The Island School — page 168: what you’re looking at

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

THE RESULY OF went. Confound you for a miserable old skunk! what do you mean by coming to my room in this con- dition? Get out of it! Go and hang yourself, if you like !” Chorker got out with all speed. He saw itallnow. He had been made the victim of a practical joke by that villain Changeling. Bubbling over with wrath, he sought and found him smoking his pipe by the sea opposite the house. ’ “ Here,” he said, “ I want a word with you.” “‘ Hutter it,” said Spaneclne with SEP aes “and an pitches you into the sea.’ Chorker never spoke that word, it would not have _ been prudent to do so, for Changeling was.a man of his word, but, brimming with mortification, he sneaked into the house, and having begged some food from Romeo, retired to his room, and was seen no more _ that day. While this scene was being enacted there was a meeting held of the Council of Ten in the castle. In one corner of the room the beds and bedding used by those who had recently stayed there were packed up ready for removaltotheschoolhouse. The matter under discussion was the fact of some unknown visitor hay- ing paid a visit to the castle during the night, “I was last here last night,” said Morse, “and I put a light thread acrossthe gateway,in addition to spread- ing some light powder on the track. This morning I was the first to arrive. The thread was broken and the powder was indented with footsteps—those of a man.” “It must be Groby,” said Terry. “No,” answered Morse; “he would be wearing | boots or walking with naked feet. These footmarks were made by a man whose feet are wrapped in cloth in strips, such as some of the poorer Spaniards wear in place of boots when walking any distance.” “Then you infer that the stranger is a Spaniard ?” said Jim. “Yes,” replied Morse; “ besides, Groby has rather small feet for a man, but these marks were made by one whois flat-footed.” “Why should he come here at all ?” It was Ganthony’s question, and none could answer it, but allagreed it was necessary that the personality of this stranger should be ascertained with the least possible delay. “Tt occurred to me this morning, when thinking over matters,” said Jim, ‘‘that there is one coming danger—and possibly a great one—we have all over- looked.” “There may be many,” sententiously remarked Felton. “There is one that is certain,” Spaniard’s nature is revengeful. Like the Corsican, he goes in’ for an occasional vendetta. Now, if we had destroyed all who were here, there might not be mnch VHE BHXPHRIMENT. EEE said Jim—* the 141 to worry about. But some have got away, and they will return to their homes with their version of the death of their companions.” It will not be absolutely correct,” said Hillyard. ““No doubt,” continued Jim, “it will be a tissue of falsehoods. The ill-blood of the relatives of the men we were compelled to get rid of will be roused, and the possibility of their coming here in force is very apparent to me.” It was apparent to them all now, and they looked at each other with faces expressive of dismay. But Jim was not in the mood to speak apprehensively, save as @ warning. “The outcome of it is,’ he said, “that we must be prepared. The building of the forts must be re- sumed.” Suppose Nap objects ?” suggested Terry. “T will interview Mrs. Farrell, who will remove his. objections,” replied Jim. | ‘* Meanwhile,” said Morse, “I will lay a trap for the: intruder here.” The meeting then broke up, and, with the exception: of Morse, who went to his laboratory, they adjourned. to the incomplete earthworks to inspect them. Half an hour was spent in this way, and then Morse was seen coming out, walking backwards, and strew- ing some light powder on the ground. “You want another impression of the footsteps?” said Jim. “T want more than that,” answered Morse, in his. even way, “ and [shall get itif that fellow comes here again, or the rest of the day none of us must come. near the castle.” More than that he would notsay. He was far from being sure that an experiment he had on hand would be successful, and until he knew one way or the other he would say nothing. CHAPTER LXXIV. THE RESULT OF THE EXPERIMENT, A \ ITHOUT §reveal- ing their fears of tye ah fi NG | a further in- wy al vasion of the ie 1 H Dy enemy, themem- ey, bers of the Council of Ten conveyed to. the school generally that it was impera- tive that the works at the Redan and the Roman Camp should be: resumed. Accordingly the picks and spades and ore implements were got out, and in the afternoon rege) ee." Whe 00 (@{ @) MIC (@( 0) cS mn