The Island School — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

60 CHAPTER XXVIIT. THE BREAKING-UP WIFHOUT GOING AWAY. NO NE of the first notable incidents 4) of themorning wasthe waking up of Macbeth, the premier nigger. It occurred between five and six o’clock when. he opened his eyes, and, by the aid of a liberal allowance of daylight, beheld the missing Romeo in his bed. He was sleeping like a lamb with strong musical powers of a nasal order. Having, like the child he was, rolled about his bed until he was hanging over the side, he was giving vent to the limited amount of music of which the nose is capable, with all the power of a wheezy harmonium assisted by a hand- saw. Macbeth collected his thoughts, and having done so, gave vent to an exclamation of astonishment. Then he sat up in the bed and looked again, so that there might be no possible mistake about the matter, and, slipping out of bed, aroused Hamlet. That worthy creature awoke, and without any pre- limfmary announcement or discussion, said: “Tt not time to get up yet. De clock am an hour fast.” “Romeo,” said Macbeth, in a hushed, solemn way, “am come back !” Hamlet remembered himself, and sat up in his bed, to behold his offspring. ‘ Kitjen b’ilers!” he exclaimed ; nuff.” “ De sperrits hab brought him back,” said Macbeth, in a hushed voice. Hamlet got out of bed, and they went over to the couch of the sleeping one. They turned the clothes down as far as his waist, and scanned his dark, muscular chest in search of signs of recent torture. There was nothing to indi- eate anything in that line. ~ Jerudledum !” exclaimed Macbeth; a mystelry ok de fust water. how he git away from dem 2” It was impossible for the pair to begin their daily labour with the weight of this inscrutable mystery on their breasts. Moreover, it was the customary thing to wake Romeo up and ad him down to start the duties of the morning by sweeping the kitchen and laying the fire. Accordingly, they essayed to wake him. It was no light task, for he was well away in the far-off land of dreams. “dere he am, sure “but here am Now, de wonder am a a THE ISLAND SCHOOL. Several punches in the ribs not being of any avail they dragged him up in bed, and unitedly shook him, till his head, swaying rapidly to and fro, became quite Inisty In appearance owing to the rapid oscillation. This had the desired effect, and he opened his eyes. “S’pose,” he said—it was a perennial morning ques- tion—‘‘ one ob you go down and light de fire for a change ?” “Romeo,” said Macbeth, “ jes’ let us know how you got away from dem.” “From what pussons?” asked Romeo, who, of course, knew nothing about the surmises they had entertained concerning his absence. “From de sperrits,” said his father. ‘““ Neber seen dem,” replied Romeo. “Den,” said Macbeth, with sudden wrath, “ per- haps you ’splain where you was larse night P” ‘“‘ Where was I larse night ?” said Romeo, repeating the question. ‘What time?” “When we come to bed.” “TY was wif you,” said Romeo, boldly. His relatives stared at him wrathfully, but he was not disturbed. t ue AS ove ¥, + se re ¢ SA mM aicch >, 4 A) ‘ f - J Vy “We all come to bed as usual,” he continued, “and you see me put de sticks near de freshold. How den de sperrits get at me, anyway ?” “You put de sticks P” erled Macbeth. “Look outside,” answered Romeo, composedly. Macbeth opened the door, and stared at the landing on the staircase. ‘Am dey cere ee Dey am.’ “ Den in de name ob all de lilly Piss: why you say I not. come to bed wif your” Macbeth stared at Hamlet, who rubbed his woolly pate, and breathed hard. “What come to you bof ?” demanded the indignant Romeo; “‘am your menkal faculters gone wrong?” “You sw’ar you was wii us when we come to bed ?” said Macbeth. “ Suttinly,” answered Romeo, readily. Both his hearers gasped. This was getting too confusing. Romeo slowly rolled out upon the floor, and gather- ing himself up, proceeded to dress. ‘Now, den,” he said, “ put on sumfin, or you ketch cold in you legs.” He was so composed that they could not do less than believe that somehow they had made a mistake. “But you went out some time larse night, eh?” murmured Macbeth. ‘“‘Dat so,” replied Romeo. “Me went out to lay a few night-lines for sole and plaice for breakfast.” “ What time you come in ?” groaned Hamlet. ‘As near as pusserbil, ten o’clock,” said Romeo. micbooks (E(@) (@ @) mn