Astoria High School - Zephyrus Yearbook (Astoria, OR)

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an old man. No second glance was necessary to reveal his nationality. He was a second “Isaac of York.” These two men grasped the situa¬ tion immediately. Here was this old man, very rich, probably, left alone on the vessel, apparently because he would not part with his chest, which was too cumbersome to take on the life boat. At first the old man was not aware of the fishermen’s pr esence. Then Johnson stepped forward to speak to him and the pleased, sur¬ prised express on cii his face would have done one good to see; but, as his piercing eyes sharply scanned the countenances of his visitors, a look of terror overspread his ov n. After gaining his composure he of¬ fered them each five dollars if they would take him and his chest to land. Five dollars wouldn’t do. He kept in¬ creasing the offer until it r: ached half of all he had with him. At last John¬ son roughly informed him the price of his passage to land would be' all of his property. In vain the old man pro¬ tested, and at last, rather than part A STUDY with his goods, he resigned himself to fate. The bolder of the two fishermen seized and held him v hile the other laboric’.nly lugged at the chest. John¬ son then locked the old man in the r:o:ri and rushed off to help lower their heavy burden into the fishing boat. It was daylight by this time. The wind had' begun to raise and was soon blowing quite a gale. The fierce storm had abated on the ocean, but before passing away played some pranks on the river. Great waves ar ose. One of the men in the little boat was kept busy bailing, but, in spit: of their efforts, the sail gave a sudden lurch and the boat capsized, its cargo sinking to the bottom. These two fishermen, being excel¬ lent swimmers. succeJ'ded in keeping themselves afloat until some passer¬ by picked them up. With the ebbing of the tide the hulk was again carried over the bar and nothing more was heard concerning it cr its solitary occupant. IN WHITE By Winifred Higgins, ’06. Fred and Daisy had quarreled, and, Fred had' often heard the story how thinking that Daisy would follow him, theboat had been wrecked and all save Fred turned away and walked he knew one man had gotten safely to shore, not where. While in Daisy’s sight his and he, poor fellow! had been drown- head was up in the air, and he walked ed. The man who had been drowned with a deliberate mien, but when the was very disagreeable, and consequent- houses and the trees hid her from view ly greatly despised by his fellow-pas- his independent spirit left him and a sengers, whO' did not attempt to re- morbid, unapproachable mood came cover his body. A few nights later, over him. He walked on, on, and on, after the people had made themselves d'eeply buried in his thoughts. comfortab’e for the evening, the Walking up the beach he threw him- watchmen were alarmed by the hollow self on a log, and, after a short revery, lapping of the waves upon the smooth looked about him and discovered that shore and the sound of a boat plying he had walked almost to Tongue through the water. The trees whistled Point, and that he was directly oppo- and seemedi to scoff at the watchers, site the place where, many years ago, and the men afterward declared that one of the boats of the Astor party the moon actually laughed at them, had been wrecked. They looked toward the river, and si-

