Berkeley High School - Olla Podrida Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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6 THE OLL A PODR1DA ninety-five degrees in the shade? If they could only see the ripe mangoes, bananas, cocoanuts, and all the other fruits hanging from the trees! It would make them open their eyes, I can tell you! ' ' You befit would, Jack! Still give me a Christmas at home, and I will be contented with the winter climate of Frisco. Well I guess yes! But if only Irene and Helen could spend tomorrow with us, it would be a pleasant Christmas for us. It would be fine, yet, if the Tagals should take a notion to do some rampaging around, it would be terrible for us with them here, ex- posed to all the dangers of capture and even death, perhaps by torture. However, I hope the Tagals will keep quiet tomorrow so that our men will have a peaceful holiday of rest. It would make it seem more like Christmas, still what would I not give to spend tomorrow with the folks! Silence followed, each being busy with thoughts of the loved ones at home. As Dick was thinking of the Christmas at home, the scene seemed to change before his eyes. The camp-fire became a bright, roaring wood fire in a wide, open grate, the tent, a large, cheer- ful room, trimmed with holly and brilliantly lighted. In one corner, he seemed to see the great Christmas tree, burdened with its load of joy, surrounded by his brothers and sisters, who were eagerly guessing what secrets it might reveal later in the evening. The small camp shelf became a great table trembling and quaking beneath its load of Christmas goodies. Then Dick seemed to see his father take his place at the head of the table and ask a bless- ing, while the many guests and the bright- faced children took their seats along the sides. Then he could see the Father Turkey brought in, and then followed merriment for all, save his mother, who glanced sadly at a vacant chair at the foot — his place. Then he sees the Christmas tree expand into a garden of beauty, with its wealth of candles and — suddenly Dick was startled from his deep rev- erie by a fierce Tagal yell of war, and the rattle of musket shots. Yell upon yell followed, intermingled with the crack of the Kreg-Jor- gorsens, and the ping of the mausers. Finally a louder Tagal yell of triumph was heard, then all was silent. The Tagals of the surrounding v illages had banded themselves together to capture the hated Americans, while part of the force was away. They had planned to do this treacher- ous deed on Christmas Eve — a time of peace, not war. After nightfall they had gathered in the forest back of the American camp, several h.undred strong. Scarcely forty men could be found in the Co. The Tagaioban villagers had been stealthily approaching the sentinels all the evening. As the unsuspecting sentinels were pacing to and fro, thinking of home, long arms shot out of the darkness and in the twinkling of an eye, they were bound and gagged. Then the Filipinos, gathering all their strength, swept down upon the unpre- pared Americans like a mountain torrent upon the summer reeds. The ambushed Americans, though they fought bravely, were captured and confined in a large, open space, surrounded by guards. Strange to say, no Americans were killed though several were wounded. Meanwhile, what had become of Dick and Jack? As the first Tagal yell broke out upon the night air, Dick ' s tent flap was rudely torn open and nearly twenty Filipinos crowded in the tent. Dick and Jack sprang to their feet, determined to fight stoutly for their freedom, but before they could even raise a hand, they were hastily bound, though not as tight as the others, for the natives felt a contempt for such young soldiers. Jack was led off in one direc- tion to a distant hut, while Dick was led past the captive soldiers and was thrown into an ill-smelling, dark hut upon a pile of dirty rice mats. Left in the darkness, Dick could hear the insects as they crawled about, while now and then he could hear the peculiar clicking noise made by a scorpion on his rambles. Two Tagals soon entered the hut with a torch, which they fastene d to the wall, and their arms, consisting of two old rifles and two bolo knives. They had with them Dick ' s box,

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OLLA PODEIDA VOL. 8 BERKELEY, CAL., DECEMBER 19, 1901 NO. 7 DicK ' s CKristmas Box It was Christmas Eve in the little native village of Tagioba on the island of Samar, one of the now famous Philippine Islands. The fires before the tents of Company E, Ninth In- fantry, gleamed brightly through the darkness like the eyes of timber-wolves seen in the for- est. Wierd, foreboding shadows were cast on the white canvass, resembling frightful fiends of the night, dancing with glee at some thought of coming evil. Around a few miserable fires, squatted the native villagers, while in the dark shadows of the palm-thatched huts of the Fili- pinos could be seen others, standing sullenly and silently. But no women or children could be seen; which was a suspicious fact, because they were always in evidence. The gloom was deeper than usual in the village, for the sky was overcast with heavy, black clouds, foretelling a tropical shower. Besides the air was oppressive, though swarms of insects made the fires a vital necessity. Cheery talk came from the American quar- ters, with now and then snatches of the popu- lar songs. The boys were joyful at the thought of a Christmas holiday and the pack- ages of love from home — the home they had not seen for a year. These precious pack- ages lay in their tents, some opened and some unopened waiting for their owners to return from a scouting expedition. All were happy and cheerful, yet a few had sad faces because of bad news from home. However, on the other hand, there was little of the Christmas spirit among the Filipinos — no merriment, no happy feelings, and no peaceful thoughts for tomorrow. In an officer ' s tent to the right of the privates, sat Dick Parkman, second lieutenant of the company, and Jack Stone, first sergeant. Dick Parkman was a tall, fair-haired young man of twenty, with honest, frank blue eyes. He was a graduate of a San Francisco High School, as also his chum. Jack Stone, a short, dark-haired youth of nineteen with mischiev- ous, black eyes. Both were rather young to hold such high positions but their coolness and bravery in time of battle had earned them their just promotion. Both were intensely patriotic, and would sacrifice all — even life — to avenge an insult or dishonor to their country ' s flag. Jack ' s box from home had already been opened, and its contents enjoyed. Dick ' s lay still unopened, for each was thinking of his home, so far away. Say, Dick, said Jack, what would the folks at home think of December 24th being Awarded first prize in the prize story contest for this edition.

