The Island School — page 297: what you’re looking at

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

248 He looked awfully virtuous as he made this declara- tion. . Jim felt as if he could have punched his head. : “Openly,” repeated the schoolmaster—“ openly. I desire to leave the castle, because I am inthe way. I hinder your movements. You do not feel free to act with: me, the real head of the place, always: hovering around you. As my second and third in authority— storeby and Turner—share my feelings, we therefore ‘desire to go away and live in the cave, or elsewhere ‘we may find convenient; but it must be with your consent and connivance.” Jim was getting into a denser fog than ever. The proposition amazed him. He could not believe that it came from a man in his right mind. ““We shall not be far away,” pursued the school- master, ‘and it will not be a difficult matter to com- municate with us, so that we are provided with— ahem !—food and—ahem !—a few other necessaries.” “Oh!” Jim understood it all now. It was a proposition that exceeded in meanness and cowardice all that he had received from the school- master before, and it was in his heart for the moment to give a flat refusal. But his more prudent spirit came to his aid. These three men were in the way. It would be better for them to be gone, and possibly some arrangement for getting them away without their knowing too much ‘might be made. But he would not decide on such a momentous matter without a consultation with Morse. “lam taken somewhat by surprise,” said Jim, “ by this proposal, and I cannot decide what to do without consulting others.” “Quite right,” cheerfully assented: Mr. Farrell. Then, his manner suddenly changing, he added: “You do not include Mrs. Farrell among those it is necessary to consult, I hope P” ‘“t No,” answered Jim, with unwonted curtness ; is not a matter for women.” ~ Youare right again,” said Mr. Farrell, approvingly. “ Whe-e-en do you think you will be able to give me an answer ?” “Some time to-day, sir. Is there anything else you ‘wish to say ?” “Not now, Gordon, my brave boy—not now.” “Then I will leave you, sir.” “You will do your best to persuade the others to fall m with my wishes °” “I will do nothing to hinder them.” ‘ “Thank you, Gordon. I am your ‘debtor for ‘life.” 66 it THE ISLAND SCHOOL, CHAPTER CXXXV. THE DEPARTURE OF THE SCHOOLMASTERS.—A DISCOVERY : IN THE MORNING. HEN he got outside the room, Jim stopped to get 3 breath. . The inter- “View had been almost too much for him. : “JT did not dream,” he mur- mured, “that there could be any addition to his meanness and currishness, but this beats all that has happened before. Surely there can be no deeper depth for him !” But he had no time to waste in communings, and he hastened off to the laboratory, where he knew he would find Morse. The secret of the existence of the trap-door had never gone beyond the more trustworthy of the boys, and, owing to the wholesome dread entertained by Mr. Farrell and other objectionable members of the fraternity, of Morse’s stock of explosives, a secret its existence would have remained. To preserve it Jim was fully resolved, because he knew that fear had scattered what little feeling of honour Mr. Farrell might at any time have had in his nature. If by selling the lives of all in the castle he could make sure of saving his own, he would do it. There was not a shadow of doubt on that score. Morse was, as Jim expected, busy in his laboratory. He was manufacturing gunpowder, and Martin, he said, was in the kitchen, casting bullets in a mould, with the aid of Romeo. “ T sent him there,” said Morse, ‘“ because I did not wish to worry the ladies. Besides, Farrell might have interfered with Martin in the hall.” ‘He is in another mood,” said Jim, and then he ex- plained the nature of the recent interview with the schoolmaster. Morse listened without showing any great surprise. “T thought something was in the wind,” he said ; “but nothing the man may do in that line astonishes me. He had better go. You and I can manage it alone. See them all and swear them to secrecy. Then appoint eleven to-night in the dining-hall.” “ You were up all last night.” “So were you. But neither of us need be up all to-night. Furthermore, I mean to rest an hour or two this afternoon.” ‘But had we not better have somebody else? There are three of them.” com Cc 900 ES com