove!” ex- “All right, Rob. RS «That's so,” said Tay eee | We must put off ie ‘Get to work as soon as you can. our little trip for a week.” — CHAPTER XVIII. THE FOE IN THE CHINE. crisis wasat hand. Both the _ boys saw it was so, and there was on them both a settled conviction that something must be done, otherwise they must be prepared to perhaps—to the cunning foe hidden in the chine. | “The stealing of our letters keeps the condition of 6% things hidden from our friends; the injury to | the engine of the launch prevents our leaving the by oe | ‘sland. y iy Thus spake Jim Gordon, and in his heart there was i | a feeling bordering on terror—not for himself so much ee as on'account of others. | Morse did not answer him for a moment. He was __ zaleulating the odds against them in the fashion of iis methodical mind. a “ Jim,” he said, “I wonder if those fellows could be «scared away ?” ‘jag “ Who is to scare them 2” asked Jim. “It think I could do it,” said Morse, “if I could | _ only get at them.” ss “What is your idea ?” asked Jim. i “Improved melenite,’ was the somewhat vague reply. “ET think if you could put it near enough,” said Jim, “it would scare them from the island and lift _ them half-way to the stars. For my part, I don’t see y _ that we need be too punctilious in getting at those wretches. They murdered Stebbing.” TY would rather frighten than kill—at present,” : é answered Morse. “We are awfully young to go _ blowing up men wholesale. Of course, if we were ; attacked, and killed our man in fair fight, it would be em a different thing. You go on to the house. Iam off _ to see if they are still there.” “Th at! go prowling into the chine in dayhghti P would be 1 madness.” iii “Tai not goi oe into hon Hse said Morse. | a 2 AEG salto deMagn ROR inti by fig: nen gh if ‘ f ye iy) Hy an men “gt ay! i eis ' ay re it ths ie ‘That M) Thea ’ 3 4 WN? Piernit'e Ai 4 '; J : y lose all—their very lives, the sack, and saw that the arms of this unfortunate — be take, and was getting indifferent on the matter. ¥ (| i, i mits , by He waved his hand as a signal for his companion — i not to accompany him, and breaking into a trot, be fakes hastened off in the direction of the chine. Jim called i He for him to come back, but getting no answer , let him sa 50. Pe He was inclined to follow him, but knowing Morse tp was neither rash nor foolish in anything he did, he. an gave up the idea and went on to the house. | Br Nobody, of course, had as yet returned, and. ho! gf went round to the back to see if Chorker was visible. — f The window of the scullery was open. miei ey It was, as most sculleries are, rather dirty sina 4 in a a pe sloppy condition. Opposite the window was a door, Hy beyond that a passage, and at the end of it the a kitchen. . "a Jim knew the sepa of the place well, althoushie cae % he had rarely been there. Occasionally, in ae gone” fies: by, the boys had in small parties invaded the domestic retreats to play practical jokes on one or all the trio Ms a of niggers, and that was how Jim knew the place. __ Opening the door, he saw, to his utter amazement, Old Hy a Chorker lying at full length, with the upper bate of his body enveloped in a dirty sack. | a This time his legs were secured, and he was entirely ae i helpless. He could not even kick signals of distress. | Jim lost no time in cutting the cords that bound him, first taking note of the fact that they were tied i ia by a skilled hand at the business. Then he pulled of ‘ bi by ; old man were securely lashed to his body. Sy ae “Why, Chorker,” he said, “who played this joke. oe A upon you?” by ae “ Joke, do you call it P” almost howled aH old man, . to ‘“Is it a joke to come up behind a man, give him a a whack under the ear, knock him down flat, and then on do this—this—to him ?” is AG “ “Then you didn’t get anything to eat?” said Jim. Ria.’ “Me? No! Could you eat trussed like an old G rooster, and with your head in a sack ?” was the sare Ve question. “Now, young Gordon, don’t you come the 3 innercent with me. I knows you, and I ani them ele a as was with you, and I'll have you to know Bi) o - “ Pshaw !” angrily interrupted Jim ; i ae you think | We we had any hand in it ?” ; Chorker climbed back through the window, and: Jim i a followed. He wisely reflected that he had no right ad to go prowling about the house, and, apart fromthe fact that rf a foe were there it would be exceedin sly ae perilous, he had no warranty for doing it. His motive, too, might be misinterpreted. aie Old Chorker was making for the pathway to the i ey. castle, and Jim, keeping him in sight, went that way | too. He was not sure what steps the old man would © et was certain that now all must come out, and perhaps | a it Re be just. as well, | oe | hay ‘com chooks ‘s.com — Hy yey ; hr A halh : i LLL Ghia ais