The Island School — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

. a! coe s / ’ = ® * ; } ' . i . ’ : »* P ne : ; oi, * “ 7 : / PRISONERS ABOARD THE LAUNCH. m9 gotten. It is possible there may be no rumpus, and yet you get into trouble. You know how I should feel it, Jim, and that I would do anything for you, but it is only right to consider the other boys.” This was said aside in an undertone. Jim laid a - hand upon the shoulder of his chum, and smiled. “There is no need to sacrifice anyone for me. I know you only mention it as one who looks at every- thing, at all the bearings of a case. Jf 1 am nod with you, say by midnight, make tracks for the school. Do not worry yourself with the idea oi my being dead. At the worst I may only be captured, aid the ransom demanded increased thereby.” ‘‘-You think that is their game, Jim ?” | “T feel sure of it. My original fear, that Reonardo has anything to do with these fellows, is, I believe, unfounded.” Jim went his way, skirting the wood and keeping sufficient distance from the verge of the cliff to hide himself from the eyes of anyone on the beach, and so vanished from sight, and Morse took command of those left behind. CHAPTER XXXIX., PRISONERS ABOARD THE LAUNCH. YING at full leneth on the = high cliff over the sandy =e BS feet, nook, with his face concealed a: ' by the coarse grass, Jim surveyed the scene below. There were more than twenty men now camped together, and some of their number were engaged in cooking. Half a dozen sat ina group playing cards, and on the far side, close to the rocks, two men with cigars in their mouths were digging a hole. The purpose for which that hole was intended was shown by the immediate presence of the body of the dead man, slain, as Jim could not doubt, by Charley, the bear. Why so pacific a creature should so far exhibit his hatred of a particular person or race Jim could not comprehend, but putting the facts together, he could ¢ome to no other conclusion. ’ The ruffians had no reverence for the dead, even though it was one of their band, presumably a friend. Had it been the body of a dead dog they would have shown as much feeling in reference to it. There it lay, limp and horrible to look upon, await- ing interment without so much as a handkerchief thrown over the face. The sight inspired Jim with a «leep detestation of the whole crew. syeettt ete : : ew ltr ee In a short time the hole was considered deep enough. Then the dead man was dropped into it, the sand shovelled over him, and the men, tossing the tools | aside, joined the card-players. The whole thing was strongly illustrative of the utter depravity of the band, and it did not give rise to any additional hopeful views concerning the fate of those who must have been captured with the launch, The card-players were seated close under the cliff, which acted as a sounding-board, and conveyed their voices up to Jim with a clearness that astonished him. But then Jim had never studied acoustics, and in some things where Morse saw nothing to marvel at, | he would be the victim of surprise. They were not talking, as he expected they would be, in Spanish, butin French, and this was a language he could understand. Their purpose seemed to be to conceal the subject of conversation from some of the other members of the band. Plainly translated, the following is the substance of the matters talked of, which were of especial interest to the listenex. “Tt was as if the saints favoured us,” said a black- bearded man, who, by the addition of jewellery to some considerable value on his fingers and in his ears, appeared to be a leader of the party, “that we fell in with the launch on our way home from the Rock. How rejoiced Reonardo will be !” ‘¢ And to think, Giuseppo, that we should find the pretty bird on board. It is a marvel to me that you ave so ready to hand her over to Reonardo.” “Can we love two?” demanded Giuseppo. “Tome there is more in Lucia di Valo than all others in the wide world. She is to me as sweet as the first breath of the morning.” “But she loves Reonardo.” “She will hate him when he makes this English girl his bride. Perhaps she will kill him, and then her ears will be open to me.” “‘ And he is to meet you here P” “No—my play, is it notP—no, he is on the other side of the island, where I was to meet him and assist in the capture of his singing bird. But she had left her cage, and I found her at sea. What canI do? Bring her here. Then despatch my boat for Reonardo. He will come, and the priest, or one who wears his robes, will perform the wedding ceremony. Then I leave the happy pair here for a while, and go to Lucia with the news. Behold me, then—a winner of her for my prize !” “Perhaps,” was the doubtful rejoinder. Jim learnt three things that were welcome from the foregoing. It was certain that Reonardo was not of the party, Giuseppo the smuggler, whom the reader will remember was expected by Reonardo to join him | when he was hiding in the chine, knew nothing of Eom G 3,00 cS (Gi @)