Trafalgar School - Echoes Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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result of their somewhat bad start. Noticing that they were all growing tired they found, most unfortunately, that they had several feet (no exaggerations) of snow under their skis. They were not despairing and in a few minutes they were sitting deep in the snow waxing their skis. In a short time they were ready to start, but unfortunately they had some difficulty in rising out of the very deep snow. After helping each other they were all up, only to find that they had left most of the dye of their pants behind — (a mere detail!). On they went, only to find that their skis were over waxed, with the result that they would scarcely move. At last their spirits gave out and they sat down in a nice sheltered spot to have lunch. But the sheltered spot soon changed its name and became a windy, cold corner. However, appetites were too keen to bother about the temperature. Misses X, Y and Z were now very happy. They had a good lunch in spite of the fact that the sandwiches were soaked in ginger ale, and the cake was mixed with oranges. Miss X suggested the return home as they must allow time. Miss X ' s suggestion always proved brilliant, so it was accepted again. This time she did wisely. Had she not done so, Misses X, Y and Z would probably have remained in the Laurentians and would have perished in the cold. As it happened, since they had lost the map, they consequently lost their way, but being as they were, as I have already mentioned, perfect pioneers, they went on and always on till finally they arrived at Shawbridge, and until this day they never knew where they went. When they arrived at the station they discovered that the late train was the only one that they had not missed. So among skis and people they managed to squeeze in, only to find that all the seats were occupied. And so the Misses X, Y and Z silently existed among skiers and skiers and forests of skis, among surging voices, cigarette smoke and con ' versation, until at last the train pulled in at Park Avenue Station. We shall leave them there — Miss X under a seat with her skis on top of her; Miss Y uncon ' scious in the smoking-room, and Miss Z near the car door, buried under drinking cups. We trust the three pioneers arrived home safely and were present at school next morning. Faith Lyman, Form IVa. Six- Wife Sam We left our port on a summer day, Twas a hot summer day in June, And after there came a hot summer night, With a beautiful orange moon. Then up and spake old Six-Wife Sam, Our captain took a telescope, The porpoises to see; But when we looked upon his face He showed no outward glee. The things had very scaly skirts, This moon reminds me of Mabel, And all us jolly sailor-men Did laugh all we were able. Sam was a merry old sea-dog, With a wife in every port : Their skirts were made of scales, Then said our merry sailor men, Perhaps they ' re only whales! ' They are a band of mermaids, quoth Our captain. Then said he, Some fat, some thin, some old, some young, Some fair, some tall, some short. The next day dawned with a golden flare, And the flying, fluffy foam Did lure the instinct of our men They are a band of maidens that Pull ships down in the sea! And true it was, for that same night There rose some awful gales. I know whose blasted fault it was. To wander and to roam. Sam said he saw some porpoises With lovely golden locks, A i ombing thcin with silver combs, While sitting on the rocks. It was them pretty whales! And Sam was right, for the next day The gales were awful fierce; And then those cussed porpoises Made the winds our sails to pierce. I 28 |

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hard to follow the bobbing barrel as the fish zigzagged frantically in its effort to get free. After an hour or so we knew he was weakening and picked up the barrel. When the tuna was brought to the surface we exulted when we saw that he was an especially big one. With last-minute dives and turns he churned the water around the boat, but he had received a mortal wound and presently his great body floated on the surface. We made for Fox Point and home, well pleased with the results of our first tuna-fishing expedition and more enthusiastic than ever about the joys of a Nova Scotian summer. Elizabeth Anne Kendall, Form IIIa. A Sentimental Letter Observatory Hill, The Isle of Capri. Believe it, Beloved, I think of you with every breath I take, in my solitude. But don ' t let it bother you if I say it ' s you I adore. Yesterday I was out in the cold again walking in the winter wonderland, looking for a needle in a hay-stack (I found it) . Being all tangled up in love I got lost in a fog then suddenly pop went my heart at the thought of the champagne waltz