The Island School — page 335: what you’re looking at

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

Ren noe dhs pa ij lose.” | _ This as soon done: The food was thrust into a « “hole hard by, and they inserted their lithe forms under Me a -elump. of rhododendrons, glowing with excitement. AS they got into position they each took a revolver iy from his belt, and cocked it ready for use. Their - rifles were cocked and ready. | _ By this time the “ jabberers” were near enough for all to hear their voices. It was Vamos and his party De ditetin: Jim ventured up to the very verge of the ; clump of bushes, and saw them pass. _ They were talking in a patois he did not under- stand. But the air of the men showed that Vamos was joyously explaining’ something that gave the - others ereat satisfaction. They passed on, and their voices died away in the distance. Then Jim bade his i followers back out. a “TI wonder what their game has eee ©” he said. ita ee Spying about the castle, Ireckon. And that fellow seemed as if he had solved a riddle. Bring out dinner, Dawson, and let us make a smart peck of it, _ and then home.” a They ate their frugal meal in a quiet Poni! all with their ears intent on the sounds around Here But ‘ tac were confined to the soughing of the wind and an occasional cracking of a rotten branch in the wood. ie “‘Confound it,” muttered Jim, as they got up to gO, aS _ “T wish I Soulg crea their lingo. Something is in Ny the wind. Itis a bit satisfactory to know that. We a have not come scouting in vain,” at a - saree 6! het | CHAPTER CLIII. ANOTHER SORT OF HOG.—THE MYSTERY OF IT, }JHE boys hastened along, 1 and presently came near the ‘spot where they saw ‘the hog disappear into the hole. Dawson ran on ahead to get a peep at it on the off-chance of drop- ping on piggy again. “JT may shoot now, I suppose ?” said he. “Yes,” replied Jim; “only be sharp, and mind you do not miss.” | Dawson was more short-sighted than he pretended __.to be, for at a distance of fifty yards things became a somewhat misty tohim. On getting within range of the hog's retreat, he saw something protruding from it. gliding oF into the hole, i in fact. So he up ware his rifle ' > i ' i 1a? y of ee ae. - - 5 = to ee ee ; Me Btow the grub away,” aitored et c anal a tie | | J It was not ae like a hog, but it was moving— a hog are mistaken. roar came ee vias opening. x O ie ru such a sound. ) aetniret) ei ae “Murder!” he exclaimed. i What i is that a he i: a Wi Jim came up and asked what luck he had. ase ea “Ty hit something that was creeping into the hole, iii replied Dawson, “but it did not squeak. ‘Ht roared! nie “Fancy,” said Ganthony, who now joined them. ee th We it?” said Dawson. “Tm not hanes 5: that way.” Ya at ‘Suppose we go and see lie: it is P” su; ggosted Jim. by They went over to the place and listened. ee where far away in the depths of the cave or. hollow | there was a faint sound of moaning. But a amigo have been the wind. : ; When Jim peeped in he could see and Hee nothing. “ You fancied it,” he said, rising to his feet. “Tt might have been the echoes of the report By " rifle ?” hinted Ganthony. “It wasn't,’ returned _Dawson, earnestly. swear it wasa roar I heard.” | “Tt is all your blessed sight, ‘coupled with a Vives imagination,” said Ganthony. | iy “We must get along home,” said Jim. He saw that it was time to stop a possible quarrel, for Dawson’ Ss ” cheek flushed and a combative line soe about _ his mouth. Bi So they went on to the castle, Dawson grimly silent as he reflected on the nature of the sound he had | ia heard. As they passed round the face of the building pe to the gates, he suddenly exclaimed : | “T have it |” Lh A “Glad to hear that,” replied Ganthony, carcasticn ally. “I thought that it got away from you.” Se ‘¢Oh, you are a chump,” TUL Dee elt was. i a human voice I heard.” . ia “ You must have imagined that,” said Jim. “ No,” answered Dawson,“ I am sure it was humans and, in a peculiar way, it was familiar.” lit ry ‘ “Tt must have been a new sort of hog,” said Gan- “4 thony. aii hens Dawson stuck to his text, but his companions could — not believe he was right. They were unable to asso- . % | ciate the affair with the presence of any human being. - Who would have taken refuge in that cave ? None of their foes, for instance, and apart from them, who a , | could there be about on that part of the island? 4 “Say that one of the masters has escaped,” said Jim, unconsciously touching on a fact, “why should _ | they hide from us? No, Dawson, it ea do. You ; Gate there !” litres ns A face appeared at the portcullis and vanished. Then the gate was opened by Terry. | Saath “a arn ho.) = Sie ss Sdonbe back ee you: thought you would me he h said, : Hs iad § | aig * is a ah ae hi: Pane ae vine N ofofe) @ ae es ~~ * . Sere o “¢ > C ‘*; ny bs ey } ue Mp ink