The Island School — page 359: what you’re looking at

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

th Re your AR tania should not be meted out to you ?” fi i: Ha oN oreply. He looked at his warders and smiled in i curious ney, | x va Poa to ee room he used to occupy, ee the men turns undertook to keep watch over him. De 0 a ‘ It ain’t no use speaking the truth,” he moaned, as | 2 threw himself down upon the floor, “ and they ain’t got no right to shoot me. It’s murder!” 2 Get up, man,” said Martin, sternly. ‘ What. did | eo care about their lives when you did your best to sell them? Why should they care about yours P” _. “Jf they’d been killed it would ha’ been in fair Y a ht,” groaned Chorker. _ “Nothing of the sort. You and that precious lot alt of them \ - Wid os a ueee for a ee ‘surprise. is es ma could still eat, and partook of his anaes and po tt ther meals that day freely. Towards night he settled a into a state of sullen despair. a _ Trueberry took the early night watch, and he had some trouble with him, for suddenly he burst out ery- “ing g, and implored the man to fetch Jim Gordon, ‘‘ who oe / was that kind-hearted he would see how cruel it was ee : 0. shoot an innocent party.” | ve a If you were innocent,” replied Trueberry, “ you a Pauld not be here. It is no use fetching Gordon. He 12s made up his mind what to do vee you, and - nothing will turn him from his purpose.” Ro otker ran up and down the narrow confines of an hisfists. 'Trueberry reeked on with satisfaction. “You have a right to suffer,” he said, “and you 501 run wild in the aon and whatever he endured he would n never ‘trou ble them any more. All he wanted is inl smiled and told him to prepare for the worst. | Se After that Chorker became sullen again. He did not | : “ ee a wink of sleep that night. Siete = _ When the dawn was at hand Martin was on duty, Ted ay! an ane he bade Chorker get ready. There was a foot- e, “ ae: is time,’ he Oe to Martin. ‘ 6“ ‘It can’t bed Le shrieked Chorker, és ; Giame another To be aheee foam oncan at. sunrise!” said Jim, | ‘ ““ Prisoner, have you anything to say why 0 eat ?” peg) fot id bbe ““We have no food to waste,” said Jim, | use would breakfast be to you? In five minut will be over.” ‘ “1 can’t walk,” moaned Chorker, Een deat lolled so limp in his chair that it was probable I he spoke the truth. © | | ee oe % _ Jim walked into the passage and ome for bare fal Maravello. The two men came out of the kitche aye and he bade them carry RE in his chair outside i ce ao: < —_> Sis a! —s Ae see x tt te 4 ul ’ ¥ §: Ml L, 4 ¥ b Qo | the castle.- Rei Then a big bell began to toll. ii vais ae ¥ “We found it hanging-in a dark corner ‘of th vies Vi tower,” explained Jim, “and it has come in handy for “ith this morning.” bmi Heh eee AY, | “You ain’t got no feelings to tell me that! ” shricked by Chorker. ‘Spare me! I am guilty. There! ‘You oe can’t want more than that? Make a slave of. ney) Whip me, half-starve me. Do what you like, ont lot | ‘i RS me live !” , if “ Bring him along, » said Jim. | an a, Hey Harac ena Maravello unceremoniously otated: the 4 chair. Martin, with his rifle handy for use, fell in’ a behind, and Jim led the way to the hall. ang b. There the boys who had formed the jury on the i) previous day were assembled with riies on their ne shoulders. — 3 oes A NTS AN “The Be ye 2 said Jim. | | See a “ Oh—oh—oh!” groaned Chorker. On through the courtyard, with the firing-party leading the way, they went. ‘The gates were open, and outside all the rest of the boys were drawn up intwo lines about fifteen feet apart: p pa es At the top of the lane thus formed, close to the “a Redan fort and graveyard, was a long, narrow hole. | a Chorker saw it, and by. its shape cuessed what ab was for. It was his grave. nh s “Help!” he shrieked. “I—I——” phe che “Silence!” cried Jim. “Place him there by the. ey grave—in his chair, if he won't stand. Leave him—_ ne that’s it. Firmg party, to your places.” Rs | ai They ranged themselves at the bottom of the iano : Chorker made a feeble effort to get out of the chair, | But he was past all that, and he did nothing but roll about. base eee “ Ready, there!” cried Jim. “ Fire!” ok of ae : The rifles rang out. Chorker threw up his arms, — and tilting the chair backwards, fell vat it into” the orave. on uh . “ All return to the castle!” sang out oe ae the | mn movement of feet for a time was ee nee sound heard, Chorker lay ina heap in A | gre 1 | but ¢ certaix ot he > Was s woun x Sy By