The Island School — page 299: what you’re looking at

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

ii we ae bs al buh the aye ne ray, a yy i a Fa soem to me that: this is a sell,” said Turner, i: ek “Gordon would never so deceive me,” exclaimed — Mr. Farrell, turning ghastly pale with mingled anger and fear. sty ee ee He “y wouldn’t trust one of the boys, and, least of all, a him,” grumbled Storeby. Pi ay Turner may give his opinion now,” said Mr. 5 Farrell, gazing wistfully into. the fire. “Tam past giving an opinion on any subject what- ever, ’ said Turner, gloomily, _ At this moment Jim entered the hall, and they sprang from their seats as if they had been one person, with the light of hope in their eyes. “Tam a little late,” said Jim. ‘You have seen the a Ee of course ?” ae crossed over, and knocked ae at the door. A muffled voice bade him enter. He disappeared for a minute, and then returned, bringing with him three thick handkerchiefs, which he threw upon the table. “You must all be blindfolded,” he said, “ and when A - that j is done, if any one of you attempts td peep out, ey “he will be left behind.” ‘ _ &We are willing to abide by your ruling in the oes said Mr. Farrell. Jim bade them sit down by the fire, and with great a care bound the handkerchiefs over their eyes, at the : same time he gave to each man his bag to carry, “None of you can see ?” he queried. an Eiey all assured him that they were in complete iaticos , a ie _ Here one or more other persons were heard moving _ about the hall, but nothing was said for a time. Then = a hand was laid on Mr. Farrell's 8 arm, and he was told to rise. He failed to recognise the voice. It was Morse who had him by the arm, and he led him out by the door that communicated with the passages is leading to the kitchen. FP md. ot o~ es a = “ C In and out of that domestic retreat he was led, into one of the back rooms, up and down the passage a . twice, and then taken back to the hall and into the san laboratory. oe “Be careful now,” said Morse, in the feigned voice a _hehad assumed. “ Steps.” - As soon as he started downward, Jim, who was _ quietly watching them, took Mr. Storeby’s arm and z led him by rhe Same in-and-out way, leaving Mr. Macs Turner i in a trembling state behind. ' They got the pair down to the bottom of the flight o of steps, where they were commanded to stand still. | | Morse remained behind to see that they obeyed the injunction, and Jim went back for the other > FP as - wakes Bes ‘ > Me FEY ; xf e a Se DSt Sy eee » +? is? ¥ a tants IPR OSs, a, ese padi bess ee a tn) Sued, Sif aie Mae Bes JF om on me Cy PLAT a » 4 Gr iy rh rar raey, sy te * a ae Leet ay PR ee ad 1, Une asl Cee a4, py eee IsbAND | mstlet Sr he i in " ues time bs ‘ae , ‘scHooI 01 2 7 4 4 em ae) P y > i) ae eS ae ONO ‘his: ne: 4} y ha? F sh 101 ulders he carried their blank. i | On the ground was, a eee a ee bound to his chest, and taking an arm @ each « Co) two first comers, he silently. urged them forw: ih ht f£ fhe | rd. Jim | | followed with Turner and the load of blank, py a Not a word was said during the long underground te journey to the mouth of the cave. There Jim com i ‘i manded them to sit down, and they opalige with (ia i the request like lambs. He threw down the blankets ny iss ) Dk, at their feet. Sana “For ten minutes,” he said, “you will neither move a nor speak. At the end of that time you may take off your bandages and make yourselves comfortable for “ the night.” “How are we to know when the time is bs ig asked | Mr. Farrell. “Guess it,” shortly replied Jim. “ But there is one thing more I would like to cae? said Mr. Farrell. “How far are we allowed to pene- trate into the cave in case we should feel it necessary to retreat ?” “You are not to go out of sight of the mouth aed it, If you doyouwill discover that a very dangerous ee trap has been set for you. But you will not be able to make any complaint about zt !” “Then if we should be discovered here by those rascally Spaniards, we must allow ourselves to be made prisoners of or killed outright ?” . | There was no answer, for Jim and Morse, with » noiseless footsteps, had glided away. | It was fully half an hour ere the schoolmaster i ventured to take the bandage from his eyes. ‘Behind — him was the dark cave, ahead the chine, and above the gleaming stars. “ You may take off those handkerchiefs? he said to his companions. They did so, and looked haat them. escaped Turner’s lips. “T do not think we are much better off Phan we were in the castle,” he said. “Worse,” muttered Storeby. “ phere we had com- pany and somebody to protect us.’ “Tt is a case of being between the devil and ey deep sea.” ‘You are an ungrateful pair of hounds !” said Mr. Farrell, fiercely. ° “Unerateful,” muttered Storeby. “Why should we show you any gratitude : ? It was your idiotic idea to get away and hide in the cave. You said that if the castle was taken, those ruffians would kill all init | and not dream of our being here. Then they would go away and we should get a chance of being MEISE off by some passing vessel.” “Tt was your snivelling that led me on 1 to make she arrangement.” a mt . we eS an eY ' rd Hos A groan —S _ x5 aA oe - Se” Oe og = a ee a ae st ee ee oo A - Rad Py : BS cayman ve a , hay, et 74