The Island School — page 293: what you’re looking at

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

244 gloom, unseen, had steadily covered the Spaniards with their weapons. “At the word,” said Jim, again, “you will fire. Then turn and get up the path as quickly as you can.” Another moment, and then he cried: ¢ Fire\”’ The boys discharged their rifles, and, promptly wheeling about, bolted up the path. To their sur- prise, Jim and Martin accompanied them, Morse alone remained behind. , There were shrieks of pain and yells of wrath from the Spanish or half-caste body ofmen on the shore, attesting the accuracy of the aim of the young sharp- shooters. “Get on to the castle,” said Jim; “ you have done your work. Remain at the gate until we come.” He kept with Martin, and a moment after the six riflemen disappeared, Morse came tearing up. “The shooting checked them,” he said, ‘‘ but they - are coming on again. Higher up, Martin. Give me the drill, Ithink they will reach there just in the nick of time.” | They dashed upwards another twenty yards or so, and Morse halted again by a group of rocks with tall trees growing round them. , “ Number two,” he said—“ but listen—it is time An explosion, that made the ground tremble and the trees rock, rent the air. There was no flame to speak of, but the whirling of masses of rocks among 9 the trees and in the air, mingled with the terrified | yells of men below. “In the nick of time,” said Morse, ‘ they were well en the spot. The way is blocked. We can take our time now.” “It was well done,’ said Martin, between his teeta. “Did I not say that the dropping of the drill might be all for the best P We have taken a lot out of those fellows already.” , “That is all very well and kind of you,” rephed Martin, “to talk in that style; but a bungle is a bungle, and I ought not to have made it.” “ You may go on now,” said Morse. “Stop at the next point.” It had all been prearranged, for they went forward without a word. The next halting-place was near the level we re- ferred to as the spot where Mr. Farrell read the dis- quieting letter. They stood there a minute listening tothe cries of rage on the beach below, and then Morse joined them again: He selected a spot on the level ground, and resumed his drilling labours, barely begun ere a second terrific explosion was heard below. A xoar as of forty cannon mingled with the crash of THE ISLAND SCHOOL. falling timber, a disquieting riot that was like the- returning of chaos. Morse went on with his work in no wise troubled, but both Jim and Martin felt the natural awe inspired by this evidence of the power of the young chemist’s. Inventive genius. He soon had the third receptacle ready, and placed. three of the cartridges in it. ‘We must make this as widespreading as possible,”” he remarked. So they went on as before, and the third explosion followed. Morse always remained behind to light the. fuse, and to see it was well aglow ere he left the- spot. Thus from poing to point they traversed the entire- path, reaching the summit at last, where they found a. breathless throng awaiting them. The whole of the schoolboys—indeed, all within the- | castle—were stirring, andthe majority abroad. Some were below, others on the ramparts, and all boiling | over with excitement, and, in the case of some, with terror. “Stand firm !” cried Morse ; “the biggest blow-up of: all is about to take place. No harm will happen to you;. but stop your ears and shut your eyes if you like.” Many stopped their ears, but none could shut their eyes. All stood dumbly awaiting the promised ex- plosion. others after the fuse had been lighted. Morse had made arrangement for that; he was so nee in everything. It was longer coming than any of the- But it came at last, and then the amazed spectators beheld a wondrous sight. About fifty yards from the top of the path the earth seem to rise en masse, taking with it rocks and trees into the air, just as if they had been discharged from an enormous. mortar. The trees rose about sixty feet, and them came- toppling down in inextricable confusion upon each other. Then the rocks and stones and earth fell. upon the mass, forming a huge mound with jagged stumps and -branches sticking out in every direction. A cloud of fine dust hovered in the air, obscuring the stars for a while, and in the dreadful stillness that followed the voice of Morse was suddenly heard. For once in a way he spoke exultingly, and his clear voice rang in the ears of all above and below. “Tt will puzzle them now,” he cried, “ to get their cannon up that way!” | There was another stillness, and then the boys burst into loud hurrahs, that must have been heard’ all too clearly by their aero ones and discoméited! foes. Cc 900 (el @) ‘Ss ( @ 0 )