The Island School — page 380: what you’re looking at

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a kiss upon his brow if he had not dexterously bh 967 oe a. ; P pi “> 4 ¥ THE NIGHT - sleepers. While walking up and down with Eveline; he had conceived a plan of defence that might serve them at least fora few hours. It was very simple, and, on that account, the more likely to answer its purpose. He briefly explained what it was. “We must make a semicircular breastwork enclosing sufficient space for us all,” he said. ‘‘ Our backs must be to the sea, and we must be close to it, so that they cannot take usin the rear. That must be our last stand if no help comes.” “Tt is a good idea,” said Sleery. ‘ “You cannot be too quiet getting it together. It ought to be done in two hours. We have not far to carry the slabs, and there are plenty of them lying close handy. If you will bring them to me I will put them in place. But do not forget that a slip may be fatal to us. If those vagabonds were ceriain of our locality, they would be down upon us at once.” They meved silently, and Jim, as builder, fe eee so quietly that only the faintest gritty sound, as two stones or rocky pieces slightly shifted, told of the labour that was proceeding. The first semicircle was completed, morethan breast- high, but not too high for shooting over, and then Jim thought of an inner and smaller one which would afford protection to the three women folks. So quickly had the first defence been completed that there was ample time to carry out the second and when all was ready Macbeth was deputed to arouse the sleeping women and bring them over to their place of refuge. In half an hour the dawn would be there. He was especially enjomed to impress upon them the necessity of being as silent as possible. After a short like shadows. Miss Elegantine for seeing Jim, and taught them the desirability of reserving their talk for a more fitting elay the three women came over {veline had prepared her mother and opportunity, which it was possible—nay, probable— would never arrive. Mrs. Farrell took Jim’s hand nd pressed it. So did Miss Elegantine, who would have added avoided the chaste salute by shamming the necessity of tying a bootlace. He stooped so _ suddenly that Miss Klegantine’s kiss was wasted on the empty air. : ‘““Now,” whispered Jim, straightening himself up again and backing out of reach of Miss Hlegantine, “let us have such breakfast as we can get. The ladies will please take a seat inside and keep their faces to the sea. Sit close against the wall. and do not show yourselves, on any account, until we desire : WATCH, 315 “ And what is to become of me as a fighter?” asked Eveline, reproachfully. : “You will be kept as a reserve,” said Jim. Charley was also appointed to the inner circle. His. bulky body would be in the way within the outer line of defence. Macbeth was told off to sit down and load a weapon, or hand ammunition as required. The rest were armed to do the shooting. “Spec now dat Romeo got clar ’way,’ muttered Macbeth, ‘‘and what care he for-him poor ole grand- fader? Blarm de day me fool ‘nuff to come on dis island !” But, with all his wailing, the old nigger had become dogged and resolute. He, too, would, at a pinch, try conclusions with the enemy. In his sash he had a long carving-knife, which he was sure would be useful. | Hamlet was resolute, too, if he did feel a bit shaky about the knees. He had a rifle and a revolver, and» at close quarters, might be relied upon to hit a fair- sizecdl man in three or four shots. | They hurried on with their breakfast; the men eating mechanically but with fair appetite, the women partaking of very little. : Then, with loaded arms, the men sat down and waited for the dawn. The position they took up was. at the end of the gangway, formed by the two semi- circles of stones, where they had a view of the sea. Above the horizon, to the left, the hight would appear anon. The darkest hour is that before the dawn. Why it is so we do not pretend to say, but so it is upon earth, and there is everywhere a hush of expectancy that, in lonely districts, is strangely impressive. Even the sea was so lazily moving that scarce a sound followed its falling and rising on the shore. The dawn came at last, a faint, bluish flush in the sky heralding it. Stevenson called it the “ = Senet of the dawn,” and his admirers think it one of the most poetical utter- ances ever known, but long before Stevenson, or before this country was a nation, the Persians gave a name to the early blue flushin the sky. They called it “ the mother of the young god,” the juvenile deity being, of course, the sun. In our opinion this is the more poetical expression of the two, and certainly more original. There it was before the eyes of the watchers for a moment, only to disappear. ‘Then came a steadier breaking up of the gloom of the horizon in the form of a yellowish flush. “The dawn is here,” posts.” They crept there upon their hands and knees, and, whispered Jim. “To your (E( 0) aa) (é 00 <S.com