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Z EPHYRUS A Journal Devoted to Literature, School News, Athletics, Etc. VOLUME 1. ASTORIA, OREGON, MARCH, 1905. - ■ NUMBER 1. ONE NiGHT’S HAUL. By Biowden It was the last night of the fishing season. As a rule all the fishermen go out for he last haul, but this night seemed to be an exception. Here and there on the netracks in little groups the fishermen could be seen looking with anxious faces at the sky or the river. Some of the more experienced ones shook their heads omniously. Evening was drawing near; large black clouds completely covered the sky, and not a breath of wind stirred. A calm prevailed — one such as is usu¬ ally follwed by a storm. There is always a greater run of fish when the weather is in this condition. The season had been a poor one, but notwithstanding this few men were willing, in the face of such a threat¬ ening storm, to risk their property or their lives. Among the bolder ones was a John Johnson and his boat-puller, Martin Anderson. They were notorious char¬ acters. This was true especially of Johnson. These men had lived apart from their fellow-fishermen in a lonely scow near the weter’s edge. No one advised them to not attempt the threatening deep, and no surprise was manifested at their setting out from the harbor. As night drew on Johnson and his companion were slowly drifting in their little boat toward the bar. No stars were in the sky. The river was calm and the air was warm and sultry. Davies, ’06. The storm predict'd did not burst in all its fury except on the ocean. An occasional flash of lightning in the distance could be seen from the shore. The roar of the sea was deaf¬ ening. Signals of some ships in dis¬ tress w'ere seen at intervals, and the sound of guns could be faintly heard above the noise of the w’aves. The storm raged all night. As .Johnson and his boat-puller w'ere about to re¬ turn home with almost as many tons of fish as they had caught during the whole season, their boat came almost in contact with a great object which loomed up in the darkness. On close observation this proved to be a badly battered ship, the sails and rigging of which had been torn off by the wind. The current, aided by the tide, had carried it over the bar and now it calmly floated up the river. It seemed as though there was no one on board. These two fishermen, thinking they might find a few articles of value, clambered up the “Jacob’s ladder into the deserted hulk. Shortly the moan of a human voice attracted them to the forecastle. The dim light of the candle which they held and the stillness of the night made the situa¬ tion more uncanny. After hesitating before the door, their better sense gained possession of them, and the two entered the room. In the center, seated on a chest, was

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lently out of the darkness came a milk- white man, in a milk-white boat, rowed with milk-white oars. It slowly crept near the shore, and, when within ten feet of the horror-stricken people, the man gave one yell, “Murder!” and then the apparition disappeared. All of this came to Fred’s mind as he sat right at the very scene of the story. He became uncomfortable: he tried to think of something else; he tried to smoke. Nonsense! he didn’t believe in ghosts, but somehow he was very strangely affected, and he began to wish that he and Daisy hadn’t quar¬ reled. He lokoed at the moon to be sure of its existence — and lo! the face in the niocn was enwreathed in a hide¬ ous, broad grin. A sort’of cold, clam¬ my feeling came over him. The beat¬ ing of his heart was annoyingly loud, and the dry leaves on the ground did make such a noise. To relieve the monotony of the hor¬ rible spell that had come over him, he picked up a pebble and threw it to see it skim along the water. He threw it tovard the west, but just as it reached the place where the boat had been wrecked it suddenly turned and almost instantaneously dropped into the wa'ter at the very spot of the wreck. The awful feeling that came over Fred is indescribable. Before he had thrown the stone the water was very quiet; but now it began to move and bubble, as if disturbed by an angry demon. And silently and steadily out of the water rose a figure, milk-white. It was eagerly looking over the side of a milk-white boat, which was rowed with milk-white oars. The boat rocked as the ghost gloomily stood up and waved' its white, elfish-shaped hat at Fred, who by this time had become weak and was unable to move. He wanted to yell, tO' do something, any¬ thing to break the horrible silence. As the ghost approached it took on the exact likeness of Daisy — the tall, slender form, the well-shaped head and flowing hair gracefully drooping on her rounded' shoulders. Yet it was so ghastly and unnatural! Slowly the boat drew near, but Fred could not move. He tried to call, but found no voice, while nearer, still nearer, came the phantom. It was within five feet of Fred, and eagerly he watched it, when suddenly it leaped at him. caught him by the hair, which was by this time standing on end, yelled “Murder!” with a horrible, un¬ earthly scream — and, oh! with that he awoke. “I am so glad it was a dream. It was all my fault that Daisy and I quarreled. I guess I'll go down to the house and see her.” THE TALE OE THE EROGGIE By Blodwen Davies. Down in a well on a great mossy rock which the sunbeams ne’er lighten. Alone in the dampness and darkness a little green froggie sat craoking. Pausing a moment as if he were listening for some far-off answer. Shrilly he’d keep up his calling; then, pausing, again he would listen. Soon in a neighboring swamp where the rushes grew thickest came answers — One. then another, another, until a whole chorus of voices .Joined in unmusical singing, though welcomed with gladness by alk For their voices did herald the spring¬ time and' pleasures of summer. Thus a small song in this great world of ours oft giveth joy unto many.