The Island School — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

- in this case. Now, take to-day. Itis perfectly clear ' =~ ~ wid in dh Cae lod as ae I ae mre Rei ae 2 i 4 ; ‘ i “The: meanest man, if et is ‘cruel and wicked ‘enough, ” said Morse, quietly, “ has now some very potent agents at hiscommand. Not that I think so ‘that an attempt to run down the ‘Swallow’ was -made.. They meant it, and had they succeeded, who would have known what had happened ?” “We ought to keep a lookout when the boats are at sea,’ ’ said Whiffer. | “But we have not done so hitherto, and if the ‘Swallow *had been sunk and all drowned, it would have been considered an accident. There would have been the usual talk of a Mediterranean white squall. The papers at home, if we sent-it to them, would have published an account of it under the heading, ‘Disastrous Affair off the Island of Fermentera’ ; and ya probably, if the editor had room, would give an - account of the school and its management.” aT is doubtful,” said Jim Gordon, “if they would have heard much of it. Nap doesn’t care for too much publicity. He started this school by private } circular, and he carries it on in thesame way. There is a hazy notion among people that we are being educated abroad, but they don’t go further than that. “So many youngsters go abroad nowadays,” re- | marked Dave Felton—“to Germany, or France, or ‘further—that nothingjis thought of it. I don’t suppose that one out of twenty thousand of the people of - Great Britain have the feast knowledge of the exist- ence of such a drum as ours.” “ Our position is this,” interposed Jim Gendt: “and it beg of you to bear it in mind. In case we are attacked or annoyed in any serious way, our own Government cannot interfere, because they have no jurisdiction here, and the Spanish Government will Be slow to move. It has'so many matters nearer the capital to look to. We shall. cue to defend our- selves—to circumvent the enemy.” “Unless we cut it and went homey: sugested Sam Whiffer. “Not so easy as you think,” replied Morse. “The launch could not carry a third of us, let alone our traps and general property. Her tonnage i “ Blow her tonnage!” said Terry. _“ By all means, if you like,” said Morse, composedly, 6s blow it sky-high—certainly.” I. You would find the explosive,” grinned Terry, “1 haye it ready when antedy ” said the undis- turbed Morse. _ p< NWhere 25 9/4 “That is my affair. - Do you think that I am such a fool as to keep i in the house: a compound that would ‘lift this castle from its foundations—though there is — not much of it—where little boys like you icautd find ’ 4. ; Su nae ia ‘ | _ itand play yourselves out of ete world into the next P : Brie Sh CRy - — » A — =— M (ORSE EN LI GH. TEN S TERR Y. Morse finished with a slight snort of contempt for c There was some laughter at Terry’s expense, as youngsters of Terry’s calibre. The object of. these pungent remarks waxed indignant. : Ney / “T’ve heard a deal about your cleverness in nee es this and that out of nothing, Morse,” he said; “ but eg I shall believe it when I see it.” ng é Morse said no more just then, al the consultation — was resumed. ; It was of rather a desultory nature, but a conclu- sion was come to that they ought to keep their eyes - he a for an enemy, and be prepared to defend them- . selves from attack. be oh “T reckon,” said Jim, with a smile, “that thefellow I floored in the boat to-day with a stone won't forgive ‘ mein a hurry.” | | ies “Perhaps it was Hspardo Reonardo ?” suggested y Whiffer. | “ Not knowing him by sight, can’t say,” said Sim “Well, boys, I thought I would call you together and tell you what had come under my notice. At present ae I do not think we need give the younger ones a scare, for, after all, it may end in smoke.” ee 4 They agreed with him, and as the evening was now Ws getting on, the meeting broke up. | if They left the room, and by the gate racetnen a 4 report from Tim Dawson to the effect that nothing | had been near to disturb him, but he fancied he heard He voices somewhere low down to the left from the school, towards the sea. bi “You all know how sound feeaele up here,” he. said ; ‘and whoever it was might have been on the Heah”? , “The slope is a regular whispering-gallery,” said: f ~ ah ral < Cs a ie PN ‘ “aa By ” ays ei ot Morse. ‘‘ Maybe some of the Pause are out bathing — to-night.” is Wh gts ls * x CHAPTER V. Rip ay i yt MORSE ENLIGHTENS TERRY.—MR. NAPOLEON FARRELL (* THINKS IT NECESSARY TO TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS. — nae fiwa( N leaving the castle, the boys ai fell into Indian file to cross the bridge, Morse and Terry — being in the rear, and aie absolutely last. ; i Morse hung back a bit, 80 that those in front got ahead, and went off down the sane | Terry asked Morse to push | on, ea “T want to have a word with you, Terry,” said Morse. “ We were talking of explosives just ae a you questioned my statements.” oe “Some of them want a little palty’ said Tony tt te yr iia Se la athe bi Pa cee one 4 A's ‘4 = zoe