The Island School — page 298: what you’re looking at

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

THE DEPARTURE OF THE SCHOOLMASTERS, DAO ¢¢ Never mind if there were thirty of their breed. We need not trouble about that. Make the appoint- ment, and you will see that it is all right.” _ Jim was satisfied. ‘Morse never spoke decidedly on any subject unless he was pretty certain of his ground. So he hurried back to the schoolmaster’s room, where he found all three concerned assembled together. Storeby and Turner must have been lying in wait- ing when Jim was interviewing the schoolmaster, and after the departure of the youth have gone into the room to hear the result. Jim merely explained that the proposition was approved of, on condition that it was not talked about. ‘You see,” he said, naively, “if it gets ena that you are thus favoured, we shall havea lot more who will want to followyou. Chorker, forinstance, would be one of the first to insist on it.” “Chorker be hanged!” said Mr. Farrell, and the other two, with a lively recollection of the treatment they had experienced from that old fraud, echoed the sentiment heartily. “To-night at eleven, then,’ said Jim, “ and we will see how it can be worked. Bring a couple of blankets with you. There are some corners in the cave for you to sleep in, and you may want them.” “Will there be any objection to my bringing a small portmanteau down with me?” inquired Mr. Farrell, “with something by way of change of clothes in it,” “No. All might do it, as there is no knowing how Jong you will have to stay.” They renewed their promise of secrecy, and he left them. | All that day there was no movement that was par- ticularly threatening among the men below. They did their cooking, and lay about smoking and gam- bling as they had done before. Little was seen of Lucia di Valo, but in the afternoon Jim caught a glimpse of her as she came to the entrance of her tent to speak to one of her men. What did this supineness mean? Possibly they were waiting for reinforcements from Minorca, although that seemed to be improbable, for their loss had not been great. Perhaps they were waiting for some new armament of war. Morse, in the afternoon, was busy looking among a lot of lumber which had been brought up from the oldschovlhouse. Aftera time he unearthed about six feet of three-inch iron piping, with which he seemed well pleased. He took it to Martin, and told him he wanted it fixed on astand that two or three people could move, and be fixed so as to work on a centre rod. ~ “ With a catch,” explained Morse, “sa that I can incline it at diferent angles.” “What's in the wind now 2” asked Martin. “ A blow-pipe,” replied Morse, laughing. “A blow-up pipe o’ some sort, I bet,” muttered Martin. From Martin, Morse went to Sleery, and gave him acommission to split uptwo pine-boards into long rocket-sticks, smooth and round, so that they would travel easy. Sleery was quite as curious as Martin, but was, like the blacksmith, left unsatisfied. Kveline and her mother appeared at meals, so did Miss Elegantine, and all had small pieces of cotton clinging to their dresses, indicative of the lint-making, Nothing was reported by the sentries as they took up their postsin turn, and the night came at last with its usual hilarity on the part of the youngsters. But it was more subdued than usual, for the fatigue engendered by the night before was upon them, and, without any hinting on the part of Jim, they dropped off to bed, until he and Morse and the three ladies remained. ‘Martin and the men invariably went off to the ample kitchen shortly after tea, for a smoke. None of the masters stayed a moment after they had partaken of the meal that night. Mrs. Farrell seemed to have a suspicion that some- thing was in the air, but after two or three wasted questions on the two chums, she made no further effort to get at the facts. ' Miss Elegantine informed Jim that she would be pleased to take her first drilling lesson on the morrow. “Save us!” said Mrs. Farrell. “You really don’t mean to fight ?” “Why not ?” said Miss Elegantine, composedly. “TI intend to carry a rifle and chopper, and if I get along- side any of those wretched Spaniards, I will set my mark upon them.” “She'll do it,” muttered Morse. The conversation soon flagged, and by a quarter past ten the hall was empty. But not for long. Almost immediately afterwards, Morse came down again and entered the laboratory, where he remained. until the hour of eleven—alone. By that time the trio of masters were down and seated by the embers of the dying fire. Though about to be assisted out of a place where they lived in a state of perpetual fear, they neverthe- less were as gloomy as men sentenced to be hanged. They exchanged a few words in whispers. “Tt isfully eleven, isn’t it?” inquired Storeby. “T should say so,” replied Mr. Farrell; ‘ but I can- not tell the time, since that thief Chorker stole my watch.” They anathematised the old man in concert, and then there was another silence. Eom Cc 700 ES Com