Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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14 SPECTATOR for the purchase of one dozen water pistols, a bottle of ammonia, and several boxes of pepper. Then the mem- bers of the Round Table went home excited and happy. This promised to be an exciting affair. The Pirates were a lawless crowd of young rascals. Their body had never been organized as had the Knights of King Arthur. They ran together merely for the pur- pose of causing mischief and lately they had turned their attention to the Black Street gardens. For several even- ings, however, after the meeting of the Knights the Pirates left the younger boys unmolested. But the even- ing before Tick-tack, Harry Murdock, the sentinel, came home about ten o'clock with two black eyes and a bloody nose. The anger of the Knights knew no bounds. A special indignation meeting of the Round Table was call- ed the next evening after school. The water pistols, am- monia and pepper were distributed, and sundry furious orations were delivered against the Pirates by Sir Geraint. Sir Lancelot, Sir Galahad and other valiant Sirs, Harry Murdock was set up as a shining example of bravery for the other Knights. Then the assembly was dismissed to meet again at half past eight in the school gardens. At a quarter after ten there was no sign of the Pirates. It was a moonlight night, and the boys crouch- ing among the corn stalks were very watchful, their vigi- lance being rewarded several times by false alarms. I'll go this way and you go the other way. We'll scout around. I'm sure the Pirates are about here some- where, whispered Murdock. No, I'll go in your place, said Jimmie Fleming. So Bill and Jimmy crept off in opposite directions through the garden. Jim had not been out long before he returned and reported nothing stirring that way. The group of boys waited. They fidgeted nervously. The wind caused the corn stalks to scrape and rustle mys- teriously over their heads. Bill did not return. Then a

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SPECTATOR 13 JVIodern Knights of King Arthur Edith Weaver, '18 ug AY, Bill, I mean Sir Lancelot, who's been spoiling our gardens? They've been there two nights in succession, said Jimmy Fleming with a frown, as he confronted Bill Kale in the recess yard. Oh, replied Bill sulkily, they're the Pirates from Fleet street. Murdock just told me that he heard them planning a raid on our late pumpkins for Tick-tack. That's a week from tonight, you know. It was not the first time that the gardens belonging to the Black street school had been plundered. The Knights of King Arthur, which order consisted of all the boys in the school from twelve to fourteen year of age, were in desperation. What shall we do? asked Bill. That's for you to say. Aren't you Sir Lancelot, the bravest one among us? Yes, I'm willing to fight all right but don't you see that wouldn't get us anything? There are more of those boys than there are of us and they are older and larger. Let's ask Sir Percival about it. Drew! Drew! Ho, Drew! shouted Bill. Charles Drew, Sir Percival, ran toward them. The situation was explained to him. I'll tell you what, boys! he exclaimed. Let's get water pistols and fill them with watered amonia. My brother told me about it. We have enough money in the treasury to do it. We'll set a sentinel every night' until eleven o'clock from now on until Tick-tack. On Tick-tack night we'll all watch with our squirt guns loaded and our pockets full of pepper. Just the thing! Let's call a meeting of the Knights. The three boys separated to make the others aware of the business on hand, and that evening after school the Knights of King Arthur in solemn session passed a bill

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S P E C T A T O R 15 black bulk was descried approaching down the center garden path. There they are! There they are! Where's Bill? came in an excited whisper. Suddenly a black shape sprang between them and the approaching body. , Halt! rang out Bill's voice, sharp and clear. Who says so? came a gruff voice. I say so, in the name of the Knighlets of King Ar- thur. 46 K4 Come on, boys! said the same gruff voice followed by a taunting laugh. The black bulk moved forward. Back! I say! and Bill's pistol gleamed in the moonlight. It isn't loaded, boys. Come on! All at once now! Bill fell back quickly on his waiting comrades who stepped out from their hiding place as the Pirates came on at a trot. But the on-comers paused when they saw the Knights form in a solid circle and confront them with an unbroken front of gleaming pistols. Again Bill spoke. I know you, Grayson, he said, adddressing the leader of the opposite gang. You've been in our gardens several times, and tonight you've come to steal our pump- kins. I would not advise you to try it. We've all got water pistols loaded with ammonia,, anda good supply of pep- per. Were you to get either in your face you couldn't see for awhile. We'll stay here all night if we have to, but those pumpkins aren't ripe yet and you aren't going to get them. Do you understand? An angry hum arose from the Pirates. They waver- ed an instant. Grayson growled, We'll get it back on them! Then they slunk away into the shadows. The Knights waited an hour longer and then departed for their homes. That was the last time the Pirates ever molested the