The Island School — page 207: what you’re looking at

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

172 at the very mouth of the chine, with the expiring fires at his feet. It was certain then that they were quite deserted. There was nobody near them. Whatever had become of the enemy, nothing would be more foolish than wasting time there in speculation; so Jim hastened back to his friends and gave in his report. “‘ They’renot gone,” was Morse’s instantly-expressed opinion. | “Where are they?” asked Jim. “Judging by the fires, they may have been there half an hour ago.” “May I venture to give my view of the matter ?” asked Martin. Of course,” said Jim. “Then I think they’ve gone on to the castle, intend- ing to try their hand at taking it by surprise.” “Whew! If that is the case, we are worse than useless here. Morse, we must hark back.” _ “No,” said Morse; “that would be worse still. We should be too late, if wanted, crawling along ‘through the cavern. We had better go after the ruffians and take them in the rear.” | “‘ Supposing they are not there, but have really gone away?” “Then our chums will let us in.” “i forgot that,’ said Jim, with a smile. think your plan is as good as any.” It was adopted, and in a few minutes the whole of the boys had descended to the bottom of the chine. But still every precaution was exercised, in case of an ambush, and they reached the open by the camp- fires and found no living thing. Jim now went on a few yards ahead, bidding the others follow and be ready to act in acase of surprise. The familiar way was quickly trodden, and anon they stood outside the ruins of the old schoolhouse. Here they instinctively halted and looked at all that was left of the familiar haunt. In the gloom it was nothing more than an irregular mound, more mteresting than touching. The loss of it did not ‘arouse any deep sentimental feeling. - “| suppose,” said Morse, breaking the silence, “ itis about the best thing that could have happened to it.” Then they hastened on, and at the top of the castle- _ path again halted. Still no sign of the enemy, or any indication of his having been that way. Above, all seemed as still as the eatacombs. Butnot for long. Suddenly there was heard, high up by the castle, a muffled roar, as if a mine had been Sprung, and Jim, who happened to be looking in that direction at the time, saw a bright flash of light. Then there was a shouting and screaming, and a downward rush of feet. “Something’s happened,” said Jim, hurriedly, ‘andthey’re coming this way. Stand offon the up- / side—form in a line!” “Well, I THE ISLAND SCHOOL, The boys, though anything but perfectly trained, swiftly obeyed his orders. The line was formed, and Jim, with Martin, stood at the lower end. *¢ All rifles loaded ?” asked Jim. The answer was “ Yes.” Jim looked to his own weapon, quietly giving a final order: “Make sure itis those blacksuards coming down, and when you are so, let fly into the brown of them. In other words, treat them as a covey of partridges.” The boys stood ready, holding their breath under the excitement of the hour. Down lower and lower came the rush of feet, mingled with the hum of angry, terrified voices. But though there was the sound of many feet, their downward approach was not very rapid. This was owing to the darkness; but the foremost appeared at last—a figure dimly marked out against a dingy background. They let him go, for he was several feet ahead of the rest, and Jim had not given the signal to fire. | Then came another and another, all of whom fledon into the gloom ahead. Then came the main body, scrambling and cursing in their haste, and Jim uttered the word : “ Fire ! The boys pulled the triggers, and the rattle of the rifles echoed on every side. But their aim must have been very wild, for only three of the little crowd of men fell. The rest, with a renewed power of yelling startled out of them, tore away and disappeared ere the reloading of the rifles could be attended to. Jim was not of a bloodthirsty disposition, but he was disappointed with the result of the fire, because he hoped to inflict such a loss upon the enemy that he would never appear in their neighbourhood again. “ Morse,” he said, “ give us a light, if only for a few seconds.” ‘Wait a moment,” said Morse; “ give that lot time to get away.” They stood still for a while, and from the fallen men there came no sound. Were they dead P It was a question Jim asked himself, and when Morse eventually lighted up one of his special matches, its glare was sufficient to reveal the fact that all the trio were stilled for ever. Strange to say, they had all been shot in the head, and the missing of the others showed that all the party must have fired too high. There was some excuse for them, for they had no discernible object to aim at, but had to guess where to fire by sound. As the men were past all help, they were left lying there, and the now elated adventurers of the night ascended the pathway. It was true they had not ( G{ @ ) nN Cc 900 SS @ @ ) mn