The Island School — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

45 The chief talk was of the Spaniards, their mys- terious stay upon the island, and abrupt departure under the influence of terror. Morse, quietly eating his breakfast, refused to discuss the subject. “It is nothing,” he said, mysteriously. ‘One of these days I will show you something to make you blink.” One feeling prevailed—it was curiosity to see the place where the explosion had taken place. As, how- ever. the school had been closed the day before, it was doubtful if anyone would be allowed to go before the afternoon; but, to the general joy, it was Mr. Farrell who announced, without being approached on the subject, that the visit would take place that morning immediately after breakfast. He himself would accompany them, and all who desired to go to the chine were to assemble outside the house as soon as possible after the ris meal was over. It is needless to say that the attendance was very strone. With the exception of Old Chorker, who openly stated that the yarn about the Spaniards was all hes, there was not an absentee. It was reckoned they would get back by half-past ten, when some of the usual scholastic duties could be attended to. Now that all the danger was over, Mr. Napoleon Farrell became the general again. As his great name- sake might have marshalled his old warriors to visit with him the scene of their glorious exploits, so did he form all his dependents and pupils into a sort of pro- cession and head it to the chine. Before they got very far in, the effect of the explo- sion was visible in the form of a landslip of rock, earth, and shrubs, which had fairly blocked a narrow part of the chine. It had shot down the entire mass like snow driven overthe edge of the cliff, and, to the wonder and dehght of the boys, the mouth of an unsuspected cave —the largest yet seen in the chine—was revealed. It was apparent that this cave had by some means been stopped up, and so, up to the present, hidden from view. Mr. Farrell halted his followers and surveyed the scene from below. He was thinking of improving the occasion by a little lecture on explosives; but when his audience, on being requested to be silent, had become so, the stillness was broken by a loud groan. Where it came from none at that moment could tell. Mr. Farrell frowned. i trust,” he said, “that there will be no unseemly jesting on the part of anyone here.” Another groan responded. “It came from up there,” the cave. “Impossible!” said Mr. Farrell, “Who should be there to groan ?” “It came from that direction, sir,” said Terry, pointing to turning pate. sald Gordon. THE ISLAND SCHOOL. “Why not go up and see who originated it ?” sug- gested Mr. Groby. “Tf any of you wish to do so,” said the hesitating schoolmaster; and ere he could say more, there was a breaking away of the boys, and a general scrambling up the rugged mass in the direction of the cave. The elder and more active among the boys forged on ahead, and Terry, who happened to get a good start, led the way. When he was about two-thirds of the way up, he was seen to halt, stagger a bit, and then tare y up his hands in horror. “‘ Boys!” shouted Mr. Farrell, ‘“‘ come back !” But Terry retreated no further; and as he was joined by Brodie, Morse, and two or three more, he made a hurried motion, pointing to a big stone projecting from the disordered ground of the slope. Brodie came tearing down. The rest went on, and were seen to stop and wonderingly examine some- thing. “ What is it?” asked Mr. Farrell, as Brodie leaped down to the level near him. “A man’s head—a black man’s—sticking out of the cround, sir!” he replied. And then from aloft there came a cry of “ It’s Romeo !” “Romeo!” exclaimed the schoolmaster. came he there ?” But he put the question to the aoe air, for all else, including Brodie, were making their way upwards. It was indeed Romeo, buried up to the chin in the ground, and the soil was pressing against him with inconvenient firmness, by reason of his having a huge piece of rock close in, before and behind him. There was, however, a considerable quantity of soft earth between, or it would have been all over with that hapless nigger. “ How He was in a very bad-way in any case, having passed. many hours in avery painful position, and scarcely able to breathe. He was just able to groan and no more. The boys had no proper tools for removing the soil and extricating him, but they utilised sticks and pointed stones, and also their pocket-knives, azid even their hands, to remove the earth and dislodge the smaller stones mixed withit. Ere long he had his chest free, with the result that he could draw a longer breath, and managed to get out a word or two. ‘You jes’ in time, gen’Imen,” he said, “ you berry good.” ‘How did you get yourself in this fix?” asked Mr. Groby. Romeo closed his eyes again and croaned. “ De sperrits bring me ines he sa “Gammon!” said Mr. Groby. “But we won't. worry you with any more questions now. Here, give. 900 (Gf @ ) mn co CS