The Island School — page 254: what you’re looking at

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

' oe 4 Ln NM, a a Bee he Pea Lapa eae thee ip a: bs Se anita see 4 Fass 3, AR ees ‘AR TLING ER UPTION ar SCHOOL TIME. cae Asm! reLe i Aid “TE ie too near,’ y he said, “ and refuse io sheer off, I will make no bones about fae into them.” ‘ Bata as the boat drew nearer he saw fae ‘ was “very small, with one occupant only. — : : ‘Seeing it was a woman, he had no doubt it was Lucia di Valo, and wondered what could have M brought the woman that way again. But, woman as _she was, he would not trust her, and decided on com- _ manding her to keep aloof. When she came near _ enough he called upon her to sheer off, and she eeuest her boat round into the eye of the wind. _Jim’s boat was only just moving, and they floated ae than sailed, side by side. : “T see you, ’ said Lucia, standing up and pointing , a finger at them. “ Ah! you think you have done so well, but you are doomed !” “T care not a straw for your threats,” replied Jim, ke Whatever befell your friends they brought upon "themselves. We have nothing to charge ourselves i with, and nothing to regret.” “See here,” cried Lucia , smiting her breast,‘ empty _—a blank. Ihave no friends to fill the void. . But - _ others are coming to avenge the slain. You will not beable to withstand them. I know it. “come to bid you fly if you would escape captivity that will last while you live.” SG “We were threatened before,” vihewaeal Ji im, “and +3 2s made it. Where is Espardo Reonardo ?” The question was not exactly intended as a taunt, — I ut rather as a declaration of a alae to show that he u 1ad no reason to fear. On Lucia it had a maddening effect, for she flung her arms and uttered a piercing shriek. Then , vith a warning finger again extended, she continued her threats, the words bubbling from fee lips. “He who comes next will be invincible. And mark fe itis I who set him on your track. Yet not so nu ich on yours,” she added, with a sudden softening in er voice as she looked at Jim, “as at the rest, for , hom I eare not. You I came to warn. Them I re to their fate. Death if they resist—captivity if 1e) y yield. You do not believe me ?” “No,” said Jim, rather curtly. He was not particu- rly thankful to receive an implied compliment from | conveyed i in the assurance that she had come to arn him, while the rest were to suffer. “As you please—fool /” she hissed. “I waste my ne—my thoughts—my heart !” 5 bis. impossible to convey in “written words the ion conveyed i in this latter part of her utterance. ‘illed the listeners, and Lal Brodie afborwards he saw fire flash from her eyes. Therefore, I. hen we came out of our trouble better than those who. before the wind. It was a ‘wonderfully light beat ance the way it skimmed over the sea, reminded one of a : swallow. “Well,” said Stiff, “she has taken herself off in a j hue n N uA rae eA i of) 4 “Phere 1s something in her aan I should like torn understand,” returned Jim, thoughtfully, “so that ws might be prepared.” “It is all bunkum,” said Lal. “T cannot agree with you,” replied Jim. “She came way she anticipated. I am Sorry J upset her.” ‘ \ CHAPTER CXV. A STARTLING ERUPTION AT SCHOOL TIME. T was past eight o lec when the three bel came back. They had — tercepting both the mail boats, and each — had a sack of mail | matter on his shoulder. They were hailed with acclamation Me _ the aopotaint boys, and the sacks were seized with — | ‘the idea of opening and sorting them. But Jim declared that everything should be done in due 4 order, as the school had resumed its normal dis- oe cipline, and Mr. Farrell was sent for to arrange about the sorting. be no difficulty. % me for a purpose, and she has fulfilled it, but notin the — nh i i? + been successful in ing ‘ , a ev ’ af Accordingly Mr. Farrell came down, and the sort- — ing was done in the great hall, because there was Nhe aa suites place that was convenient for it. the boys, too, because the schoolmaster, being under — Are About the sai, eae would | i ’ And it suited — 4 their eyes, could not play any tricks with their cots spondence. and Mr. Farrell had two letters, one from the tourist agent who had assisted him to acquire the island. It was short, if it was not particularly sweet. ‘Dear Sir,—A woman of middle life and determined aspect called at the office the other day and made some in- quiries concerning your island school. As our reputation does not permit us to tell anything but the absolute truth, I gave her such information asis warranted by your recent letters. come over and see for herself how it is conducted, and if she i 18 not satisfied, iti uN her intention to “have the law of you,’ as she put it. that you might be prepared. She left no name.” b word fall from He ens she | @ pulled the _ “TI wonder who the woman can be ?” muttered the | sotl oat he cea, schoolmaster Bide ony wary whoever she may be, I faney ati * bh PuWy ce ip se ans Ni , i Ny td = vars nn Mey Ni 4 i Bit sOmMICDOOKS 0 a ae ‘ Most of the boys had something from their fiends, A (SM She went away expressing a determination to ba Vc . I thought I would drop you a line so” py | | r a