The Island School — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXII. THE CAVE IN THE CLIFF. Naas ag 0 MEO having departed to tell | his veracious story to his his ay ' ay astounded relatives, rescuers proceeded up to the mouth of the cave which the explosion had brought into view. Hitherto, although many cives had been found on the island, they were all of the shallow class, the deepest not extending more than thirty yards from the mouth. But this new discovery promised to be of a different | nature, and the first intimation they had of it was the deep echoes aroused by their voices as the boys | gathered round the mouth of it. “It will be necessary to be careful in going down there,” said Morse, as he peered into the dark open- ing, “for having been closed so long, there must be a considerable accumulation of foul gases.” “ Don’t forget,’ suggested Joe Ganthony, “that it has been open since last night.” “Foul gas is generally heavy,” replied Morse, “ and moves slowly. However, we can go in and see what it is hike.” So they entered in twos and threes, until the major part of the boys were within it. Some of the little ones held back, but the men all went m, including Mr. Farrell, who now, being convinced that there was no enemy to fear, valiantly climbed the slope and joined the boys. The air seemed to be perfectly pure just within the eave, but the extent of it could not be judged. Jim Gordon and some of the elder boys penetrated to a considerable distance, until the mouth of the cave was a mere speck of lightin the distance in fact, but the termination of it was not discovered. “T don’t think it would be wise to go on without a light,” said Jim. : Acting on this suggestion, they returned to the mouth of the cave, where the rest had gathered, and reported to Mr. Farrell the result of their venturing so far. The schoolmaster thought they had done enough for the day, and promised that at “an early date” they should have a day off and he suitably provided with light and other essentials to make a thorough examination of the cave. As the same time it was clear he had no personal liking for the task, and viewed the Jatest discovery with feelings of apprehension. This was further shown by his asking, as they jour- THE ISLAND SCHOOL. neyed back, if it was not possible that the cave might. be the lair of wild animals of a ferocious nature. Mr. Groby, to whom the remark was addressed, merely smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “You think that is impossible,” said the school- master. ‘No, but rather improbable, considering that until last night the cave was sealed up.” “1 forgot that,” said Mr. Farrell. ‘Don’t forget,’”’ continued Mr. Groby, somewhat’ maliciously, “that you have never explored a third of the island. It is dificult to say what may be found upon it. Think of the vast forest at the back of the castle i “A mere jungle,” said the schoolmaster, “ impene-. trable to man beyond a certain distance. It is marked so in the map given me by the Spanish authorities.” ‘Who, of course, are infallible.” “TI presume they would not go to the trouble of making an incorrect map.”’ “In the ordinary ‘course,’ said Mr. Groby, thought fully, “the boys will have, their usual holidays in a week’s time. How would it do for them to spend it in exploring parties about the island? They need not all leave at once, but divide them into sections, each with one or two adults to assist ‘them. There are several tents among the stores which could be utilised for the expeditions. Indeed, there are some of the boys who might be trusted to go alone.” ‘They may fall in with my foes,” said Mr. Farrell, with a haggard “ook round. “Though they have been temporarily driven away, I fear they may return.” “A mere handful of scoundrels,” said Mr. Groby, contemptuously, ‘‘ who landed here on some roving expedition of robbery.” “You don’t know -everything,” master. Macbeth and Hamlet were awaiting the return of the party. They were anxious to verify the story of the veracious Romeo. It was entirely verified as far as finding him buried up to the neck went, and as. he could not have possibly put himself in that positicn, the natural inference of the elder niggers was that the spirits had really done it. , Overcome with terror, they returned to their duties, but now Romeo came to the fore as a friend and com- forter. He repaid many years of oppression and persecution by acting as a buffer between them and their super- natural enemies. “You leab dem sperrits to me,” he said; “‘ me keep dem away. It no use your puttin’ de cross-sticks out- side de door. Dat mus’ be done by a disundressted pusson like dis chile. It ama law ’mong sperrits dat said the school- (el @ ) Cc 900 ‘Ss mn OX @ ) aa) ; Ayan :