The Island School — page 346: what you’re looking at

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

* ‘ vy 4‘ / : . o% , Z van , De é : AT es ry jaa * ‘i Lenit) y ‘4 % 4 > ’ ms, fates "yu he . Jae come. out by the laboratory door.” | GA hundred men or thereabouts ?” - ie after the door is opened,” remarked Morse, with a grave face. “Jim, itis not our doing, and their blood be upon their own heads. Perhaps it will not be necessary to kill many of them. The rest may lay ~ down their arms.” , | “You propose to fight them ?” “Some of us,” said Morse. ‘ For the women there is one way of escape. They must, when the supreme moment comes, retreat to the lagoon and take to sea. I propose that Changeling should go with them to __-—- manage the boat. I have another plan, but I am , sure you will not asseut to it.” | “Tet me hear it,’ said Jim, “and then I will tell ¢ “you what I think of it.” : “T do not like it myself,” said Morse, “ and yet not for my own sake; although it will involve my giving my life for you all, TI will gladly do it.” ““Not to be thought of,” asserted Jim, “not for a moment. But to satisfy my curiosity, give me your Pe, plan.” _ . “When those fellows begin to attempt to force their way through,” said Morse, “I thought that all but myself might retreat to the sea. There are boats enough for all, and the prospect of being picked up is not very remote. Anyway, the island would be safe for you, for I, who would be left behind, would blow e those rascals and. myself and the castle to the winds.” “That such a sacrifice might be consented to in ‘ case of urgent need, I admit,” said Jim, “ but lots ought to be drawn for the one on whom the task is to ‘ a 4 i oC es + o- * be all ~~“ No,” returned Morse, “it must be done by one who understands the work and would not lose his nerve. I should not, but I would not trust anyone but you, Jim, and you are not to be thought of.” ‘Nor you either,” replied Jim, ‘‘so there is an end _ to that for the present.” haunted him. It was a scheme that commended itself _tohis high notions of a noble spirit. There was some- on thing more than noble in it. It was passing the gene- - rosity of man. But Morse to be sacrificed— never! _ “He will be a great man in the world if he lives,” - thought Jim, “while I—well, : may be a bit of an i ay: A, ccturer, and nothing more. vt ya —_ f ' > ea } ue ia z A) A. ii We : he Pie cats LN. ie VEY Patra nll a ated $s Peer sid NS a a pie cox (MOTION IN THE LABORA TORY. | here is a way out ot ee I know. nothing, they ‘6 There” will not be a hundred of them two ee . Ing, and the women were to be ready to depart ee at ee -moment’s said. ( _ Nevertheless, the idea of one being sacrificed for all “thie ee aM ui * aK ; + if fh fie ty eas CHAPTER CLVIIL THE COMMOTION IN THE LABORATORY. SU PPRESSED fever lay in the | a bosomofthecastle. All felt. that fie! 4 = climax of the. on et contest between them and iy 4 the invaders wasathand. There was no need to- a keep the secret of the . doings of Morse, and the _ Speke ewe communicated _ bs ~ es ve ~ NS wees - " “wth » S 2 XZ ~! 7 , e — a 4 D S ‘ at Sn & a SS nT] ete: j - ~ <= t < ay : aa’ wz — e \ . e . ‘ oa Avs But through fhe day hone was no sound from behind the barricaded door. i A council was called, and all, including the women, — were invited to share in it. Raya % i By a general vote Jim took the pronidinte seat. ee Briefly he explained the plans laid down by himself and Morse. That night there was to be.no undress- ‘ Gees ey) notice. Mrs. Farrell demurred, but. Jim said it was imperative. a “You will only hamper our action,” he a “through our anxiety on your account.” Boe The force of this observation was not to be gain. a Then a question was put to the boys as to whether they would prefer to go with the boat or. ok stay. There was no hesitation in the reply. All would — oi Me | stay and, as they expressed it, “see Jim and Morse through the affair.” | Then came the question of provisions in case the defenders should deem it necessary to retreat, and it. Hy Ni was decided that the three negroes should at once remove a portion of the stores ‘outside ‘the onto there to remain ready for transport when the word was given. ~ ie The bulk would have to be left behind. et Then there was something to be done in prepara— me. tion to give the enemy a warm reception if they ey succeeded in breaking through the door. What men i a of their stamp might do in the circumstances they pn wa were placed in it was impossible to say. Perhaps — Be | they might give way to despair and fight like so many . caged wolves. But the probabilities were that they A would endeavour to force their way out. h Ee With a view to being early prepared for them, tho evening meal was arranged an hour earlier, and with appetites more or less impaired it was partaken obi aaa The fictitious mirth had come to anend. Grim silence i for the most part prevailed. a ' Eveline sat with her eyes on Jim most of the tim apis 5 ae eS : . 5 et bie it ts SRT ee “i ny f erie (ns iy, ; (oad ay, fy . wh tm bys ‘ oan 1 , im . ‘ : J é ' Pal) Fos iy 7m want : bi We :