The Island School — page 102: what you’re looking at

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

YT is 7 ‘i as - md, i) a E DOW? be! ? 4 Cy VV . | beh ee ae SN m) ‘ Fi yee ve tik A i | ™ are ahs rien Ga im ae ya ae vee x secu f stat ea 7" e, Hy 4 oe te At - ee ra ol Hee: iyi bi vey “ihe At ate ae yey bY} si 4 is ‘ ry ‘our sins were many, centuries ago Ww en 2 this island | ‘A He found ne on the alert, watching the retreat . _ had its great city. It is here still, but no eye has 1 _ seen it these many generations, for if one of the Fer- Bs _ mentera race enters it, he dies.” Beis &6 Giuseppo, you jest with me.” “No; itis true. In the centre of the island stands the city of Voga. Long years ago it was filled with _ our people, who were of a gay nature, and they made ‘ae ‘it a mart for the devil, performing ceremonies in a | “mockery of all that was good. One morning every, creature in the place vanished !” “ Vanished ?” : “ Ay, they were caught up asin a sae and _ borne away to expiate their sins. And over each gate of the city swung a flaming sword, threatening any a who dare to enter therein again. A curse was laid bi ue upon it, to remain. for ever uninhabited and silent as the tomb, and he who dares to enter therein dies!’ Ri None stared at Giuseppo, who spoke with an i intensity that showed his full ae: in the story. “You doubt me?” he said. - ao scat “eee f eee Oe he ee oo . ’ ~ a - os eae 4“ How can I believe ?” asked Vampa. i “Prove and believe,” said Giuseppo. “ To-morrow fe: _we shall stay here, and for more days also, perhaps, ih _ Instriking straight across the island due south from here, we shall find on the summit of this cliff there is Per a belt of wood. You wili soon be through it, and then in the distance you will see the accursed city. i - Go down and visit it if you will, but ere you enter its "gates bid adieu to all you love on earth.” _ T will go,” said Vampa; “for of a surety it is a a strange story, and I do not believe it.” _ -Now Jim had already visited the city mithont coming to an untimely end. So far, the story told by B Giuseppo was not terrifying to him, but the rest of ee een many parts of the mori deserted cities are to be found whose origin and strange fate are shrouded in _ mystery. : That lecends should spring up and be handed dow _ isnatural, And the legend of the city, as told Be ey the Fermentera people, was one of these, Jim could not dwell upon the matter, for he had _ present and more pressing affairs toattend to. Anon there was a movement towards the sea by the F- smugglers. he lucky drawers of the white stones went on board the sailing craft, and, with their small landing Muost trailing behind, sailed away before the increasing - afternoon breeze. | The small boat of the launch was still on sabes the sole means of communicating with the land. There pe tnemore of importance to note, and revolving of rescue ba iis ca Tima ae back to ane Hd dia FW) i a vig | al 14 ing smugeler-boat with wondering interest. ' close attention it was entitled to. from generation to generation, and be fully believed in, pina Jim they tossed up their caps with joy, for they had got it into their heads that its departure boded no. good to him. ee “Now, my lads,” he said, assuming: his captain-of- | the-mail-boat tone, “if we are cool se steady all will Am yet be well. Squat ye on the ground and let me tell youastory. But first of all, Romeo, give me some- ; thing to eat and drink. Iam famishing.” | en “Things must be looking rosy, whispered Teeey to Ganthony, “ or Jim would not be in such high spirits, See him pitching into his grub. There’s an appetite for you. mepody, 2 in a state of misery could peg away in that style.” ) ss) Jim, being hopeful as well as hungry, did full juss tice to the simple viands Romeo was able to set before | him. Charley, the bear, watched the partaker with a curiously analytical air, as if he were beginning to seo more in Jim than he originally believed in. Finally he went over to Jim’s side and placed his huge heac upon his knees. ey ‘How are you, old fellow?” said Jim, cheerily. ae Charley snuffled a bit, and Jim patted his head. Then the bear settled down by his side, and thence — Hy forth Romeo, though much loved by Cie bt number two in the book. Rap Jim told his story, and it was listened to with fee . Afterwards he laid i: ‘ his plans before his chums. WA ‘i : “One of us,” he said, “‘ must, as soon as it is dark, et manage to get possession of the small boat belong ging to the launch, the ‘ Dart,’ and go on board. His first — an duty will be to release Changeling , who in ten eS) minutes will have the oil-engine aie Then he — must get up steam and head for home. It is necessary — that the launch should arrive before Giuseppo or his crew can get there. The chief smuggler, as soon | as he finds the launch is gone, will strike across the 7 island to join his friend, whom he stiil believes to be a Bo there. Disappointed, he may be pees to do some iy | mischief out of sheer spite.” “ How long will it take the launch to get home ?” asked Morse, thoughtfully. a “More than a day and night, I fear,” answered *_ Jim, “as neither Changeling nor myself know the > ft coast thoroughly, and we shall have to give it a widish © ont Wie berth.” ie: “Well, that doesnt matter as far as you are cons a cerned, iar ae he Tl am going with the launch.” es se fe & Oh!” | ‘ a e “You,” continued Jim, “will take command of the as rest here. 2nd do your best to worry Giuseppo. You can retreat to ty and lay up there until we come « seope see | to ce you. | | Rang Noe oe ty f. \ Wh oh ae ee i : TM ‘y ; ey Nia ane tw 7 y pul : ‘ ry * oe md 0 vole » a ba us me fut \? F eat) # ais . Zo%