The Island School — page 201: what you’re looking at

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

é a, wv N. a a posted sentinels to give ents warning Lee one. Be The hour was three in- a Mots es building w was still Re It would not ie to be opened until late that night. Be Bhs builder of it had said. | We Jim watched the thin pencils of smoke creeping ite ie upward through crevices in the clay covermg of the , 4 i“ ie wood, until he was aroused from a day-dream ‘ He knew who | “ I A not had a rand ath you to-day, Jim.” me ie cs There has been so much to do.” RY, Tt was Eveline, and removing her hand, she sab | ag some crochet-work ae Tes pocket, went on for a _ time gathering up the stitches in silence. Jim feigned | to be earnestly watching the boys at work on the forts. . & How very talkative we are!” said Eveline, sud- ee ’ ) | ate I beg your pardon ?” returned Jim, looking pound, | « ‘I merely remarked how very PUES) we are.” | “Oh! My oe Jim cot up and walked away, whistling. Eveline _ raised her eyebrows and went on with her work. But i pare. made several false stitches, and was obliged to | ’ a By eatover she was making hal been only just begun, it into the waters of the moat. * | Re : i I hate people with tempers!”’ she said, just loud peat for Jim to hear as he stood midway between her and the labouring boys. _ He heard her, and a feeling of repentance came over him. But on turning round he saw that she was _ gone. | 7 "7? ( returns,” muttered Jim, grimly. Voices from below changed the araben! of his _ thought. One of the sentinels posted down the anc his party were returning. | “They are dragging two small heavy cases charred by the fire,” he replied. isi a. Jim ent down to meet them, and found Terry and - a his small band gallantly struggling with two stout | wooden cases, about three feet square were hauling them up like mountaineers engaged in _ conveying goods over the steep part of mountains. “What have you there?” asked Jim.» : and finally she wrenched it off the needles and tossed — pet Morse will talk her into a better temper when he — castle path came hurrying up to announce that Terry | - They-had put some pieces of cord about them Sil, | - “ en ey ee ee ——— occurred to him that they might be very useful. : ey / ig by RY " ) neg . mi wie dies “What do you “office | ?” asked Ji im. | “The whole es said Terry—“ sha ee shops, post-office—seems to have wi night.” 7s Nant ae Bh a NOK? mean by oh shes of Are iy pe ay Ne bh Ae vas Bh ar a ‘A ie Be have s seen it. Le ves Perhaps he knows nothing: or ‘it,’ My i i it Terry?) 9/4: ee Cn a Na “ But he kept watch.” ivan ¥ ne Perhaps he didn’t.” WA HVA, Be Jim was both puzzled and penruaeeda The burnit aye a i of the schoolhouse was not a very serious dabei a, ‘ his eyes, save as indication of the activity of the cae i; enemy. From that point of view it was very serio ae indeed. But he said no more, reserving himself fc sae the return of Morse. _ | OL ea cs, He, too, remembered having seen thee two hee a under the counter in the post-office, but had neve Ta Ne been curious about them. He thought they Gonenaeadl i i some ordinary materials, such as ink and so ‘on, Even i at now he did not know what they contained, and the q weight stimulating his curiosity, he lent a hand i Ne hauling them up as far as the castle gate. , ‘ i 4 a Having obtained an axe, he opened the cases, and - found inside two small guns of the pattern ae R _ fashioned cannon, such as are used at regattas ane public fétes to fire salutes. | ms,” Jim saw they were strong and reall made, and i ie desired Terry to see they were a unpacked ca the courtyard and leit there. — 1 A en a While Terry was thus engaged, Mrs. Forest and: ) Eveline appeared. The former, on seeing the. a a uttered an exclamation of surprise. i | “ Why, here, Eveline,” she said, “are the two guns He if your papa bought to fire on the anniversaries of the a great Napoleon’s victories. I laughed at the ‘idea at a the time, and he took umbrage anteuy {ota yeat ’ “ And that is why, ma’am,”. ’ said Terry, a they have we 3 i never been unpacked a fired ?” 1 ot am ““T used to think so,” replied ds. Farrell, we “out Be Sr now I must hold a different opinion.” Mg , She did not say what it was, but as her changed opinion was the correct one, we may as well give it i Ss the reader. Mr. Farrell, on reflection, had arrived at the conclusion that firing such parlous weapons was \ rather a dangerous preceeding, = SO het had never - a been unpacked. | | sl) ha While the work was still wine Ji 1m came with the boys who had been working as the i : and the gates were closed for the night. It was early, ’ | of course, but as closing them would leave everyone — bs (i avs - ore oe i BL ioe ae “ We found them among the ashes of the post- | free of outside duty, it. was done. nie “abe Sey Ese office,” replied aay. ‘“T remember having seen them_ “T say, Jim,” said Terry, ‘ | ‘isn’t ite a fa ct that all : : as Ashe, ey under the counter.” . Rae | guns, like shiney have « a name Ne heb es dian t : r y; * : : ‘ Yate = ; | ee £ % fl aie tM me ibe PAS a} py: & ms é ithe y pees or Wad os) von SA ba oi ‘ ae ei Ae . 5 aN a & (hays ri y ES y gh : ne Ae , ; by SON eal pie @ i @ @ ) O RRNA en Or Vs tash Sole pas cae atts Sau Nae: Bee as Aer ot si