The Island School — page 331: what you’re looking at

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

- tk a ment CHAPTER CLI. ’§ FAILURE AND FLIGHT.—LUCIA DI VALO’S VENGEANCE. HATEVER Mrs. Farrell required Romeo for, it did not detain him as < f)" long. In half an hour he was back in the chen where his elders were sitting by the fire. “Tt a bery cold night,” he said. ‘’Spect dere be a bit ob frost.” “You get a frost’bout you if you go a-libel- Piiaraine you fader again,” said that august ia age. “ Lie low, you infant prodgigal.” a . - Romeo smiled with the lofty air of a superior spirit, and sat down by the fire, filled his pipe, and smoked in silence. From the distant hall came the _ softened sound of laughter. There was no thought. of danger in the minds of the boys that night. _ At a comparatively early hour all retired, with but - two watchers, one by the outer gate, and the other 5, 0n the ramparts. The latter was Martin, the black- it as smith, and he varied his marching to and fro by Mine occasionally ascending to the top of the tower. ! FE: From thence, afar off, he presently caught a glimpse _ of lights burning in the direction of the chine. It was only the faintest glow, but he knew it portended ®, a movement of some sort. But he had received his pee - instructions not to raise a needless alarm, and while the glow came no nearer he made no sign. The camp of Lucia di Valo was astir, for all save two, to remain as guard over Storeby and Turner, _ were bound on an expedition to the cave. Thither was the schoolmaster to lead them, and all believed that the hour of triumph was at hand. Had the schoolmaster no thought for those he was about to betray P , None. Wrapped in the garment of utter selfish- ness, over which was the cloak of cowardice, he had no thought for living being outside himself. He a believed his own life was in peril, and to save that at fe any cost was the only thought in his mind. And his hfe was at stake. . Failure from any cause! Lucia di Valo had declared aed it was to followed with a measure of rugged justice. | He would be shot. Indifferent to or unconscious of the possibility of being observed from the castle, Lucia di Valo com- manded her men to have ready a supply of pine torches to Pee the oe in the cave. me also : WA - at "id f on Os tits} 44 a ~ \ ; Fie 4 Ares SUR AS ts Rtgs Ve $ Ke FS os RO > Ate ¢ SR eke tonya a | Soh Sug hia Genus bor ide nthe yas Neh S was reached. Burk there was no cave. here.” on eee re Hid un yy ans needed rae 4 to stide thou up the chine, wi iv w dark at night time. ae The men were ready, ae ik into line. | ‘Luci came out of her tent, and, with Vamos and Mr Farrell, kd the way. ates the i The schoolmaster was free as to tet arms and. tear | but Vamos walked by his side, pistol in hand, ready — ce to shoot him if he attempted to fly. But the traitor — 4 had no such thought. He was certain that the end ei of the night’s expedition would be the capture of the castle, and with it an end to his personal peril. _ ae On they went silently over the rugged path of the x chine. They had not far tc go, and Mr. Farrel’, knowing the ground, called a halt. ne ss Here,” he said, “we turn and ascend thn slope. ee The cave is near its summit.” | ae They toiled up and up, with the torches throw-— Ais ing a flickering , uncertain light, until the very, 7 ; ' ; ¥ vy ey F By ay) si, f aay ey. a a sy him. | “This must be the spot,” he murmured, “ but hs “Seek it to the right or left,” intarposed Varo, impatiently. | yh Mr. Farrell did so. Now to the right and Hie pa oy 4 the left, up and down, but no cave. He stopped oe aM again, utterly dumbfounded. 3 . “Ts the place bewitched ?” he asked. ** The cave g was here, or there, I swear it.” a “Find it,” was all Lucia said, her voice hand and cold. In vain did they search, moving along the suring iy a of the slope. No cave was to be found. Suddenly — a one of the men uttered an exclamation. Lucia asked a | him what was the matter. : di: Mf “Senorita,” he said, “ ‘baene has Hoan a landslip ee ~ a wy} It was so. As the cane drew up ‘nan formed a circle, the ground, newly broken, was a revealed. But it was no ordinary landslip. The pe ground seemed to haye been heaved up ere it fell. Besides, what could have caused it ? i a | There had been no recent heavy rains, none of ne usual winter storms, nothing to cause the aigiion terrestrial disturbance. Therefore the shifting of the — ground must have been the work of some living being. __ Mr. Farrell grasped the portent of it-all; His — 4 purpose by some mysterious means had been anticipated _ and thwarted. By whom he could shrewdly guess. & “This spot is immediately above the mouth of the Oey cave ?” said Lucia, sternly. 3 ‘6 T_J—I think so,” he stammered. “Do you not know it 2” = He “T do.” aid ee Bs: “Enough,” said Lucia. “ on shammed being a er traitor to sane dies eo life. ; om theres , nat Bx"