The Island School — page 371: what you’re looking at

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

PM Aes 5s o afi pea iy By 7) ps nae (s Earth and sky and water had ain: on a - colourless Ry i aspect, that was not cheering to the spirits. | 7 ‘So. passed the morning, and there was nothing to \n do) but to watch and docs, | | is ye a We must turn night into day,” said Jim. at "i ee ‘It was arranged it eraula be so, for night was their recognised time of peril. He divided his forces into. two parties, and they in turn divided the day into f peering times. . One thing Morse had overlooked in his last exploit, “and that was, the kitchen was a ruin, and, with the a2 exception of such cooking-utensils as were in the i - sores, all they needed for domestic purposes was lost. Possibly everything was not destroyed, but it Pculd take time and a Biya opportunity to dig them _ out. i e: But the. main stores, being on the hall side of the P a castle, were there. So far, well; but again there was | aS question of fuel. ; A Vuepy “Ny NY it was likewise buried. Unless some could be pro- cured from the outside, a day would see their little ee ‘ - stock exhausted. ____ But it was no use bewailing these facts. Nobody BN was to blame. What Morse had done was unavoid- cre, or, at the least, highly expedient. } i siepping a Rbreatoned assault upon the castle it had Be), ) Whate’er betided them after- | - wards they would ra to grin and bear it. In the afternoon—how the time in their anxiety we !—_a report was sent down from the ramparts that a man was below cetting a boat ready, one belonging to the school aa lying with the others in the lagoon. vee . , ee _ here was soon a swarm upon the ramparts, Jim, with his telescope, watching the man, who by that a time was pulling across to the rocks. | pes , ‘His appearance showed that he was one of Lucia di Valo’s men, but he was personally not known. He certainly was not Vamos. He went very steadily, yy occasionally casting anxious glances behind him, as if wa he feared an enemy ashore. | __ On touching land he quietly moored the boat, and upon his hands and knees stealthily crept up the a rocks. Kvery movement expressed great caution, Dc He avoided the higher points of the rocks, and keeping to the intersections between them and the hollows, gained the summit. There he lay down in . _ an attitude that reminded Jim Gordon of pictures he haa seen of chamois hunters upon the mountains. ‘What was the man doing there? Whatever it was it did not keep him long, for in a few minutes he was ; slipping | backwards until he was well below the upper — ridge. Then he travelled faster, reached his boat, and pulled back again, ASS Sees Atellg ee ee ve | iy 5h igs) i: Vt i, Aas are WY Ne} r > = PORE cli (THE ISLAND ‘soHooL. oe “¢ ae : tay, j a) ia BA % ay ey in : oo Rank, peal ( thing?” 5 were questions asked among ihe b _ They had enough for the day, but the main eae of | And in was no enemy in sight. He looked back towa | _ gate, where Morse was standing to see the last of ond 4 is so far well, he pale ot the ‘Redan ‘aba’ Siu X: a hire £ - ad (ae tet) ™ : ee PEGE ay tbe eT TORE Ne tH TOPS oe * & Ke MY; ok ‘s FMA SARTO? so s) ney : , ) vt ‘7 iy Ab ‘ Wi £9) Wit a a What i is in the wind now | 2 Is h But there was nothing to hunt. | Jim knew fhe tT The rock was rich with wildflowers, “but. f barren of a ; animal life. Besides, he had. not waited to secure: a anything. eaae Cea ; Then there came a fear into his heart. i rt possible that Hveline and those with her vt (a Ve " so, how was it they had lingered so long? Why had Ted a they not endeavoured'to get taken on board a a vessel, as originally designed ? — | : He spoke of his fear, Sal there was immediately a a a conviction in the breasts of the listeners that he shad se solved the problem. But still proof was ecossany, wa and how. was it to be obtained ! eit Yee 4 “Vl go myself,” said Jim ; “ it is a by land, and there are difficulties i in crossing—especi- ally for women—the patches of water that lie baad i aa the rocks and the mainisland. You can take care of the: | ‘f castle while I am gone. If they are not there ig shall i. be back about the middle of the night. Cae or three biscuits, Terry.” é a a “If you are caught abroad in the daylight, 1 e - Morse, “ what will be the end ?” Ces ers “You are a nice fellow to hint at peril,” said Th im, ee, with a good-humoured laugh. “ Especially ready in taking advice, aren’t you ?” : , : Others endeavoured to dissuade Jim from going... Af At all events, they urged, he might wait awhile to see: ne if any more men went over to the rocks. There were: ae three hours between then and nightfall, | Rie. “Three precious hours to me,’ ’ said Jim, “if I am: to get there before the morning. I have said I ams ae going, and I mean it.” Bin : As the next best thing to his staying in the castle: . “eg with them, they urged his taking with him a rifle aS: pe well as his small-arms, and plenty of ammunition. oe mi this he did not demur. Fok, Terry fetched him the biscuits with a small bottle: Dis: of wine. It was some that was left from the lot they y, brought from the vaults. _ uf . “ Whatever it is,’ ’ said Terry, “it is cele sack may help you after wading i in cold water. _ The oe are: precious cold.” 4 Jim pocketed the wine, and ths Osean were: placed in a leather bag, which he slung about hisback. The gate was opened, and with a murmured He ‘Good ef 4 luck” from the throng of friends behind him, a i started or his perilous journey. | "a ‘Cautiously he proceeded see ‘the son of. the: ay castle until he could see up towards the wood. There: 3 ards the: Vi USE Ce von et ao hue Pas and with a wave of the hand to reassure him all: was: fo ee nge few he ve aH as ae ae the FO a. ee ae ee ‘4 ie Ci aie gies 3 ee x a ie A 6 @)@ 6