The Island School — page 219: what you’re looking at

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

A yi , ; tee a yt 5 ) + ed , . 4 F - at + Aly 4) Ji em ¥ Ae b Nat SH oD mica ye me yy ee R ith pi ey: tN RG hy bit ao Wie | (Mya anh Sa pied hte Verb at aids) ie i | Ha Wee, a Nth A a ps Hy eh) Sal NY ANE I RCA : i BL pi } ; . . os my Me) ss An , i Wy i ey sim | A Y AG ne nN 0, a do not. Ithink Jim the eichth areal old Nap “Hungry? we ba wie Hi ae | - the ninth. Therefore Chorker must be the tenth. I “wonder what he i is doing here ?” We must have grounded near where you saw them DP scaling us.” a “No, we are not near that spot. There is nothing fe in our surroundings that is at all familiar.” Mite q Shall we give the old man a scare 2” inquired Stiff, oe after a pause. a as Yes. Tt will do him good,” saeneen Lal. ie ‘Tt was quite a matter of faith among the boys that : whatever Was injurious to ordinary men’s body or “nerves must be good for Chorker. He was, in their eyes, the very antipodes of ordinary humanity. vhs it did not require much care or effort to bring about - the requisite scare, for Chorker, still with his eyes on ow e “ Orsini,” came slowly along until he was almost in front of the boys, but with his back turned towards sa - them. He gazed at the vessel in a contemplative Ma “manner for a few moments, and then gave vent to his : Page in a speech, ‘ “Blessed if it ain’t a wreck, and dewenoalt !” he said. os Tal motioned for Stiff to keep where he was, and stole out of his hiding-place, creeping with all the care + of a professional assassin upon the unsuspecting i Chorker. When he was within a few feet of him he | a endcenly leapt up and yelled out: “Your money or your life !” o ‘The effect of this startling demand upon Chorker ae _ was all that the most inveterate practical joker could ae desire. He first of all leapt forward, then he fell back i a pace, and finally dropped upon his knees, with Nie a “upraised, clasped hands. “Have marcy on me, whoever you be!” he wailed, Bae _ without so much as looking round. un Lal burst into a peal cf laughter. | ‘ _. Chorker, recognising the familiar ring of the boy’s oe voice, although he could not individualise the boy, turned round and saw who it was. He immediately __. became quite stiff with outraged dignity. “Tf Vd knowed who it was,” he said, “I shouldn’t _ have took part in your practical joke.” “You couldn’t help yourself,” grinned Lal. ‘ Here’s e “ie Stiff, who saw the fun. Chorker says he——” “You let Chorker alone !” interposed that outraged JS Where’s your boat °” . o ; EY 6 “There,” replied Lal, bom ans towards the “ Orsini.” We landed here fom her. 14 is the ‘ «Orsini? with a fresh supply of PioMelens for the school.” : _ Purwisions!” exclaimed Chorker, with his eyes bs este out of his head. “T suppose you didn’t bring Note was an exclamation and a ery ne egoayrole one. Tt was 8 the howl of the starved w Ww cn and he fell upon it in | very doggy Fee clutched it in his hands and gnawed au it, a big mouthfuls with all the haste of one, perishi ea want. ; ) has a ‘You seem to enjoy it,” said Lal. ke My dear boy,” replied Chorker, in a mumbling Vv with his mouth full, “if you had béen a-livin’ for a: a sec! days on seaweed and limpets, which it takes pickax« to get ’em singly off the rocks, youd be a pit ‘wo a : They said it was very likely, and plied him with | food and wine until he had eaten and drunk his fil Then he sat down on the sands in a state of repletion, . and pulled out his pipe. ate ee bs I've jest enough ’bacca for half a dozen wh iy left, ” he said, “and I feel as if I can enjoy it.” et Re “ Perhaps now you will tell me where the other v) Mi 4 Ny three brave men are?” said Lal. “They are over yonder,” replied Chorker, a, =a of six or siven mile. I got across that rent this morn- ing owing to the water being uncommon low in some places. Got blowed out from between gee rocks with the high wind.” 3 “‘ When was there a oe wind ?” asked Stitt, ms “ Just afore sunrise,” answered Chorker; “a regila gale.” “That accounts for the ‘Orsini’ getting so fiemly ashore,” said Lal to Stiff. “What!” exclaimed Chorker ; “ do you mean i ay as you know nuthin’ of it 2” ose ow pas, soc t i 4 ‘‘ We were asleep at the time.” ‘2 pan; ; ““ Blessed if boys can’t sleep through anything! i i “T left the others a-howling with hunger,” saic Chorker, “and that Mr. Storeby was a-talking about | casting lots to see who was to be pater That = one of the reasons why I come away.” — Me: “T should think that you were perfectly safe,” said Lal, eyeing him with disgust. “ Who, do you a * would eat you ?” a ‘¢Shoe-leather,’ added Stiff, “ oad be ‘tender meat to you.” Hy: mi “T don’t purfess to be no chicken,” said Chores “but there's tougher about.” — . tsk fe ut “ Where ?” demanded Lal, | As ee = ¢¢ Anywheres,” was the vague reply. Mie: an ue oon The boys conferred bosetier on the matter of com- ik municating with the schoolmaster and his assistants. Though not particularly fond of any one of them, — neither Lal Brodie nor Stiff could leave them to rege Finally they decided. that Ji im ought to be ¢ pe ban none of ’em ashore! 9” Pare nicated with without delay, and. one of tk Shand : th on ; BH Qa} fi ey ne bbe ate hee ea) ar i ier ces ‘Indeed we did, and if you are » hang oo bbe ep 3 e Meee cast tle. vt are Cag eae pray citi te intel a Rix fy | aaa ae ava Ras Cu skit