The Island School — page 280: what you’re looking at

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

| | Re ‘: “THE WILD MAN comes TO. THE. CASTLE. SNe LA bee ‘ “4 a ax 4 oe nafs ~~ : was § some hime or ere he aerate to sleep, Ane the illness outside remained unbroken, and he pre- sently fell off, and heard nothing more. until the oice of his grandfather aroused him in the morning. ‘His first thought was of the adventure of the night before, and it was in his mind to refer to it, but he elected to say nothing. 6 Me jess take de- ole fools roun’ bron “by, ‘s se. | nought; an’ show dem. dat it not a tale ob ; friction.” It was Ghorkert s etry to assist him ee. first ee im the morning, and he found him in the kitchen, laying the fire. Romeo was a little later than usual. Romeo did not condescend to talk to Chorker, but s it so happened that Jim Gordon, who was up early, came into the kitchen, and Romeo intimated that he would | like to say a few words to him in private. ‘They adjourned to the passage outside, and there the negro 9 told his story. we § _ “Tt is very strange,” said Jim. “ seed two rifles, and | Iwill get Morse to go round with me.’ a “Me go too,” said GER, who was bursting to see oe it was he had brought to orief. | _ There .could be no objection to it, but, prior to going thither, Jim ran up to the ramparts to see if there were signs of any foe about. But on neither and nor sea was there anything: to cause apprehension So he: descended again, and the two chums, with Romeo, walked round to the back of the castle. _ And there, lying upon his face, they saw the Wild Man. He was quite still, and ere was every sign that he was dead. ~~ pero by him was a rope teal of twisted tendrils some forest vines which in places grew very trong. At one end was a hook, which ‘he had ap- | pa ently made himself by twisting a thin bar of iron. - “J thought as much,” said Jim, with a catching of 1 161 breath; ‘i ang now, Sue we shall be able to verify r suspicions.” Bey walked up to the dead man aud turned him — An exclamation burst from all three. That tered by Romeo was of surprise, but, from Jim and florse, the short, sharp ery was more the utterance hat would follow a belief verified. For therd: at their feet lay all that was mortal of . Groby, the second master, whose story of passion : ad suffering had ended there. = cae Lis features, dirt-begrimed, were in repose; above m was the matted hair, unkempt during his time adness as a dweller in the woods. Inder the strange, fantastic garb of leavesHe had 1 ned there were the rags of his original clothing. hatever his faults were,” said Jim, in a low tone e, “he has ed the full penalty. é ane spect dis,” a Seaaa! with his eyes start- : is head, “ Hy bo know 1 ny | ki . tS Oe. te4 “he j an x t ‘ % ‘ * ba es Wi A dd Pei as” Ire. . > “Joe a et he b Re AP an ey ee 5 eo Ae hey Ta? PR ae a oe x ae 4 <* J * je $ - $ . / a iid . Pee : - Fike ; . ‘ . ; ; he Yi 4 cee fa : = , : “Tt was just as well he did not get into the castle, a fe said Morse, “for there is no eae what crime he Bo. meditated. Iam sure he was hopelessly mad.” Jim sat down upon a big stone hard by, resting his chin upon his hands, thinking. There was a short silence, which he presently broke. “Nobody but we three know of this,” he said. “Well,” inquired Morse, “ what follows 2” | “You woke your father and grandfather, Romeo ?” “Yes, Massa Gordon.” | “And you told me they did not believe you had killed anyone 2” “Datso. Dey ell me a spithcated fom or sumfin pmiboient. t, *“ Now, Morse,” said Jim, “do you hia any good would come of our talking of this affair? Tam thinking © of Romeo. You know what Nap is. He may turn nasty one day, and there’s no knowing what he might make of it.” * Groby is believed to be dead,” auieed Morse, “ and, in common with most of the men here, has nobody in the old country to mourn his loss. for Romeo to decide.” | “What am dat question, Massa Morse ! o” asked Romeo. — “Would you care for this sad punnees to be talked about ?” | « Loramassy, no! What de good ob dat?” “ In all probability, if either of us had been in your | place we should have done as you did. Again, the end of Mr. Groby must by the nature of things have been a violent one. here 2” Jim aeadad.” } “Get two or three spades—quick,” said Morse. You Repu, Jim, to bury him any | Romeo sped away, and while he was gone the two : s boys did their best to compose the limbs of the dead — man. They did it in all reverence, although when living they had a strong reason for dishking him. Now > that he had test his life, and under such tragic ciream- _ stances, all was forgiven and in time would be fork Ae gotten. Romeo speedily returned with the spades, and a grave of sufficient depth was soon dug. They laid fits dead man in it just as he was, stood with bent — heads for a minute in silence on the brink, and then ee filled itin. | ““By-and-by,” said Jim, “ we , will a a siiple e cross over the grave. Romeo, you will not chatter, will you? Itis for your sake we are silent. di “ Massa Gordon,” said Romeo, impressively, “it a ting me not likely to forget; but who spect dat he make a ladder like dat,” pointing to the twisted rope and hook, “and get it into him head dat he be- | . able to trow it up to oh winder and ketch on? He sensible so far, end ano ee he am killed, But when hes pau com fe @ boc (oe) ks.c Cc | It is a question wT OY * OR ae a a 0 jt ™ » ‘fe