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THE OLLA PODR1DA and, casting a glance at the captive to see if he was secure, they squatted down with the box between them. Having opened it, the first thing they saw was a large, handsome bottle of alcohol, which Dick ' s brother, Bob, had sent him to preservesome of the bug family in. One ot the Filipinos pulled forth the cork, smelled of it, and drank nearly a gill of the spirit. Apparently satisfied with it, he smacked his lips, and took another draught of it. He then passed it to the other, who drank it with delight. Impossible as it may seem, it was nevertheless true, for the throats and stomachs of the Filipinos have become so burned with arrack, that alcohol seemed mild to them . At first Dick was filled with anger at seeing his Christmas box broken into and its treasures handled by such hands. But soon this feeling turned into one of astonishment when he saw them drink the alcohol. Very quickly Dick felt hope revive and saw an early escape from his prison, for both the guards had become in- sensible from the strong spirit. Tugging and straining at his bonds, Dick at last was free. Cautiously drawing a keen-edged bolo knife from one of the sleeping Filipinos, he cut a slit in the back of the hut. Taking his precious box in one hand and the bolo knife in the other, Dick crawled out of the hut and hastened into the forest. Dick hid his box near a giant breadfruit tree, a peer among his fellows, and stood within its shelter. Knowing it was utterly impossible to attempt to rescue the others by himself alone, he resolved to find the rest of the company and bring aid. Dick knew that their camp lay in an northeastern direction. After several futile attempts, Dick caught a large firefly, and by its light, he was enabled to see his compass, which fortunately he had with him, and thus set off in the right direction. The rain descended in torrents, and every tree was a fountain. Dense forests separated Dick from the other camp, and no distinct road led through the forest. Yet Dick set off bravely, though he knew Giant Fever lurked in every turn and corner of the forest, seeking to ensnare the unwary traveler. Drenched to the skin, impeded by creepers and great snarled roots, often losing his way, yet Dick struggled on courageously. Once stuck in a marsh, another time entwined by giant creep- ers, Dick nearly despaired, but the thought of his country, his home, and Helen, spurred him on. Once indeed Dick thought it was his last moment, when suddenly two glaring eyes of a wild-cat faced him, but he gave a shrill yell, and the beast, flighted, fled. At last, after three hours of terrible walking, Dick saw, gleaming through the forest like beacon fires on a rocky shore, the camo fires of the boys in blue. With renewed cour- age, Dick struggled on, and as he staggered past the sentinel, having given the password, into camp, he cried out: Boys, the Tagals have risen, and all the rest are prisoners! Rescue them! Nature could stand no more, and Dick fell into the arms of his captain. As soon as he revived, Dick insisted on telling the whole story and describing state of affairs at the other camp. When he had finished, the soldiers- cheered him, but they were so angry, that if there had been a village of Tagals near the camp, the enraged soldiers would have killed them to a man. Ra pid preparations were made for a hasty march to the other camp. They made Dick ride the only horse in camp, despite his insisting that he was all right and that he was no baby. They set off through the downpour of rain about midnight, following an irregular path. Twice was the way lost and the boys found themselves attempting to cross a marsh. Be- ing thus delayed, it was nearly three o ' clock when thev arrived in the vicinity of the camp. Cautiously they surrounded the village in the dark, placing themselves in the shadows of the forest. The natives seemed to keep no watch, feeling perfectly safe from attacks, for Dick ' s escape was yet unknown. Captain, whispered Dick, may I free my friend as soon as I get in camp? Certainly, Dick, responded his friendly captain, we can take care of the Tagals, but