The Island School — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

ae ny yy ste i B*), ae Ma nak | ‘ en will be ee of time for youl to get fone ee ore sunset. Mi a uO F | “eas — Dawson up.” CHAPTER XIII. FOOTSTEPS ON THE FARM, ?FTER a most delightful tea with the ladies, unhampered by the presence of Mr. Nap \ Farrell, the two youngsters started with Romeo for the farm. iS The road to it was half- t ////> if 7 way to Silver Bay along the hy yy beach, and then through a “chine toa level part of the land in the interior. The farm, SO called, con- Yih, ee sisted of seat ten acres of ground at the base of | A the higher lands. It had the appearance of being - a scooped out of the hills on which the castle and “¢ woods were visible. The soil was rich, and in that an _ sheltered position the temperature on a hot day was et that of a hothouse. Things leaped from the earth _ wonderful, them taller than a man, and the work of clearing x ns away never done. _ There were always patches of grasses and docks “amohg the growing crops that would have given cover for a dozen men or a considerable quantity of ome a fe fued inside each other. They acted as a sort of sun- ibe cs: ee shade to his bare, woolly pate, and in that position | an him to walk at his ease with his hands in his - Gordon and Dawson led the way with the nigger one pace in the rear. They were conversing in an | ne undertone, much to Romeo’s disgust, he being afflicted a 4 with an all-consuming curiosity about wera that did ne ‘not eoncern him. Pears to me,” he said, suddenly, “dat manners os ay out ob fashing.” - ; Uae ‘What do you mean by that P” asked Jim, looking te O back: i “han oe Coben! sidered rude to whisper in company,” retorted Janae NY a te all peas ’ said the P dohineln eee ae - in our own Isle of Wight, in the chines of Blac ets | ping of water from the high lands. Some were ‘ge nost. The rapid growth of all the produce was Kee _ And, of course, the weeds also grew apace, some of _of various sizes. hae iy Romeo carried over his head three rush-baskets, he saw unmistakable signs of the recent preseniae Caw e if fib ae P my . t Det » ; aN f | i 4! Z raed { . uxt! ; 4 Me te Ores EWIAT yn ‘sg P t Hi rs He ny ‘ y he a hy } ' hd » Livi: ass eae hy a Do a ah ve Aloe ki At a ra Rik in): Bae “« Buk: surely you don’t consider yourself compe saat he ii fe “Tt for you, Massa Gordon, to. ‘sider dat : : e replied Romeo. | asi i ‘ | a Well, ” said Jim, langhint “ te won't JA. ; again, We were speaking of ‘that wonderful bath ng a a HTK . experience of yours.” — Papin ba Nt KL Bak: as “ Berrer not heals ob dat, x said Romeo; we near : de chine.” Hy i uN nae iH “ What has the chine to las ith that?” A Mi Pi “ Nuffin’, Massa Gordon.” Ma | Be aN MT Fe aed AS ine, He ea uneasily about them, for they were now — ae at the mouth of the chine, one of those great oa _ « in the line of rocks that are frequently found in roug 4 shores of the sea. Examples of them are ‘to be found Gang and Ventnor. | eRe: wy ae eT) fe Be a Jim quietly nudged Dawson, and they both key ta a ‘ covert watch upon the negro as he Paes on in front le and led through the narrow broken way. Ax a ‘a Ni He was never in a great oe in his every-day life, ao exasperating deliberation. Now he » den ‘over ‘the x ground with the light foot and at the speed of one cn 4 who is engaged in a walking-match against time. © Oils ae aa _ As he had the baskets over his head they could dee ie see his face or observe the movements of his features rs In the chine there were many nooks and comers a on which the sun never shone. And there the fern he grew in wild eau nourished by the slow drip: it - G tropical size and splendour, rising eight, nine, and ten yf . feet from the soil. im Te Bhs They stood in groups, miniature palm ne and The majority of them 7 were mere holloweee and eh. ue Af had in turn been visited by the boys when out: rhe! ie their occasional roaming expeditions. = “a seitee im There was nothing remarkable in the size of any OF oe them, although there were three or four in) which Vas comfortable room for a dozen people wasto be found. ey, Sa Jim scanned these places as they passed, but ob- — ae served nothing unusual until he came to a clump of oe ferns about twenty feet above their heads, and there iG ane en i visitors. oe i 3 ope ' The shrubs near were broken, and some of ithe, cae A “ hy a were injured by passers to and fro. It was here also af ‘ie if that Romeo put his best leg foremost and hurried by. aah Se The chine was passed and the farm ground reached. ; pe Romeo put down the baskets and wiped be forehead | co with the sleeve of his jacket. New Fe ea ae ae 1 - Gorysmash!” he exclaimed, “it am berry Aap work eae one dat chine. J es” ee a never oA i oe ci ay one a am, | sure.” glean sda 9) | ith ura “ 4; es : sega ae ; nv ae Saidess brainy a Gis vee ae: rs ie | J i ‘ nik oe ae aun relay GH 0 ) ( -h Oo °) 0