University High School - Cub Yearbook (Oakland, CA)

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THE RAT QContinued from Page 133 Shut up, you scum ofthe earth! Ship's regulation is silence at the wheelll' ,Scared out of his wits, Johnny allowed his nerveless fingers to drop from the wheel he had been grasping so tightly. Try as he would he could not control himself. As he raised a shaking hand in salute, a shudder of horror chased down his spine. Hands on the wheel, you blast- ed lubber! Youlre not sailing up the Boweryln Clearly distinguishable in the pale cold light of the moon, ab-aft the conning tower, stood 'The Rati. His appearance hinted of the supernatural, so sudden, so un- heralded had it been. Under the hard, steely gaze bent upon him J ohnny's flesh crept, and the promise he had just made to him- self to try to regard this man in a Christian light faded out of his mind. As he stood there, arms folded chest in characteristic pose, The Rat undoubtedly presented a sinister appearance. There was nothing particularly striking about his body in repose, except the im- pression of super-abundant nerv- ous force at which it hinted. But in every feature of the face and head lurked suggestion of evil. The eyes, small but keen, were his most noticable feature. At pres- ent, although fastened up on J ohnny's face, they seemed to miss not a single detail of the surround- ings. Between them drooped a long pointed nose, the line of which remained unbroken to the top of his oddly-shaped, shiny, black upon head. An unusual scarcity of chin and neck enhanced the rodent-like impression, still further empha- sized by the straight tight line where lips should have been. Just now the line was broken to allow white sharp teeth to gleam through like those of some 'malicious ani- mal. Yellow skin, tightly drawn, hairless, without even the slight re- lief of eyebrows or eyelashes, gave the face a death-like appearance, and over all brooded an expression, repellent, loathsome. Johnny felt his strength slowly ebbing. If it were not that he sensed The Rats' enjoyment of this triumph of sheer magnetism, he would have been forced to give some sign of it. With the pecu- liarity of the human mind to dwell upon insignificant details at great moments, he found himself won- dering why the beastls sharp cheek- hones did not break through the tight skin. He felt that they would do so at any moment. Un- consciously he prayed for it-that -anything that would force those relentless orbs to release his own. He could not stand it another moment, when-one, two, three, four bells, followed by the bos,n's call, '4Relieve.the wheel and look- outs! broke the terrifying silence. The spell was dissolved. With a swift salute for the officer and a nudge for Johnny, Patty started for'd as the relief took the wheel from his hands. Johnny shrank quite visibly as he gave his own salute and passed the executive on wobbly legs. Once out of range Patty clapped him on the back sympathetically. You'll get used to it, kid. The first twenty years are the hardest. Get me, now?,' 46

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same persons entertained with the Singing of an old favorite, NUni- versity I Love You, written by two graduates of this school, Hub- bard Moffitt and Harry Turner. The Needlessness of the War,,' was the subject on which the Rev. Oswald VV. S. McCall of the First Congregational church of Berke- ley, addressed the gathering. Re- marks were also heard from Mr. Frank Herberth, president of the Dads' club and Arthur Arlett, who represented the student body. A skit, the scene of which was laid in a cell where Mr. H. Cozens and Dr. C. C. Conrad had been sent to repent of speeding in Mr. Cozen's 1925 Ford, was presented by Captain Wlalter Vance and First Lieutenant James Ressigue. Jim Brown, a guest of the even- ing, offered two vocal selections which immediately followed the main event of the evening, the pre- sentation of the warrants and com- missions to the new officers for this semester. This dinner is said to be only the first of a series of such events to be held this term. .ff K5- g H T 'li RSJPYGRA. J s '?+fa:f,.+.'f e :1s. g, -g 1a:.f:'f J 1 W--....,f WI, 3234, 4. .as-11115-M - ' . x . 5, Q uai-!'GgQa1' ' H x . fl-:W-L Zsgiilu, ' ' ' '--z.,',3g,-.4-we-xx mg - ' ie? - 'A 1- Q- m W - -1-Q1 v ii - g,,,5,,.h Y , V ., as , gf,3im..,6 -

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Johnny tried hard to shake his shoulders indifferently, but the sound of The Rats' cold voice, even though not directed at them this time, changed the shake to a shudder. Officer of the deckf' command- ed the executive, Mfurl light sails. Take in your flying jib and set your storm-sails. Theres ai storm brewing west'ard, and I want you to be ready to meet it when it hits us. c'Aye, aye sir! isognrs mate, all hands on deck! '6Aye, aye sir!U Down the line in response to the bos,n's mate's whistle the word was passed, All hands on deck!', The executive's foresight and quick-thinking served them well for the command Aloft', was scarcely given when a terrific blow hit the ship. The sea was turned almost instantly into a churning mill through which the vessel la- bored painfully. Through the tu- mult, the excitement of a desperate attempt to outwit the lashing fury of the wind, at the worst possible time, came the por- tentous cr y, BI a n over- boardf, All hands were gazing in 1 o p e n- lnouthed won- der at Patty. mounted on the hammock- netting ready for the leap into the rag- ing sea, when the executives curt voice was heard from the bridge, Back Shanahan! Not a man leaves this ship save at my com- mand! Blau the topsail halyard. Curse you, back!', The habit of obedience is a strong one. J Bristling with fury, but responding to the command, Patty turned to Johnny, an oath on his lips. lVhat'd I tell you, kid? He s yellow, a coward. It s impossible to lower the boats! He ll let no effort be made to save the lost man! You'll see-H But Johnny was not listening. His expanded eyes were riveted on the bridge, toward which Patty wheeled in astonishment. Only a glimpse he caught, only a flash of The Ratw, poised like an oily por- poise on the rail-then he was gone. No use for the others to cry, '4It's impossible! Sure death!! The executive of his ship, entire crew at his command, and for the humblest of his men he leaped, himself. As a knife he cleaved the dark heav- ing w a t e r s a n d d i s - appeared. No splash, no rip- ple, his exit was as mys- terious as had been his life. He left be- h i n d h im nothing but a grim t r a d i- ii tion. 47