Mount Desert High School - Skipper Yearbook (Northeast Harbor, ME)

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T RAPPER AGAINST WOLVE RINE Jacob's lead dog, Jack, had al- ready started to bark as they approach- ed the trapline. Jacob was a Danish trapper who was trapping on a north- ern trapline in the mid-eastern part of Greenland. When they drew near enough to the trap to see it, the only thing that were visible were bits of fur and spots of blood. When Jacob saw this, he muttered disgustedly to himself, It's that wolverine again. I'll have to hunt him down and kill him or I'll be much in debt from the loss of my fur. You may think that this would be like hunting a deer, but you would be mistaken because all a deer will do is run. A wolverine, on the other hand, especially one with cubs, will fight to the death. It was a cold winter day as most mornings are in Greenland, and Jacob was setting out to kill the wolverine with grave determination. Jacob had a definite, although dangerous, plan in his mind this morning. He would go to the area of his traps which were being most frequently robbed. The one thing he did not like about his plan was that he would have to leave his dogs be- hind, therefore, gun in hand, he set out across the snow. He almost felt happy because he loved nature very much. When he reached the trap, he intended to try to kill the wolverine. He took out of his pack a squirrel, UNIVERSITY CAP 8: GOWN CO. 486 Andover Street Lawrence Massachusetts 52 which was in a small cage, and was to be used as bait for the wolverine. Jacob then padded the jaws of the trap with cotton, for he didn't want the squirrel to die before that night when the wolverine came out to hunt. Jacob then prepared for the night by setting up a small blind a little way downwind from the trap. M Since the Arctic night was almost as bright as day, Jacob would have no trouble seeing the wolverine. He wait- ed about a half hour before he saw the wolverine. It looked like a large fox except that it was heavily built and had heavy paws and long claws. Its jaws were rather large with shark- like teeth. The squirrel, which Jacob had attached to the trap, tried vainly to escape from the wolverine. In the meantime, Jacob was taking careful aim .with his rifle. This was very dangerous, for if he missed the first one or two shots, he might not get another one. He knew that if you only would the wolverine, it will attack you. Jacob had the wolverine lined up in his sights now and his gun went off with a sharp crack, which broke the stillness of the Arctic night. Quickly, he saw that he had only wounded the wolverine. He grabbed his knife from a stump which he had put there as an extra precaution. In an instant the wolverine was upon him. He felt a Compliments of LAKIN'S EXPRESS Ellsworth, Maine

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IKLLSND UK ENEMY The moon rose large and threat- eningly over the tree:-tops. Its full- ness resembled an ominous balloon sailing over the country as if it were hunting for danger. And as it rose higher and higher, the trees seemed to take on immense, grotesque shapesg shapes of weird skeletons waving their bony arms around. Only occasionally was there a slight murmur of abreeze. Or was it that these horrible forms were real, not jgust the trees, and that the sound was their moaning, their way of telling the woods that they were boss? Jeannie wondered as she slowly made her way homeward. Why oh why had she stayed so late? Why did she have to walk this long threatening path alone? She thought of these as a form of relief to keep her mind away from the wind, the trees, and the moon. What was that noise! Jeannie stop- ped short. Listen, there it is again! Slowly it came again -- a LONG shrill noise similar to a scream. Jeannie felt a tightening in her throat as she looked around her. The sound continued for only a moment, then silence. Then pat, pat, pat, pat. She turned first to the right, then to the left. Suddenly she gasped, for be- hind her she could see a shadow ap- proaching. That could mean only one thingg she was being followed. Should she run? She tried to scream but some- thing stuck in her throat. No, No. The only sensible thing to do was to remain calm and walk on as if she suspected nothing. She tried this. For a while it was MAURICE J. FINESON all right. Then, gradually, she began to walk faster. When she realized what she was doing, she slowed down. She noticed that whoever or whatever was behind her sped up or slowed down as she did. Fear mounted anew in her. Finally, when she could remain calm no longer, Jeannie started running. The thing behind her started running, too. But, after experimenting, she found relief in the fact that her follow- er remained the same distance behind her ----- speeding as she ran, slowing as she walked. This was encouraging. If she reached home. If-if-if ........ Again she ran. Ran on and on, hearing the coming footsteps behind her, but not daring to turn around to look. After what seemed like ages, she saw the lights of town ahead. Now to make it home. But she was so out of breath, she had to stop to rest. She stopped, held her breath for an in- stance, and listened. She looked be- hind her. Wait, something about that shadow looked familiar. So, as if she had been told that her fears were foolish, she stood and waited. She was right. The mysterious approacher was still coming. When it came into view, Jeannie gave a cry of both surprise and relief. For what should be follow- ing her but Jiggers, her own pet dog. So, feeling greatly relieved and somewhat ashamed of herself, Jeannie trudged along toward home. However, for the rest of the journey, her mys- terious follower was by her side as if he were protecting her against some unseen enemy. Vonnie Cousins '53 WARREN KAY VANTINE STUDIO The Class Ring Man 51 132 Boylston Street 374 Center Street Bangor Boston Massachusetts

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sharp pain as the wolverine sank his teeth into his shoulder. He plunged his knife again and again into the wolverine as he fought for life. Fin- ally, the wolverine fell limp. Jacob discovered that his shoulder was numb and his left arm was broken. He knew if he did not get warmth or food some- how, he would soon freeze to death. Therefore, he got to his feet and start- ed to stagger towards his cabin. Jacob fell and stumbled many times on his way home, but finally made it. The cabin was dark as he approached, but the dogs were barking loudly. It was very cold as he went into the cabin, but he did not bother to light a fire, he just crawled into his sleeping bag and went to sleep. The next morning Jacob felt very stiff and his arm was badly swollen. Jacob managed to turn on his short- wave radio which had a sender and a receiver. He turned on the sender and called a flying doctor who said he would come to help him. He somehow felt better after that and although he had lost his rifle he knew that wolverine would never hunt another animal nor steal from his traps. Yes, trapping would be much better in the future. Steve Coffin '58 THE SAD SURPRISE As our story begins, we find Mrs. Hilton talking with her neighbor, Mr. Green, who is working in his garden. She is talking about the girl who lives down the street, the bad girl who drinks, had wild parties, and does all the things that nice people don'tdo. I'm telling you, that girl ought to be run out of town. She is a disgrace to our community and is setting a poor example for our children. No- sooner has she said these words when she sees her young daugh- ter running down the hill to meet her. She starts to cross the street at the foot of the hill and does not see the large truck rushing toward her. The driver sees her but not in time to stop. The mother screams but can do nothing as she sees her child meet what is sure to be instant death. Sud- denly from the sidewalk near the child comes a girl running to push the child to safety not a minute too soon. Then she stumbles, and she herself falls before the on rushing truck. Mrs. Hilton runs to her child and embraces her happily laughing and crying at the same time. Who was that dear brave girl who gave her life to save my child ? Her neighbor shakes his head sad- ly as he covers the poor mangled body of the heroine. That was the 'bad girl who lives down the street. ! Ellen Gonzales '54