The Island School — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

H+ “However, one cannot say anything. Romeo. I want a word with him.” Romeo was going upstairs with two short sticks in his hand, and with a broad grin upon his face, which subsided when he saw who was coming towards him. “ Dat you, Massa Gordon?” he said. “ Of course it is,” replied Jim. ‘ What are you going to do with those sticks ?” Romeo shuffled to and fro on his feet, and stated about him, before replying. “ Massa Gordon,” he said, “dem’s de on’y tings to lay de sperrits.” “ What spirits ?” “Dem as come worrying people in de night. Dat fader ob mine and granfader neber get no sleep ‘for dem.” “And you are going to lay the spirits °” * Dat so, Massa Gordon.” “Romeo,” said Jim, “ you were playing the spy the other night, and spies are worse than ghosts. If you do that sort of thing again you will be laid in a way that will stop your little tricks.” ““Massa Gordon, on my oaf I neber try dat sort ob ting agen.” “Very well. Just tell me what class of lie you have been telling now. Out with it. me !” Romeo was a born prevaricator, and he did his level best to get out of teiline the truth; but Jim was determined to have it, and he made a full confession. “ Now, don’t you think,” said Jim, steraly, “that you are a great sinner to try this humbugeging game on your progenitors ?” “My progerenitors ?” said Romeo. “Your father and grandfather.” “Oh!” exclaimed Romeo, “ dem’s progerenitors, am dey ? Massa Gordon, I boun’ to do sumf‘in’ to get a moment peace wid dem. Dey treat me as a lilly boy. Dey put a limick on my grub. Dey wallop me. Ido dis for peace and plenty, Massa Gordon. When dey know dat I ‘lone hab de power to keep away de ghosts dey treat me more like a pusson growed up.” “ But if they find you are humbugging them, they will treat you worse than ever.” ‘ Massa Gordon, dey neber ’spect it unless some- borry tell ’em.. Dey two born fools and nuffin’ less.” “That is avery disrespectful way of speaking of them, Romeo.” “Can't help dat, Massa Gordon. It am de trufe.” Jim shook his head in a dissenting manner, and left Romeo to pursue his way to his bedroom, where he hid the two sticks under his bed for use later on. By that time the workshops were closed, and Jim looked up Morse to tell him the good tidings concern- ing Reonardo, But Morse was not so. sanguine that they had seen the last of the villain. Don’t try to deceive ¢ What dem 2” THE, ISLAND Here comes ; ‘ ee a ay eT ee ‘J A \ ° . 7 ih) ih. vol §: dine ' pian hay we pa a i ’ Be at Pe vi as ‘ : a ‘ : ' ; W SCHOOL. “For my part,” he said, “I should not be disposed to entirely trust that girl, What is her name ?” “Lucia di Valo.” | “Well, she may be acting on the square with us, and she may not. Time will tell. Meanwhile, we can get on with the work we have begun, and wait and see what time brings forth.” That evening Mr. Napoleon Farrell appeared at the tea-table and presided. After the meal was over he favoured all assembled with an address on the recent visit of Reonardo to the island. He admitted that the man mght have been danger- ous, unless he felt that he had one to cope with who would not endure any of his nonsense. But finding that he would be resolutely met, he had, under cover of a sham terror of being blown up, retreated. Mr Farrell admitted that some service had been rendered by Morse and Jim Gordon, and he congratulated the boys on having two such clever and plucky youngsters among them. He wound up with an all-round assurance that the original life on the island might be now resumed, and the boys, as before, would be allowed to wander where tney willed within reasonable limits. Then he strutted from the room, beaming with self- satisfaction, leaving those who knew all the facts to secretly langh at him, and those who did not to congratulate themselves on having so good a head to the school. The next day the work on the vegetable farm and in the vineyard was resumed, and the house assumed its general aspect. Certain of the boys, under the direction of Jim and — Morse, went on with the forts, and Rob Changeling worked like a trooper—who is supposed to work as hard as any man on earth—to get the engine of the launch in order again. The laboratory, being free of explosives, was turned into a depdt for vegetables and fruit for the use of the house, of which Mrs. Farrell kept the key. Romeo laid the ghosts nightly for the benefit of his father and grandfather, and for a whole week peace reigned upon the school. Then Rob Changeling reported that by making the most of his time, working early and late, he had suc- ceeded in getting the launch ready for sea, and Jim waited on Mr. Farrell to know if the proposed trip to Gibraltar should be undertaken. ‘Certainly not!’ was the decided answer. what service would it be ?” | “T thought, sir,’ said Jim, “that it would be as well for the recent facts to be known.” Why r” “Well, sir, on any future occasion of a similar nature they would be prepared to assist us.” “Gordon,” said Mr. Farrell, reproachfully, “I am “OF (@{ 0) mn cs G 900 CoO mM |r