The Island School — page 281: what you’re looking at

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

236 THE ISLAND SCHOOL. a pusson try to get into de house dat way he must look | for a rough deception. Me not going to talk, but me nebber forget him face when it show at de winder. Dere was nuffin but two blazin’ eyes for me to know him by. Den me pull de trigger. Ugh! it was a fall for him. No, me not talk, but try to tink ob it no more.” The hook was severed from the rope of vine ten- drils, and Jim took it back under his coat. Romeo tore the rope to pieces and scattered the material as they went. CHAPTER CXXVIII. A BRIEF REST.—DIBBLE’S TOOTH.—SAILS ON THE HORIZON. EAVING the spades in the covered , way just within Wi Lem + the gates, the trio hastened to, the eréat hall where they found old Chorker in a tear- ing rage over the absence of Romeo, which put all the a -— - “ ——— = early morning work upon him. “Tm goin’ on strike,” he was saying as they entered; “aman ain't got more than a certain amount of bone and muscle to play with, and mine is skumming to hard work.” He was addressing some of the boys, whe had gathered round a wood fire lighted on the big hearth, for in the shade of the castle the morning was chills: “What de marrer wif you ?” demanded Romeo. “Where have you been?” asked Chorker. Then catching sight of Jim, his tone changed. “It comes werry hard, sir, for PycLy eM tc be put on me. | ain’t so young as I was.’ Jim took no notice of him, but walked to the fire, where he stood warming his hands. “ Been out early, Jim,” said Lal Brodie—“ shooting, perhaps ?” “No; merely out—on another sort of business,” said Jim. ' Here a wrangle between Chorker and Romeo was heard. The latter said somethmg about not being ““possed by a blooming nigger,” which led that nigger to hustle him along the side of the table. “Get out wif you,’ said Romeo. Call dis table jaid?. Be off and leab me to see to it. De back scullery want washing.” Chorker still remonstrated, so Romeo hustled ae out of the hall and closed the door “He jess got to know him place,” muttered Romeo, |” ; a ad | “when he hear me talking. Morning, Miss Dibble.” Be Orin. a ee IL ~ oe EE . a oe a ~ = “ Good morning, replied Miss Dibble, who had just t appeared, attired in ‘a morning-gown of ancient make J and faded flowery pattern. a She bobbed to the boys, who bowed to her, and a smiled at Romeo, who for some reason was on the 7 ‘Where is my graceless nephew 2”. she asked, look- ._— inground. ‘Not up yet? What a boy heis! When I had him at home 1 never could even wake him until he had been shippered.” “ Dibble Hes the taothieher said Stiff, “but he i 1S cetting up.” “ And where did he get that, I should like to know P” said Miss Elegantine. ‘Can any of you tell me?” Nobody could, and a moment later ye came iM to answer for himself. Not only had he the toothache, ‘but its frequent accompaniment also—a swollen face. One cheek stood out as if he had a tennis-ball in his mouth. “Oscar,” sharply cried his aunt, “ you have been up to some wickedness.” “Tf I have,” he replied, with his mouth awry, “1 don’t know it.” | “No, indeed,” said Miss Became shaking her head; “of course you dont know; you are too generally wicked to know when you are wicked.” : She beckoned to him to come over to her, and, on examining his mouth, declared he must go to the ~ dentist. On being told that there were no dentists © there she said she must take the tooth out herself. . “ All I want,” she said, “is a pair of pincers. I drew ~ out most of his first teeth.” There was a general shudder of sympathy for ee. who ventured to remark: ; “But this is a second tooth, aunt.” ‘Second or third,” she answered, composedly, “Tl | have it ott I should like to see the tooth that would ~ defy me.” “Qh lor’ !” groaned Dibble. The entrance of Mr. Farrell and the two under- — masters, followed by Eveline and her mother, cut — short the tooth discussion. Breakfast was served, and Dibble sat down beside Terry. “JT can’t eat anything,” he groaned. ‘Sop your bread in your tea,” suggested Terry. “Jt isn’t that,” groaned Dibble. “I’m thinking of the torture of having that tooth out.” | “But surely your aunt isn’t serious.” ‘She is never anything else. She will have my head off before she gives up the job.” | Terry reflected a moment or two, and by the brightening of his face seemed to have found a way — for Dibble out of his misery. 4 Peg away. old man,” he said. “Il arrange this — 900 mn e (Sl @ ) CS co a: ie ee 4 . 4 LRA | OP Dag)