The Island School — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

WHAT He could not, as he really intended, accompany Jim Gordon and his friends on their exploring expe- dition in the forest. But another matter was now exciting general interest—the continued absence of Chorker. Romeo remained dumb concerning the expedition that had been undertaken the previous evening, and nobody else had the least inkling of it. Where, then, everybody was asking, is Chorker ? The old man rose several degrees in popular favour as the idea of his having met with foul play came to the front. Tis little virtues increased in bulk, and his many faults were forgotten. Armed with an old shot-gun, Martin headed a party of search, and set out in the afternoon to ascertain, if possible, the fate of the missing one. Meanwhile Morse went onto the castle to examine the floor of his laboratory, and Jim, Terry, and the others chosen to accompany him into the wood secretly began their preparations for the trip. A party of the boys went off with Mr. Turner bota- nising, others took tothe boats,some lay about reading, and the place was fairly quiet during the greater por- tion of the afternoon. Jim fished out a light tent from the stores of rough material, kept in a shed near the workshops, and overhauled it. Two or three ropes, used as stays, were missing, and a rent wanted repairing, but that was all, and having spread the canvas out upon the ground, he and Terry proceeded to remedy the defects. While they were thus engaged, Mr. Groby came quietly up, and, unobserved, stood watching them. Presently he startled the boys by inquiring, ‘‘ What are you going to do with that tent °” “It will be wanted for the camping out, answered Jim. “Oh, indeed; and when do you propose to start ?” Jim was silent. He would not tella lie, andhe feared to speak the truth. “YT shall not interfere with you, Gordon,” continued Mr. Groby ; “but I beg of you to be wary, and not get into trouble.” “Thank you, sir,” Jim responded. “ Might I ask a favour. Can Romeo be spared to help us ?” “T should say so,” was the reply ; “now that jhe holidays are on, and there is so much living in the open air, he can be spared.” Jim again thanked him, and Mr. Groby sauntered away. - “ He is a good fellow,” said Jim. * He guesses we are up to something, and although he would rather not give us absolute leave, he will not interfere with us.” “And by aside wind,’ said Terry, ‘you have got Romeo. Here comes Morse. He looks asif he has something worth hearing to tell us.” >, 9 a , “ sir, eae iad / A HAPPENED iG He 4 : . ? , me 4 ~ oe Wf TH wy / CF ay aa 3 ts y as A. bay > e, HS BS mH 4 = . . fj . 0 ; \ , ay f J - 5 “ , “er iP * >, . a \ Z = a / / i on ‘ Lae ‘ >> a 2 , Lo: ty 7 £ ‘ e JG ? = . . ° . ° e ol) bats aa cu : . ° Cc °. o > 7 e > ) 66 ° ~ . 8 ' TO CHORKER. CHAPTER XXX. WHAT HAPPENED TO CHORKER. vith "N | ORSEH came up and squaived a \ on the ground, clasping hi, knees with his hand. As Terry had suggested, he seemed to be burdened with news of import but he did not immediately impart it, but first cast a critical eye over the tent. * TI suppose,” he said, “that it is big enough for us ?” “For sleeping,” replied Jim ; “practically we shall live in the open air. Have you had a look round your room ?” “T have ; and cleaned it up a bit. ‘You have something to tell us ?” ‘Well, yes; something that may account for the noises I heard, or it may not. There is a trap-door in the floor of my room. It can be raised by using an iron ring fixed in it.” “There is no attempt at secrecy.” “No. It was difficult to move, but that was owing to its having been unused for years. The hinges were rusty, and I had to oil them over and over again ae. Coes It wanted it.” before they would budge.” “‘ And what is under the trap 2” “A flight of steps. Which you descended, of course, wishing to make the whole discovery your own 2?” ‘I ht a lamp, and as the air seemed perfectly fresh, I started to go down. But I did not venture any distance. There was such an awful moaning going on ever so far under me, that, on my word, I hadn’t the grit to continue alone. So I came back to see if any of you fellows would come with me.” “Vm on that job,” said Jim; “your lamp is an ordinary one and awkward to carry. Terry, just pop into Martin’s shop, and you will find behind the bellows an old stable-lantern. Romeo will give you two or three candles, and matches I have.” Terry scampered away, and Jim, proceeding to roll up the tent, remarked: “That moaning may be nothing more than the wind, but your hesitating to go on alone was excusable.” “It was enough to funk any fellow, hearing that noise,” said Morse, ‘and I am a bit out of nerve, having had a short night.” The'tent being rolled up, Jim carried it back to the stores, to remain there until it was wanted. ‘Terry soon appeared with the lantern and candles. “Romeo is out,” he said: “ gone with Martin to look for Chorker, I believe, Macbeth gave me the candles. micbooks.co co