The Island School — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

66 THE ISLAND SCHOOL been a-sufferin’? You don’t know how it was I’ve been starvin’, apperiently, for about three weeks?” « Am you redressing yousef to me?” inquired Romeo. “Who should I be a-speaking to ?” demanded Chorker. ‘ Larst night,, when we was in the cave together, who suddenly turned and bolted orf with the torches and every hatom o’ wittles ?” “¢ What wittles ?” asked Romeo. ‘“‘ Now, don’t you come that game with me !”’ roared Chorker. “ You blacking-bottle! What did you do it for ?” “What ’bout de time you was lef in dat asked Romeo, with a cunning leer. “Nich on two in the mornin’,” “do you deny it?” . ‘¢T was not dere,” said Romeo. “Well, one moment. Didn't we go there about mine o'clock ?” “Twas at home ’bout dat time. Ax grandfader Macbeth if I wasn’t. Arter supper I went to bed, and was in depose till dis mornin’, Ax my fader Hamlet if it am not so.” “The question is,’ interposed Martin, ‘‘ why did either of you go to the caveat all ?” That,’ said Chorker, feebly, ‘is not to the p’int.” _ Anyway,” rejoined Martin, “ we don’t want to be bothered about the why and wherefore of it. We thought you were murdered, and made a lot of bcther about you.” “Nobody axed you to do it,” growled Chorker ; “and havin’ done it, without bringing me so much as a biscuit, | don’t see what you have to brag about.” “Nobedy s bragging,” said Martin, sternly. “ Get along home with you, for an ill-conditioned old skunk!” “And him to say dat me was dere!” exclaimed Romeo—* me! Youax ole Macbeth whar me was. Alser my fader. Gorysmash, what am de ole fool +alkin’ ob 2” . Chorker, snorting and bristling, pegged on ahead, declining to discuss the question further. They let him go, and, their minds being easy concerning the possibility of another tragedy, the rest sauntered on at their leisure. Jim fell behind with Romeo, who carried himself with an air of injured innocence. “Romeo !” “Yes, Massa Gordon.” * What was the idea of visiting the cave ?” _“ How me tell, Massa Gordon, if me not dere P” But you were there.” ‘Ti you say so, Massa Gordon, it useless to say de oder way. We was dere ’cause old Chorker tink dere am 2 lot ob treasure hid in dat cave. caves got treasure in dem, ’cos it put eee so inde books,” You imp of hevil! = 09? Cave: answered Cherker ; He say dat all. “What books ?” Romeo scratched his Head and looked pusdled “Me never see dem, Old Chorker say dey Say 80. But lor ! Massa Gordon, dere was no treasure in dat cave, nuffin’ but de groun’ and de damp and de sperrits. So me say to him, ‘Am you comin’ out ob dis 2 ” “T see ; you soon had enough of it ?” “Dat so. He say, ‘I am not comin’ out ob dis, and you go, on de peddel ob you life.’ “Dat was puttin’ on de ’perious wif me,” said Romeo, indignantly, “and ’cordin’ly me turn round and walk orf. He holler and I run; den flopI go and put out de torch. Den-when this chile come to feel for de box ob matches dey am gone. Derefore dere am nothin’ for me to do but to get out ob de caveas soon asme can. But fust de wittles hab to be reposed ob, and me do it, listening to Ole Chorker hollerin’ til! he fit to bust. ~ After dat, habin’ eatin almost eberyting and reposed ob de inside contents ob de bottle, me haba short sleep. Firanally, wakix up, me make tracks and come to de mouf ob de cave somehow and get long home. Dat de trufe, Massa Gordon, and nuffin’ more.” “Tt strikes me,” said Jim, “that one day you will get into serious trouble. But for the present you will understand that you are my servant. Mr. Groby has banded you over to me.” “Dat good business,” * What you *bout to do?” Twill let you know when the time comes,” Jim. The return of Chorker to the house was an im-, mense relief to all. Not so much on his account, but because 1t disposed of the mistaken theory of foul play. He lost no time in alee his way to the kitchen, where from an interview with Macbeth and Hamlet he obtained their confirmation of Romeo’s story. In return hetold them his own, leaving out the treasure part of it. “There may be two Romeos,” he said,in conclusion, “but if there ain’t, one of us is a har.” “You refleck on dis,” said Macbeth, with crushing Cen “ dat we tink as you do, but de har not 1m my Family.” “ Give me somethin’ to eat,” said Chorker, wearily, and they fed him until he was well filled, after which he stole away to his room and slept until the shades of night had fallen, Nothing was seen of the launch, and early on the following morning Jim climbed up a high point of the land and scanned the sea in search of signs of her. Inthe horizon there was a smoke-track, but too much of it to emanate from so small avessel. The launch was not in view. * The fool /’ he muttered, and as he mentioned no said Romeo, with a grin. said @f @ ) aa ( @ efoye) ‘Ss (St @ ) mn