Leominster High School - Magnet Yearbook (Leominster, MA)

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fe) THE MAGNET pletely vanished. We thought the huge animal must have ascended the tree, and this opinion became almost certain when the dogs began to bark and look upward. All eyes were now directed toward the top of the tree, where instead of the bear, the nest of a Lammergeyer was discovered in one of the forks. If the bear had. ascended the tree, he was completely concealed in the nest, which was of immense proportions, since the bird is larger than an eagle. ‘As we were gazing on the nest, the enormous bird was seen to swoop down toward it and then rise, above it again, in a state of excitement and alarm. A second bird now made its appearance, and from the movements of both, it became clear that their enemy had taken forcible possession of their nest. “We fired at the nest, but though the sticks and dust flew, Bruin re- fused to show himself, or to reveal a paw; nor could the two gigantic birds induce him to move. “The guide now proposed to climb the tree and set fire to the nest. We approved of this, so the hunter commenced his ascent, taking with him matches, a few strips of cotton cloth, saturated with damp gunpowder, which readily dried. Arriving noiselessly just below the nest, he cautiously inserted the cloth among the dry sticks and set fire to it, then descended as speedily as possible. Before he had touched the ground, the smoke began to ascend, and soon bright sparks of fire fell from above. The frightened birds began to widen their flight, with cries of fear, while the heat reaehing the bear caused him to spring from the nest, and begin to descend. Scarcely, however, had he left his hiding place when a fatal bullet from below en- tered his heart, and he fell to the ground, with a sound whieh told that he had climbed his last tree and was no longer an object of dread. ‘“‘We soon had a great prize back to the camp, and the story of the death of the dreaded Bruin was told throughout the northern part of Canada. ’ Gtapys H. Look, ’17. The Autumn Wind The autumn wind is swirling, Then with a tired crooning O’er meadow and hill and vale; Around the house it whines. Of dead leaves madly whirling : : At last into silence dyin It leaves a continuous trail. ying, Its angry voice is hushed; With a wild and weird, sad, moaning But it leaves the last flowers drooping, It rocks the giant pines; Beaten, and broken, and crushed. RUTH WHITMORE, ’I16.

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THE MAGNET 9 Old Sam’s Story T grew so c old, the last few nights of our camping trip, that some of the fellows built a huge fire in the fireplace they had made out of stones, This particular night, as we were sitting around the fire, some one suggested that we have a story. All eyes were turned toward Sam, who was a very old hunter and had had many experiences with wild animals. He consented to tell us a story, and thus began: — “When I was a young man about thirty years old, a number of us planned a hunting trip to the northern part of Canada. We started on our journey one bright morning, arriving there about five days later. We built a hut out ef logs and soon had a very cozy lodging. After being there a few days, we learned that there was a huge bear in that vicinity, which every one dreaded and which no one could capture. His name was Bruin. There- - fore we planned before daybreak the next morning that we might trap him. “We started forth early to surprise the bear, which was living in a cave at the base of a cliff among the mountains. After groping our way along in darkness for about a mile or so, we came within view of the mouth of the cave where we supposed Bruin was concealed. From the savage wild in which it was situated, it seemed likely that this might be his favorite haunt. “Here we approached cautiously. The guide lit atorch of pine that he had made before starting and set it in front of the cave. As soonasthe dogs were loosed they rushed into the opening and began to explore. It was thought that, if the bear happened to be within the cave, the dogs would dislodge him. In addition, the light and the noise would attract him to his quarters if he were away. ‘Soon, however, the dogs reappeared with an air of disappointment which assured us that their prey had gone abroad, so we all set to work and blocked up the entrance with great boulders that lay close by. This accom- plished, we ascended some trees just above the opening, and brought our guns to bear upon the spot where we were fully satisfied Bruin would soon present himself. Here we waited. Daylight was appearing as we spied Bruin approaching his cave. Discovering that he was walled out of his home, he uttered a fierce, wild growl, and at once turned in his tracks, set- ting forth again along the pathway he had appeared. He had not gone many paces however, when four bullets sped after him, which seemed to have some effect, as he was seen to stagger, while some of the hair was torn from his skin. He recovered himselt quickly nevertheless, and turned into the woods with dogs and hunters after him pell-mell. “Tt was now broad daylight. As we proceeded, the dogs suddenly stopped in an open space in which stood a huge tree. The bear had been seen but a few minutes before, though now he had, as if by magic, com-

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THE MAGNET 11 An Interrupted Revelry OB WILLIS and Billy Allen had planned a little fun for Friday night. Some boys of the town, a few years older than either Bob or Billy, were going to a cave, a short distance from the center of the town, for a feast. Bob and Billy wanted to go, but the boys had not included them in the invitation. They knew that the party were going to start at eleven o’clock from Charlie Turner’s house. Bob and Billy planned to slide down ropes hung from their windows and follow the boys. They thought if they could get to the cave without being seen, the boys would let them stay. About six o’clock Friday night Bob, being the elder of the two, felt anxious lest Billy should forget some of the details. So he took the oppor- tunity, when all were out of the room, to call Billy on the telephone. “ 209-R, please,’ said Bob in a low voice, listening to the footsteps of his mother in the next room. Hello, is this Mr. Allen?” he said, thinking that it was better to say Mr. Allen than Billy. He did not, however, think of the two Mr. Allens in the family. “Yes, what is it?” said the voice, which Bob supposed was Billy’s. “You know who it is, don’t you?” he said. ‘I say, remember, a little after eleven, climb out quietly. Don’t make a sound to give us away. I think I can get away easy. I haven’t said anything about it to any one. Good-bye, I hear some one comin’.” The receiver clicked. At the Allen home, Mr, Allen, Senior, looked wise, but said nothing about the strange message. Shortly before eleven Mr. Allen stole softly out of the house and con- cealed himself in some vines nearby under Billy’s window. At short inter- vals he glanced up, but all seemed calm and still. When the town clock finished striking the hour of eleven, he heard a window carefully pushed up and saw a rope dropped over the sill. Soon he saw a foot, then a whole body, come into view and slide down the rope. It was Billy. He reached the ground safely and started directly for Bob’s home. About half way he met Bob. Both boys were very much excittd and talked in such loud whispers that they did not hear steps behind them. The two boys were suddenly startled by a light shining directly along their path. They halted, too frighten ed to run, and turned around. The light came nearer and behind it a figure which they recognized as Billy’s father. ‘“A fine pair, you are. Bob, you had better take care that you ask for Billy Allen next time you telephone.” The boys quietly returned to their homes and tried to sleep, but they tossed and turned in their beds. Finally, tired out, Bob fell asleep, only to dream of a ghost carrying a pocket searchlight.