The Island School — page 228: what you’re looking at

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

STORING IN THE CAVE, There were at least two hundred in all, but, owing to their not being very heavy, they were soon piled up on deck, and ready for transmission ashore. As the school stores were all landed out in time, Jim gave the word for the strange parcels to follow, but to be kept distinct. When he had seen the first load put on the raft, he raised his eyes, and saw Martin returning, so he dropped off the vessel, and hastened ashore to receive his report. CHAPTER CIIL. STORING IN THE CAVE.—LATE VISITORS TO THE “‘ ORSINI.” | oe is all right, Mr. Garden.” ;. said Martin; “found the very tine that is wanted. Over yonder, not a furlong from here, | came across a hole just big enough for a chap to crawl through on his hands and knees. So in I goes, and there I find quite a cave, forty feet square if an inch, very low, but high enough for us. I reckon that the high- est part of the roof is about a foot over my head.” “T hope it won't fall down upon us,” said Jim, grimly. “We can prop it up with the boxes,” said Martin, facetiously. ‘But come along and see it afore you start on storing in it.” The entrance to the cave was insignificant, and, being immediately behind a jutting stone, a passer-by not looking for anything special would in all pro- bability fail to heed it. Martin had passed it in the first instance, and it was only on his return, having failed to find a cave higher up, that he noticed it. It was a strange sort of cave, and Jim was of opinion that it was not, as most seashore caves are, naturally formed. There was a suspicious squareness about it that led to’a contrary view of its origin. But there were no indications of its having been recently occupied, and it was as good a place as they could wish-for as a secret Shon tie piece for the cargo. . We can easily block up the mouth,” said Jin, “and, unless somebody in the know turns up, every- thing will be safe.” They had about four hours’ daylight, and a young moon that would not set until ten o'clock, to help them along. Jim thought that with a little extra push he could have everything in the cave by that hour. With such support as he had, the feat—for feat it 189 was In a labouring sense—was accomplished within a quarter of an hour of the time, and the tired boys lay about on the sands outside the cave, eating their well-earned supper, soothed by the soft warmth of an incomparable autumn night. The first things packed in the cave were the goods belonging to the unknown “G,. T. H.” It was the purpose of Jim to leave them there, even after they had conveyed the school stores to the castle. Next came the heavy packages, and finally such things as they intended to take back with them on the morrow. There was still ample room for the boys to os and as the cave was dry and warm, it was decided that there they should pass the night. Some were inclined to returnto the “Orsini,” but Jim objected to it. “The ‘ Orsini, ” he said, “ can take care of herself now, for a time, anyway.” An hour after, all the boys and men were asleep in the cave, and Jim, as their leader, occupied a position near the entrance. He was a light sleeper, and had not slept long when a sound of voices reached his ears. He started up and listened. The speakers were some distance away—on the sea, he judged; and creeping out of the cave, he looked about him, and ; saw a light flashing on the deck of the “ Orsini.” His first thought was that it was Chorker, but he dismissed it instantly as highly improbable. Turning back for a moment, he softly asked, “Is anyone awake here ?” and getting no answer, stole out alone, deter- mined not to arouse anyone unless there was impera- tive need. Keeping close to the low rocks and walking with a stoop, he got back to the spot where the cargo had been piled ashore. There was some litter about still, but nothing to attract attention from the ship in the night-time. The origin of the voices was soon manifest to him. The stars gave sufficient light for him to see the out- line of the stranded vessel, and in addition there were two boats drawn up to her side also discernible. On board the “ Orsini” were several men and one woman. Jim made out the voice of the latter, and recognised the musical tones of Lucia di Valo. } “ Just in time,” he thought, with a glow of pride. “Done them, the Spanish beggars !” Lying flat upon the sands, he slowly crept down right to the edge of the water, from whence he could make out the utterances of the men. He soon gathered that they had been in league with the captain of the “Orsini” to rob the vessel of her stores, to embarrass the school, and that one and all were ex- ceedingly puzzled at finding her in such a plight, with no crew on board and not the slightest information as to what had become of them. (E( 0) nN G 00 GS) (Ol @)