The Island School — page 262: what you’re looking at

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

rh a) dN ania tkoatge aa ae . ey " HA ine be . ayy 1 ‘And. I ae see sta RF okie as he sat upon his rude couch with his aS between his hands. “I have not been unkind _ to the boys, taking things all r ound. Oh, dear! Why. " was I ever born ?” C _ It was a query that few people knowing him well Sig would have been able to answer. : _. His meditations were broken in upon by a sound of the door opening, and, looking up, he saw Don Algua | im the chamber. The Spaniard eyed the dolorous ‘countenance of the schoolmaster with grim satisfac- “6 tion. | ne And you,” he said, “are the man who seeks to - wrest the crown of Spain from our Queen !” | ~¢On my word—I'll .take my oath, if you like,” ~ eried Mr. Farrell, “that such a thought never entered my head. Half the boys in my school are mere - children.” “ A blind,” muttered Tor Algua,; “‘ besides, the full- - grown lion begins life by being a cub. Now, I have been ‘thinking over gp position. It is a serious one.” - ss ‘You—you—you don’t aay A ay SO,” _ Mr. Farrell. ; pee Lado: eee boys. | a proposition to make to you. It is that they besent “home without delay.” Mr. Farrell pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his forehead. | “Certainly,” he said; “but how is it to be done ” “*T will transport them to Gibraltar in my vessel the ‘Guadalquivir, replied the Don, “and from - thence have them sent home. One of my officers will seetoit. But you must provide the money, of course. ; Like all Englishmen, you have Bionty. : “TE you think it must be done—— “T insist upon it. We Spaniards do not fight ‘against little children. We cannot admit that they meare conspired qepinst the peace of the realm. There- fore they must gO: ca “The money, scioeod the cchisetaetek _ is the difficulty “Tf you do not produce it forthwith I will have you “hanged outright. A poor Englishman is of no matter as his country.” 4 “T have some notes sewn up in the lii-ining of os my coat,” said Mr. Farrell. “Out with them all, and let us go into figures as to cost of transport, food, my eqnmiieslop as your agent, nd SO on. Let me assist you.” ent 2 A iM hs St “% — said the Don, “and so is that of your Le — tae sa : “ that ‘The dismayed schoolmaster was feebly fumbling. th his coat. The Don drew it off and coolly pro- d to eae up the lining. From under it he See) or five hundred pounds. iH Henna ecvetay tT can ae no Mes bean he should not,” Tiesead! De SEE With regard to the smaller ones, I have ee | cation cia Na THE TRIALS OF MER. FARRELL A " On. ‘» Then he vanished, and Mr. Farrell gave vent to his z bad a tick Ab OE bak wy ~ vt yd i ‘ et he ome) rn more than sixty of your boys. That leavesa bundeed and forty to go. This is not enough money.” “There are cheap steamers,” moaned Mr. Farrell— _ “luggage boats, that will take them for two pounds a head.” ** Nonsense ! proper manner and have something wherewith to get to their friends. You have more money about you. Let me explore.” vane He explored that crate man to some purpose. x Not only in the lining of his waistcoat, back and | front, but about his trousers also, did he find bank- notes. By the time he had done exploring and ripping ts ) up, the schoolmaster was as ragged as a ee and thrice as mournfulin aspect. — : i “T think,” said the Don, as he gathered up the notes, “ that here will be about sufficient. If more is wanted you must give me a note of hand on the f bankers of the Napoleon family in Paris.” Sa il “T van give you anything,” moaned Mr. Farrelly! oS “but I doubt if it will be worth the paper it 1s — i 7 On the whole, the Don appeared to be very well i satisfied, and, bidding Mr. Farrell a sarcastic adieu, pee mainly addréssed to his spoiled apparel, he strode to : the door. There he paused and fired at him a last shot in a cold-blooded way. “You would be useful to your English friends now,” _ he said, “ for—what you call him—to frighten crows 4 —pigeons, all birds—a sca-are-crow. Ha, ha!” i \ is . ®, ie vat feelings in many unavailing groans and moans. When the resolve of the Don became known, the — ut school was stirred up like a hive of bees. But the k smaller boys had had enough of turmoil and pent : | _ and were rejoiced at the prospect of going home. As — for the elders, the opinion was that it was a good sep hy. for all. Jim and Morse, strolling up and down the front uel i the castle, expressed their views thus: tA Said Jim: “It is the very thing we were talking } about, and it is a jolly good job it has come to pass. | a The youngsters, when once they get to Gibraltar, will | be all right. There will be a row among their friends _ at home, and some sort of stir made, r don't doubt.” (" cone ‘Which willend in smoke,” said Morse. “None of their people will take any serious steps to bring Nap to book, and the authorities will not credit the story, — and look upon the wholeshow as a farce. Perhaps a_ ‘Ong member of Parliament will be induced to mention it — 5 in the House, and then it will be passed on to the ny ‘Foreign Secretary, who will communicate with the i Suanieh Ambassador, who will promise to investigate. — Long before anything is done we shall all be trans- Bae aN Ay) from hans or k lied, or had no end of yi ba 5\ 0 tetrad vars Leer 2 wage My N @! 44a Pf i Ait AY Y. vA -comick f ee chook a ‘“ ¥ Pah! The boys must be sent home ina Ae & “a8 s