The Island School — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

44 He took out his handkerchief, and with exceeding eare deposited the dangerous missile therein. Jim, by his directions, placed the other two in the side-pockets of his jacket. “¢ Now,” said Morse, ‘‘we are ready. All I wish to warn you against is tumbling about or rubbing against anything. We have lots of time, and can go easy.” Romeo hid himself behind a tree until the pair had emerged from the laboratory and the door was locked. Then, as they started off in the direction of the chine, he followed them as before. But he kept well out of their reach, inspired to extra caution by what he had overheard. Talking for atime in an undertone, and afterwards proceeding in silence, Jim and Morse waleed along the beach until they were within a furlong or so of the chine. Then Morse led the way to a precipitous part of the cliff, on the face of which a variety of shrubs erew. Apparently there was no means of ascent, but Morse began to climb up, and Jim followed him, both moving with exceeding care. A false step would inevitably have resulted in the destruction of one or both. From one projection to another, assisting their ascent by aid of the bushes, they went, with Romeo, who made light of the obstacles to easy ascent, until the top of the cliff was reached in safety. It was crowned with bushes and trees, and here Romeo would have lost those he was tracking but for the acute hearing and keen sight he was endowed with, in common with most of his people. Morse continued to be the guide, and he kept on straight through the wood. Romeo walked stealthily along in a parallel direction, and found he was very near the edge of the chine. After a short journey Morse halted, and by the dim light of the stars Romeo saw him make a sign to Jim to remain still for a moment or two while he crept forward and reconnoitred. Romeo remained where he was, crouching behind a bush, with the dark hollow of the chyne close upon his right. There are not many people who would have been able to distinguish, as he did, the shadowy form of Morse as he moved forward, and, about twenty yards ahead, bore down upon the verge of the precipitous slope that overlooked the chine. -He peered below for a few moments, and then, kneeling on the ground, seemed to be busy awhile burying something. Meanwhile Jim, getting im- patient, moved slowly forward, and was at length summoned by an upraised hand to join his companion. Romeo, burning with curiosity, crept nearer, working his way along upon his stomach, and still keeping by the edge of the cliff. THE ISLAND SCHOOL. Jim, having joined his companion, was directed to hurl his first missile into the depths of the chine. He did so, and a report that was like the boom of asmall cannon followed. From below, half-way down the slope, there came a sound of men’s voices uttering criesofalarm. At first they were muffled, but became more distinct as the startled Spaniards came out of their cave to the open alr. The second missile was thrown, and the explosion which took place below the terrified Spaniards was a terrific roar, awakening a hundred echoes in the chyne and resounding far and wide. And now the men were in full retreat, not knowing the origin of the sound, making their way towards the sea by a sloping, downward path. Morse, who had been kneeling on the ground, now rose to his feet, and backed from the cliff to some distance in the rear, accompanied by Jim. Romeo kept to his post, wondering what would be the next move. He was very near the verge of the chine. Ahead, near where Morse had been, was a small spark, suchas the glowworm shows. Romeo could see it through the bushes, and he wondered what it was. While he yet wondered there was a sound of ripping and rending, and he saw the earth between him and the boys split up, and that portion on which he was slowly leant over towards the chine, and then with a rush he went rolling down. ‘“ Gemysquash !” he roared, “ wurra dis ?” Then he felt himself toppling down with some hundred tons of earth into the depths of the chine. The work of scaring the Spaniards was done, and well done, and they were in full retreat. They got clear of the chine, and hastening to their boat, which was resting on the shore, hurriedly pushed it off and put to sea. “An earthquake!” they cried in their terror, and not the least alarmed among them was their leader, Espardo Reonardo. “The whole island is doomed,” he said. “ Hark! can you not hear the growling of the earth below ?” They all said they could hear it, butit was imagina- tion. There was no growling of the earth, naught but the sound of the rippling sea as it lazily lapped the shore. But imagination was enough, Sal with the aid of a light breeze the Spaniard put his craft before the wind and headed for Minorca. Thus was the island freed of one foe for the time, but not for ever. Moreover, there were other and more dangerous enemies on the way to give trouble to the boys of the Isiand School. EO nN Cc 900 cs (el @ ) mn