The Island School — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

Hite 7 } ues oo es 1" inte *) : AN i ae “80 when ‘the ‘boat is a British one. It is the Spaniards who are such crawlers.” ; a i Chorker isn’t much of a 2 seaman,” said Stiff, “ for ; pee iN child ought to be able to manage a boat in ne a veather,” replied Jim. “ Easy all!” \ it) ‘The oarsmen stopped. rowing as the mouth of the estuary was reached, Jim dropped the rudder-lines, and stood up in the boat. He had brought with him a field-glass, which was op provided for the use of those who desired it, when at - sea, to look out for the mail-boat. at At first it appeared that there was no ae of any G deseription in sight. With the SE ERC eye none were visible. | : eae “The folucca 1 isn't about,” said Lal, anxiously. ae ra ‘I see nothing,” muttered Jim; “it is odd. But top amoment. There isa speck near the horizon Be yard. It is a boat with a bare mast.” . “The felucca !” exclaimed Stiff. ee Soe Impossible to say at this distance. aa s the sail not set ?” Ifit is, why why) i Ps. “On my word,” said ‘tea ut begin to think that a “the old sinner has got into some sort of trouble. Now, oys, there are six miles of pulling ahead, if we are hw iH = been coming or going any time within the last iN ere hours.” _The boys bent to the oars, and the boat shot into 4 . ho open sea, In so frail a bark—they had purposely selected one of the lightest boats to get to the mouth of the estuary quickly—few would have cared to put to sea, unless in a calm. _ There was not a stiff breeze blowing, but ie there was sufficient wind, to raise waves of moderate Good steering was eee ae and that was ay He oa to Re ont crab- ae. Shee might have upset the tiny craft. a pe reed to their shirts they pulled on steadily, © Suddenly | ‘oe ' ‘ ’ : % ims‘ s - Kets * . Pe eS grey bat : % Mees eer oles THE ee was drifting helplessly out to sea. aS Be eOld Chorker may have made a mess of it some- Do you feel as if you could. " he burst out with an "exclamation of dismay. _The- was pe ‘ a ¢ rik res » > ‘ ray ’ i> OMA at ri 2 tania Can Beans ak 0) te CRE aot ‘ pa . : 4 -V a} ? a. £1) > as Rabid phy Fro! Fon 9 4 un ran ite She ae oe ot ham Lae Rees Vr end Sarl bbs hy tis SY th cae Maas Weeee é ie i? Tony ny x ‘ ) Mies r} > as as yi : arn ‘ ah NY eae . (D “SCHOOL. jibes xy Bn ‘Al ei } y) it a) } ; rmpaas dal 6 Jk . ” ¢ rowers, ised ‘their heads, al looked at is m an Nee é Leys eal Wee TH! fis at ingtys Say N Bah i Dey baled Paes) ; ‘ Ae Y pas ® 7, © “Tt ts the ea he said s cf she | iS not more # ene wind.” “Old Chorker has fallen | overboard ! a Lal Brodie. PH 4 “Something has happened to him,” | Jim. ‘ Pull away. Sorry I can’t take my turn, but the water is lumpy out here. This co iS 4 wouldn’t stand being brought broadside to the waves. Be ae By Jingo! there is something alive i in the felucca, ate ts i keeps rising up above the gunwale. It’s a hand! No, it isn’t! It is a foot!” SA ‘1 aaa “That’s a licker!” exclaimed Brodie. cee “Pull away /” said Jim. ib | Sue 4 The rowers obeyed him, almost : as fresh in ‘their energy as if they had just started. Jim said no more ne -until he was within a few feet of the felucca, which bod -, he * ” Ne tor jo Ihe ( By : a ‘ ot of ie . The foot he had previously observed had not shown — Be itself since, but now it again appeared rising above the side of the craft with a convulsive movement. — pa an It was not difficult to recognise the thick-set, stumpy pedal extremity of Chorker. ‘eee _.“ Kasy, ship oars!” cried Jim; “lay hold of her, : Sif” Da They were alongside now, and as they grasped the ~ feiucca’s gunwale, Jim looked over and saw the lower | oe oe r part of Chorker’s body in a state of agitation. The a upper portion was concealed by the sail of the felucca id being tumbled down on the top of him. mee. vat: : At another time Jim would have laughed, but he < feared now that something serious had happened. __ ie “Get aboard,” he said, eee «“ and ee the! im boat fast astern.” Me pate i the ‘sail and discovered Chorker, gagged, aiid with hom = ; arms bound. He was also secured by a rope to the im forward seat, and with the ese e of his legs, was" a ¥ unable to meve. » | - He His eyes were almost out ‘of his head, and ‘the se general expression of his face was ae of overwhelm-_ Ing terror. | ah Apparently he did not know Jim, for there was no recognition in his eyes. Stiff and Brodie had mean- a NG , while secured the boat astern, and came forward. to. a lend assistance. Between them they removed the old ee, man’s bonds and raised him into a sitting position. 5 Be at “He’s got a flask or a flat bottle in his Lees said a Lal, tapping his jacket. - Ler. 7 A “Out with it,” replied Jim Gordon. “I hope there is something i in it, for heseemstowantit.” ‘It was an ordinary # flat bottle, such : as publicans giv out to their customers. — It was ab out nalf-f ll of RES mos 3 | SaaS Ae Ce © olele 0 . Nit Ass cA) ia: mo ie