that waltz you saved for me. Have you forgotten there is a tavern in the town just around the corner ? But soon my lonely feet said my man , it ' s home. Am I just a fair-weather friend? If not, say when! Don ' t ever leave me. Fare thee well, Annabelle. Your Ole Faithful, F. Lyman J. Scrimger P.S. I love you! Three Brave Pioneers ONE bright Sunday morning Miss X telephoned Miss Y, Would you and Miss Z like to go ski-ing up north to-day? . . . fine, have you three dollars to spare . . . thanks . . . g ' bye. Soon Miss X, Y and Z were merrily chatting on the 8.30 train, equipped with a compass, a lunch and a map. They made their plans for the day while the train pushed up the line. A good, energetic ski, they thought, would be the best plan and off they hopped at Shawbridge. Unfortu- nately they struck a terrible gale descending upon the train. Miss Z lest her hat and Miss Y lost her precious map. But being three brave pioneers they realized tha.t this was just part of the fun. Let ' s have a shot at the big hill, as a starter, suggested Miss X. The suggestion was accepted and they started off to have a starter on the big hill. But, as luck would have it, Miss X took an awful tumble which soaked her with wet snow right to the skin. Miss Y, having energetically climbed to the top, lost courage, took off her skis and walked down the hill, while Miss Z patiently stayed at the bottom, dry and comfortable. Determined not to let this discourage them, the three brave pioneers boldly faced the cruel wind and set out to cut a trail through the dense forests of the cold, pitiless Laurentian Mountains. Here they found, instead of wind, was soft snow and hot sun. This blissful comfort they thought was the [ 27 ]

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The waves they flew all o ' er the deck, And we let out our sheet; The storm it raged and we were soaked With bitter rain and sleet. The waves they broke our good ship ' s side, The waves came pouring in, And all us jolly sailor-men Did bail with mournful din. Courage, men, spake our captain bold, Desert not our good ship, Or we shall sink e ' er morrow dawns, And we shall take a dip. W e all stood up upon the deck, When a mermaid fair was seen; She told us that her orders were To take us to her queen. So down she led us to the land Where fishes play all day; They leaped and danced and flew like birds, And all day they did play. And when Sam saw the mermaids ' queen He was in seventh heaven, And he announced to all us men, That he ' d found number seven! So here we ' ll live for all our lives, Seaweed land ' s our dwelling; Sam yet may find wife number eight, There really is no telling! Marion Francis, Form IIIa. Queer, Wasn ' t It? THEY had been sitting around the fire for the most part of the evening, telling tales, each trying to out-do the others with so-called true experiences. The host had just finished the inevitable ghost story and his two sons were openly scoffing. There came a low rumble from the deep arm- chair in the corner and they all turned expectantly, for the Indian Colonel was wont to preface his utterances in this manner — rather as a grandfather clock gives a warning wheeze before it strikes the hour. But, joking aside, he said, strange things do sometimes happen. Now I remember years ago ... The other guests smiled at each other significantly and settled down to listen. To be exact, continued the Colonel, it was thirteen years ago. I was serving at the time on the frontier in Northern India, and I had for a servant a huge Pathan. He was one of the ugliest fellows I have ever seen but his efficiency made up for his hideous face. On day in July, when the heat was well-nigh unbearable and I was vainly trying to keep cool, he came to me. ' Sahib, 1 he said, ' I am going away for a little while, but I will be back in two weeks and my brother will work for you while I am gone. ' ' Where are you going, Yamut? ' I asked wearily. T did not want Yamut to go, but I did not feel equal to an argument and I knew that once he had made up his mind nothing would stop him. ' I am going to Benares to find a man who has insulted me and I shall kill him when I find him. ' Had he suggested hunting purple elephants and green monkeys at that moment, I believe I would have been only mildly surprised but I felt that mv position demanded that I remonstrate with him. ' You will never be able to find the man in Benares. Besides I forbid you to go; it would make me an accessory before the crime, or something. ' I am sorry to leave you, Colonel Sahib, but I cannot rest until I find that son of a pig, Charan Das. ' There was such an intensity of hate in the man ' s voice that I was uneasy, for he was fully capable of carrying out his threat. But the next day I no longer feared for the safety of Charan Das. [ 29 ]