The Island School — page 303: what you’re looking at

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

re i ihe 7 Hot given to exaggeration—a. catastrophe was ‘e ‘certain to come about, Gnloss it Was prevented. ) a 1 If Miss Elegantine did nothing else, she would i accidentally fire off the rifle, and the chances were that the barrel would burst. Ue Jim, on learning the facts, saw that it was a matter ‘de or prompt action, and he hastened down to the dining- as all, where he found the lady-recruit marching about ae ath the rifle resting horizontally upon her arm. Mrs. ee varrell and a number of the boys were about, all in ee 0 aminent danger of having their heads blown off. if wile Miss Dibble,” said Jim, “ may I have your rifle for Oe eden: tg ae 6 No,” she emphatically replied, “not if I know it, ny Thave had no end of trouble to get one and be drilled, a and: now that I have the means of protecting myself | a Don those rascals break into the castle, I donot mean Ra a pe “You really must,” he said; “you have it at full 6ock, It is really dangerous. Lok out, there !” _ As most of the people in the hall now thoroughly @ _ understood that the rifle was somehow dangerous, of a which they had no previous inkling, down went every a. _ head. ih) And it wasas well they ducked, for Miss EHlegantine, ae king out of Jim’s reach, was brought up short by BA the table, and convulsively grasping the tigger, pulled | a down. _ The rifle exploded. _ Not with the usual short, sharp report, but with a Ae and ripping up eect end to end. : _ The smoke filled the hall, and into the thick of it aK D haced the three niggers from the kitchen, with ae Chorker at their heels. All in the courtyard : | attempted to rush in, but were met by those who were Open | | Miss Dibble, are os Hereuidls hurt P” \ aw As the smoke cleared, he saw her lying at full Tenath: with: a bleeding face and her false front gone. He _ Yaised her head, and Mrs. Farrell .came to his assist- NX ance. as _ “She has been struck i in the face,” she said, “ poor thing? ‘ “Tt is only a skin wound,” remarked Jim. “] fancy 3 _ she 3 is nore frightened ane hurt. Romeo, get some x | sei ii ae a Si ae again,” She took a sildidtbe reine off her neck el tied it ss ne to. part with it.” ji 2 S| ee Wen ae A They bate ¥ was soon ay euthor and h fe Ke ba g been. sprinkled, Miss Mloeegae, opened her eyes. ie Ma 1 a “Dear me!” she exclaimed, “what s the Sait ; Oh, I remember. That horrible gun! ‘Where is—— Seeee . She clapped a hand to her head in search of, her | false front, and, finding it gone, > uttered a Joud scream. Wi ‘ Never mind, ma eid said. dea soothingly, a NP hair.” — “What 3 is the use of ee sobbed she, “ she added with an innocent aie “at will sro yj eg J ie ee over her head. Then Jim assisted her to a chair. Che “That wretched gun!” she murmured. “ What 4 made it go off 2” Re “YT am afraid you pulled the trigger,” replied . ieee ha Romeo had by this time picked up the pieces, which, i with much rolling of eyes, he showed to Jim. | i Dibble at this moment came strolling: into the hall, ; 4 He had heard of the — “ys rie feigning to do it casually. catastrophe, with the addition that his aunt had © blown her head off. He just dropped in to see if it were true. | She espied him instantly, and beckoned for him to ae approach her. He came diffidently enough, conscious ee that other eyes were upon him. Jim, to spare Dibble’s | , oe feelings, motioned to the negroes and Chorker not to ag wait. | th “I think,” he said to Miss Elegantine,“ that we may mee. leave you now. You have pomevaing to say to — ie Dibble.” iy She would have remonstrated against. their going, is but the hint from Jim was enough, and all but Mrs. ied Farrell departed. | pi’ an “8 Oscar, ” said Miss: Elegantine, “do yan not feel si sorry now ?”- oy a a Dibble was surprised. He was sorry, of course; Ay but the tone and manner of his aunt implied that he iS : was to blame for what had happened. | SSA ae “Took at me,” she went on. “Not a hair of my a head left; ail singed off \” i Dibble stared. ag € “Do you not feel that, if you had been a better Le i boy, this would not have bapaededs ne ees “ T don’t see how I could help it, aunt,” said ae acs rebelliously. “Don’t talk to me!” she cried. done for you, to come to this! Go away!” Dibble felt both hot and indignant. * How could he | possibly be to blame in the matter ! BRNO “Tt wasn’t my fault,” he said. “You hadn't. any Wels with the gun, aunt, e he insisted. ppt es ie a C Bi pe aA ey NaN (5 S Si Feil + 4 her ey ie a 2 mene es Dube Mis 000 0 ait +S nat? hed “ After all I have | {?? “Omi