The Island School — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

t Sti * Jue & bay ani a4 ,t A . ror aye 5 > Eee Dow n> ‘ney ai A ty Yay 24 f Re hy . eta? co wih é of . " Es re ie ae that the jae ce one or more of ihe ok group of rascals would be a very serious crime ig aes would embitter their after life. - *> é J the > Pcl Ar thie, Perea - Wathen YY ¥ rr i AYN “iid Mis 7 Jim started, with s some sixty yards to run ere he ae the boat. He ran with a light step that would not have attracted attention, but one of the sd ee leaning over to expostulate with a brother Bh gambler, was attracted by the gleam of the fire SLI i on the barrel of his rifle. From he rifle to Jim himself was an easy transition ae iH 2 — of sight, and, with a yell of alarm, the smu uggler sprang to his feet. 4 — i Strangers ! !” he cried. ‘ In a moment they were all up, and, omens round, Y beheld Jim making all speed for the boat. He was a: then within ten or a dozen yards of it. se _ Drawing their weapons, they made for him as one ae man, to capture or kill him. | Bh Jim did not halt to fire, but on reaching the boat, j 4 he gave ita violent push off, and as it glided into the 4 Z sea he leapt into it. ! _ Smart as the action was, he sorta probably have been captured but for the coolness of his friends. ie “Cover them,” whispered Morse. “ Fire!” ia ‘He set the example by levelling his rifle and pulling the trigger. The three others did the same, and three # oe of the four shots told, bringing the same number of smugg glers to the ground. ‘The rest pulled up short for a few brief moments, Bi _ which gave Jim time to get the oars into the rowlocks, and, with a few vigorous ee to propel the boat into deep water. | # i That done, he added éD the confusion of the smug- | g lers by firing his own weapon, with so guod an effect | * h ats another of the enemy fell. } Ne Meanwhile, Morse and his assistants had reloaded, and, without delay, fired again. q the wildness of aim on the part of Felton and Terry, i. _ only two more came to grief. But it sufficed. The Spaniards were thoroughly " : eee and completely demoralised. In a wild, pur- | - poseless way they drew their revolvers, and fired _ them right and left at random. Jim pulled away out ‘ of reach, and his friends, having done all they deemed _ necessary, beat a retreat. ne no “They are not likely to follow us,” said Morse ; ais ea on ‘never saw a lot of fellows so scared in my life. But it’s s all up with our big find, the ‘ Caligula.’ To-mor- =i v they will, i in seeking us, spot her, and the rich ott t the at should have been, ours will be theirs.” of Wha nat xa ie. spon the with i it?” asked hs he y y are ec Q , 1% 1a dies uw sayy ; ie ih "Ay valet Lil gyetn ay hy " We . i rie ' Rit ; ALA iat “g V7, re \ iy ta i B hel amy biga 7 OM a ” es ig wt . By hi % ie oe és At Y ( ; { This time, owing to wi, ‘ Ny iy ie h: a We Sh es #5 ran “3101 HL. 3 | | tt So are we ion the time,” grimly replied Me ae {We are in the position of those who are shut in a place with a number of wild beasts.” i ‘Some are out of it,” said Ganthony. “T hope so. Now, boys, back to Romeo, and after R a few hours’ rest we will away to the accursed city. On my word, I should like to know the truth abo oi its dcaolation. Something extraordinary must have: occurred to depopulate it.” “You may never know,” said Felton. “Tl get at it from somewhere,” said Morse. They were not pursued. The dismayed smu ogler eo | | with a third of their number ors de combat, with no _ remnant of safety in darkness. real idea of the strength or individuality of their a a enemies, were thoroughly cowed, and one of the first a ah things they did was to scatter the fire, so as to find, ey: ie Of their comrades who had fallen, two were iailleld "i a outright and three wounded, more or less seriously. yo (i boat, and climbed on board without making any noise — never dare to.” ay : ea ite Hin 1 The latter cried aloud for their comrades to help 4 We them, but no notice was taken of their appeal. Hach — Ry i man of the remnant of the crew thought of himself oe alone. “ pa They sought safety during the night by idan a in yi ‘such crevices as they could find in the clifis,and there — we wili leave them, and follow Jim in the boat. ; Owing to the scattering of the fire by the smugglers, | the darkness of the night, and there being no light on board the “ Dart,” he was in some difficulty i in finding " her. ine The dark colour cf her hull was also against him, Pe but after pulling round for a while, he, to his joy, saw . i her looming faintly against the slightly Sa a 3 a cent waves. | D mai He drew up to the stern, secured the painter Be that ‘i that could have been heard a dozen yardsaway. He knew it was his duty to go to Changeling first, Mt so as to get the “ Dart’ under way with the least ‘ possible delay, but he could not resist just listening % a ng at the door of the chief cabin, from whence came i He NK Oe sounds of lamentation. eH Nh ee To his surprise, and not a little to his disgust, he ii Bae discovered that it was Mr. Farrell who was bewailing na a a his hard fate, while Mrs. Farrell and Eveline endeavs Reh a oured to comfort him. Bie “Only think of such a fate befalling me,” he was. saying, as Jim, having softly crept to the bottom of the stairs, placed his ear against the keyhole of tho door; “the villains undoubtedly mean to murder me.” ee My dear,” expostulated Mrs. Farrell, “ they would _ ' ts : Ct ue he NY h aN “ As they did not do it at first,” Eveline was heand tke to say, “they may not intend going to such an ex~ pais i m any nA ’ way,” iy: batt Wh pate he ! * it A = ‘ j i { ¢ a rl . e yey Th ee rf “iz nee nt Ni). ‘ Fig SUR es Ny 4 ¢ ai i re ‘ 1. 4 " , oh *: : na Mee ts all wory well for aol to sean in hts mi tit 4 oh ‘i i) ee t te we GOL : : ; Ah ” ur