The Island School — page 373: what you’re looking at

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

310 4 There is little or no tide in the Mediterranean in the ordinary sense, but it varies in depth by the shore in places, according to the wind and the season of the © year. The wind at that hour was blowing the water out of the shallows. This state of things was of importance to Jim, in respect to.the possibility of his being blown out to . sea. Swimming with one hand only, he could not direct his course half so surely as he would have done | ‘with both arms available. His clothes clung to him, and the cold water chilled | him: But Jim was an experienced swimmer, and he knew that ere long the chilliness would wear off until fatigue overcame him. The problem was, how far — could he swim, handicapped as he was with his clothes and accoutrements ? The strongest swimmer does not travel very fast in | lumpy water; comparatively, he crawlsalong. With one arm only to assist his vigorous legs, Jim went very slowly indeed ; but he kept on doggedly fighting his way. When about half across, or a little more, he came to a rock projecting from the water, and the temptation to rest took possession of him. | But he knew it would not do. Getting out of the water to rest meant a reactionary chill and a loss of time that was very valuable. The darkness was already coming down, and he had ‘a furlong yet to swim. Not much on land with a stout pair of legs, but something serious to one in chis position. | But on he went, thinking of anything rather than the perils of his position, forcing his mind to take up more pleasant things, struggling, indeed, against a conviction that it would be as much as he could possibly do to reach the land. | . Aching arms, a singing in his head, flames of fire dancing before his eyes—all this troubled him now, and, above all, the consciousness that he was making very slow headway indeed united to weigh his spirits down. | “But what’s the use?” he muttered. ‘I can only give in when all is lost. ll think I’m done for when I go under—not before.” Darkness now. He felt rather than saw i, for those flames of fire before his eyes had grown into a perfect conflagration—the outcome of overtaxed energies and the almost unbearable agony of utter fatigue. It was only in a mechanical way he kept on and on, not knowing whether he was going to the right or to the left, or making any progress at all. | At length he felt that the sinews of his arms had performed all they were capable of doing. The , machinery was worn out, and must come to a stand- Btill. : | He prepared himself for the sinking and the final 45 ts, . Wi, . THE ISLAND SCHOOL. , struggle for life under water, and then—his foot. touched ground. | | Asif galvanised, he was endowed with new life. Ceasing the. action of his arm, he allowed his legs to. sink, and discovered that in the gloom he had un- knowingly gained the shore and wasin shallow water. The arm with which he held the rifle was cold and stiff. He shifted the weapon to the other hand, and as he. staggered forward he allowed the half-frozen arm to sink to his side. Land at last, high and dry. With feelings that overpowered him for a moment, he sank upon the hard: ground and lay quite still. \ There was little life left in him. He was chilled to the very marrow of his bones, and he feared that, if he lay there long, he would die. But a short rest was absolutely necessary, and’ he drew up. his stiffened limbs as close as possible. It was the instinctive action of one who gets into a very cold bed in winter. The idea of it flashed upon him and, despite his suffering, he laughed. : Laughter shakes us up and sets the blood healthily in motion. It did him good, especially as he laughed aloud. | A sense of returning warmth came over him, but only to be succeeded by another chill, for hard by he heard a soft footstep stealing down upon him. It. was that of muffled feet, the step of the thief or the murderer; and he felt that it was his involuntary — laughter that had drawn attention to his presence on the shore. CHAFTER . CLXX. A MEFYING OF OLD FRIENDS.—SURROUNDED. ~ giM tried to rise and i meetthepresumed foe . approaching him, but found he was scarcely able to do so. He got upon his knees, and drew his knife from its sheath, determined to defend his life to the last. Then out of the darkness there loomed a huge figure, and a short, satisfied grunt fell upo= his ear. “ Charley !” he exclaimed, scarce able to credit the evidence of his senses. But Charley it was, and having thrust his nose - against Jim’s hand, and laid his ponderous head upon his shoulder for a moment, he proceeded to indulge 500 mic ( SF @ ) CS GI @ ) mn