The Island School — page 333: what you’re looking at

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

ga real we ‘4 i = ea y e ‘ea _ Experience had taught both Morse and Jim to realise _ that the schoolmaster would go to any length rather ; 7 Nhe a ie is nn sh! ane Ke Wiss \ ny ie ust pig THE I. CHAPTER CLII. SCOUTING.—A WILD BOAR’S RUN. T was Morse who had blocked the cave. For the present it was shut against the outer world, and could not be reopened without considerable digging WAG operations. aw \" “1 He had been in- we AL AA ah = duced to do it by the Hy Nes ‘< fact of the capture of the Oa ithe stir and his assistants being a too evident precursor to the betrayal of the castle. _ than suffer himself. ‘Therefore it was necessary to close the cave, and it was done. A little drilling on either side, three or - four dynamite cartridges, and a handful of blasting- _ powder and it was completed. The dynamite ripped out the walls, and the powder flow up the roof, while Morse and Jim stood quietly within the cave watching the operation. The work was effectually done. - according to Jim, carried out a neater job. The peace in the castle that night is now accounted for. Feeling perfectly secure against immediate Morse had never, SLAN D SCH OOL. attack, the leaders allowed all but the sentries to sa | to bed. But on the morrow a Council of Ten was called in the laboratory—for Jim now designed to take the initiative, and harass the enemy as soon as _ the position of Lucia’s camp was definitely ascer- ie tained. That 1t had been shifted from its original position he was certain, and Martin’s report of the glow of hght he had seen from the summit of the tower gave an inkling of the truth ; but if was necessary to have the exact position of the foe known before assuming the. aggressive. All that had been done, and all that Jim hoped vo do, was laid before the meeting in the accustomed terse, direct fashion he alas adopted. All he _ wanted was two of his comrades to accompany him, and to start at once. As all the members of the council wanted to go, lured on by a longing to get out of the castle for change as well as a love of adventure, the matter was settled by drawing lots, and the luck fell upon Ganthony and Dawson. “Rifles, ten rounds of ammunition apiece, and revolvers,” said Jim ; We joey be eS to make a coe of it.” “food for twenty-four hours. “Blow the luck of some people! yy ey Tony) ‘ ay particularly wanted to go. Dawson is short-sighted. ei nt: " “Am I?” said Dawson. “Get SIBHE long enough bi) ; and strong enough to see. through you.” | i “Your sight is all right, isn't it?” asked pee) Tt was a matter he had never thought about. “Tt is a little short, perhaps,” replied Dawson, pubs I can see as far as a rifle will carry, and that ought to suffice. If Terry wants to take my place he Wve have to fight for it.” ‘Come on!” said Terry, readily. - “No time for larking,” said Jim. “ Boys, we must start in Balt an hour. Morse, this to be Beet from the’ women.” “Say that we have gone to gather acorns,” said. Dawson. : ** Leave everything to me,” said Morse. Ss In half an hour the trio of scouts were at the castle gates ready to start. Morse and Jim had a few whis- _ pered words to exchange, and when they were spoken Martin and Sleery drew back the ae on which the two guns rested. ae Martin was of opinion that he ought ta gO, but Ji im Ne fy) pointed out that it was probable that they would have to rely more on fleetness of foot than strength of arm, and boys were better runners than men aay day. So, with a word of adieu, they went forward, ane a passing along the front of the castle, entered the ad wood. Under cover of it they were goingtomake their way to the chine. But Jim, not being gifted with second sight, could not know that, an hour earlier, Lucia di Valo despatched Vamos with five men to find their way to the back of the castle-and survey the intermediate a ground, to see if 1t would permit of the onecannon left to them being transported over it. | : Unconsciously, therefore, both parties on the scout were approaching each other, and, satisfied of their being secure from assault, at least part of the way, ; made it more of a holiday outing than serious — business. “There goes a hog !” Sead Ganthony. fly at him ?” : ‘Wait, and see what ammunition we have left on our return,” sententiously advised Jim. It was a fine boar referred tc by Ganthony, with tusks that would, properly applies, give a very ug wound. The brute stood at a distance of a hundred yar ds e away, with his small eyes gleaming angrily. He was ee | as 3 “Shall T let debating within himself the possibility of making a successful rush upon them; but-as Ganthony put his rifle to his shoulder, feigning to shoot, the bo ar . grunted and plunged into a small cave close by: eens it ert be better coped’ a ooks.c —<