The Island School — page 176: what you’re looking at

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

| ‘THE FORTS CHAPTER LXXVITI. COMPLETED.—IN THE VINEYARD. THE FORTS ~ARLY in the morning the boys were up and we abroad to repair the damage done to the hut by Charley.. He had made an almost total wreck of it. 'Phree sides were more , Siskel! or less brought down, EEK, are ace ee pas and the fourth was, : = =a Zo as we know, the back of the post-office. The roof hung from it in a very disjointed, condition. “It must be made stronger next time,” said Jim, ruefully. : Whether Mr. Farrell knew or not that something had gone wrong did not appear, for he did not come mear the boys during the day, and by nightfall another hut was up, stronger in every way than the first. More buttresses were put up and the number of iron clamps trebled. Ganthony had a right to assume it was beyond Charley’s strength to break through. When brought out from the wood-house and led to ‘his improved residence, Charley eyed it with a curious look that some declared was a smile, but he entered it without dissent, and curling himself up in a corner, feigned immediate repose. “The old humbug!” whispered Jim. ‘See me wake him up!” He brought an apple from his. pocket and laid it ——s — ee re ee 12... (NAG 2 tass Wk tf, Ay {os==S ' ) NI a A aS ee ~™ v \ Shit 7“ a es he * \\ i] ‘s \ Oh Ne : eA KS Y\) Z Ss A fai ey _ ‘against Charley’s nose, but, beyond a slight dilatation of the nostrils, there was no visible sign that he was conscious of its neighbourhood. Apples were to Charley what wine is to some men, flowers to women—practically irresistible. But he held out on this occasion, refusing, for some reason, to partake of the delicacy while the boys were there. As soon as they were outside, and the door secured, he ‘seized it with avidity, gave it one scrunch, and ‘swallowed it with a sigh of satisfaction. _ He was dissatisfied with something or somebody, and we must assume that he was disappointed at not being allowed to give Giuseppo one. of his hugs that ‘So well sufficed for the Spaniard on the other side of the island. In short, Charley was in the sulks. But he was all right the next day, and the incident was ‘Seemingly forgotten by him. | The next three days were devoted to completing the forts and to making racks for the rifles, which, it was agreed, should be kept in the council-chamber, With a view to their additional security, Martin made two very strong locks, with suitable keys, which wereadded * Vee >. iat COMPLETED. 147 to the existing means for keeping the door fast. ‘The | locks were fixed, and Jim took possession of the keys as president of the council. Morse undertook the making of the requisite ammunition, except the bullets, which were eventually cast in the blacksmith’s shop. Then the work on the farm and in the vineyard was resumed, and the life of the school settled into a calm, with only one remaining ripple on it, and that was the mysterious disappearance of Mr. Groby. It -was thought that his illness had affected him mentally, and -he had in consequence gone away into the wood, there to lose himself and perish miserably. What else could they assume? It was a grievous thing, but he had lately lost much of the respect formerly entertained towards him, and the memory of his fate rapidly faded out of the minds of the boys. One morning a startling announcement was posted up in the hall. Mr. Farrell intended to curtail the holidays by a.week, and the school would therefore be resumed on Monday next. It was Thursday then, so that they had but three more days, and loud was the murmuring thereat. counselled submission. “ After all, what is there for us to do?” he said. “On Saturday a mail-boat comes along, and we shall, many of us, get lettersfrom home. That will be some compensation for us. I understand the guiding motive of Nap.” They asked him what it was, and, he smilingly replied that, as it was only a guess, he had better not say anything more. Then the meeting broke up, having passed the resolution to accept the infringe- ment of their rights for once, anyway. It was in the afternoon, and Rainstone, calling his assistants together, set out for the vineyard. Onthe way thither he overtook Eveline, Mrs. Farrell, and the schoolmaster strolling along in that direction. “Where are you going, Rainstone?” asked Mr. Farrell. “To see to the vines,” replied the boy, “and the other fruit. We have rather neglected them of late, and there must be a fine collection of weeds.” “Shall we go with him ?” inquired the schoolmaster, addressing his wife. | “Tf Eveline pleases,” was the answer. “T do please,’ said Eveline ; “weso rarely get so far from home.” They went on with Rainstone, followed by the little troop of boys with hoes for the smaller weeds, reaping- hooks to cut away those of larger growth, and baskets for fruit. The vineyard, as it was called, was situated north of the school, and it embraced in its produce a great variety of fruit, including pears and plums, which were A meeting was held, but Jim now ripening fast. At the upper end of the several (@( 0) aa chooks (@(@) mn