Brentwood College School - Brentonian Yearbook (Mill Bay, British Columbia Canada)

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Brentwood College Magazine A Tale of India HIS story was told to me one winter evening while I was living in London. I had been dining with Captain Bruce, an old friend of mine, and we were smoking before a great wood fire in his apartments. We had been sitting in silence for perhaps five minutes, listening to the flames roaring up the chimney, when for some unaccountable reason I found myself staring up at a little green jade buddha on the mantel-piece. I had noticed it many times before, but this time I felt a greater interest than previously. I lifted it down from its accus- tomed place, and in doing so noticed what a marvellous piece of work it was, wonderfully carved and put together, with little black pearls for eyes. Bruce, noticing my interest, finally broke the silence by asking me if I had heard the tale connected with this little god. I told him I had not, and this is the tale as he told it to me : It was while I was in the employ of the British Secret Service that I received orders to go to India. I was to have as a companion my friend, Green, who was also in the service, and we were to travel as representatives of a big lumber company. But my real mission was to get a certain map, which, at that time, was in the palace of one of the Indian Rajahs, Hazzan Singh by name. He was one of the richest and most powerful of all these princes, and I knew from the beginning it would be a very difficult undertaking. It was a map of one of the districts, about one hundred miles north-west of Calcutta, which showed on it many important details which the government were unable to obtain. I was to get it as soon as possible and to bring it back safely to England. But the Rajah did not wish this map to get to England at that time as he was doing some secret work in that district. So it was with this very unfavourable outlook in mind that we set out for India. Our trip to that country was uneventful, except that shortly after we passed Port Said, Green was taken violently ill and when we arrived at Calcutta he was in no condition for the journey to the Rajah ' s palace. Several precious days were spent while he rested, but about four days later he said he was ready for travel. So, finally we set out for the palace, and after a long, tedious overland journey we arrived at our destination. We were warmly received and it seemed to me the Rajah was glad to see someone from England again as he was an old Cambridge man. We talked over many things of common interest and he seemed to believe fully that I was representing a big lumber company. For a time it seemed to me my prospects were brighter. I was forced, from the beginning of my visit, to participate in the many pastimes in which all the higher officials took part. There was always something at which I had to be present and I found my time was nearly all occupied. But whenever Green or I had an opportunity we searched for the map, and after a week we had looked through nearly everything but the massive iron safe which was in the Prince ' s bedroom. This we were unable to get at and we both decided the map must be hidden there. But one night the Rajah, who had been out hunting all day, did not return by eleven o ' clock, when nearly all of us had retired. Page Ten

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Brentwood College Magazine Among the things we want to know are : — (1) How Smith and Simpson learned the Charleston? (2) Whether Furber has ever heard of a muffler? (3) How Brenty ' s larynx stands the strain? (4) How it is that a few boys manage to answer the Chapel Party Roll Call and then disappear so quickly? (5) Whether Nature will compel Catlin to grow a beard? (6) What is the record time to get down to breakfast on Sundays? (7) How many people alter the school clock in the course of a day? W r e look with mingled respect and pity on the hardy souls who opened the swimming season in mid-January. We have at last discovered that the unearthly noises which echo through the premises on Wednesday afternoons are to be attributed to our banjoists, while the constant moaning among the music rooms is the effect of several saxophones. Both species are reported to be harmless. jfc % The golf team that the College sent to Cowichan on June 19 were eight in number. As the opposing side could only muster four to play against us, we lent them two players. Can anyone inform us why these latter were the only two school players who won their matches? At the best of times, the taking of the school photograph is a trying occasion, but when we have to wait for the sun to set before the operation can be performed, and when the photographer falteringly utters S-l-o-w , is it any wonder that we could not control our emotions? Sonnet Deep lies the forest in perpetual gloom ; No sound is heard save babbling of a stream And last faint echoes of the panther ' s scream ; The mossy glades are silent as the tomb. Over the tree-tops, snow-capped mountains loom Still radiant in the sunset ' s dying gleam Amid the evening mist, as in a dream, Whilst in its folds darkness ensnares the coombe. Yet such a place, so free from worldly strife Would not attract the crowd ! Man would not give His bustling, roaring towns instead of life In Paradise itself. For him, to live Is but existing. The World and his Wife To Nature ' s charms are no more sensitive. D. H. Brock. Page Nine

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B r e ii t w cod College Magazine So, waiting for a favourable opportunity. Green and I set to work on the safe, and finally the lock gave way. But just as we were in the midst of looking through the many papers for the map, we heard the Rajah arrive home. So, throwing everything back in the safe and closing the door, we escaped to our rooms, but without the map. When we again got the opportunity to look through the safe, the map was not there and we decided we should have to give up the search and return to Calcutta for further orders. The morning of our departure I went to my host to bid him goodbye and thank him for his kindness towards us. He seemed sorry that we had to depart and just as I was leaving his room he presented me with the buddha you now have on your lap, saying: ' Keep this little god as a remembrance of your visit. There is an old saying it will bring luck to its owner. Guard it carefully as it may be of more value to you than you now supp ose. Goodbye ' . That was the last time I ever saw Hazzan Singh. You can imagine his words rather surprised me, but they soon dropped from my mind as more pressing matters took their place. But some time later those words came back to me and I appreciated better their full significance as I saw them under a different light. I returned to England and settled down to the regular home routine. Other men were sent out to India, but none were successful. The map seemed nowhere to be found and so after about a year the Secret Service gave up the search as a failure. It soon dropped from my mind as I was sent out on other missions, but about two years later it was vividly recalled. I had just returned from Scotland, and when I went to my hotel I found a letter awaiting me from India. On open- ing it I read a certain note, which I will show you. Bruce then got up and walked over to his desk, where he got out of one of the drawers a note written in a big, scrawly hand. This is what it said : Dear Bruce : — I am sorry your trip to India was a failure and that Green, your companion, was taken so ill ; but both these were necessary for the success of my plans. If you press the left eye of the green buddha I gave you on your departure, you may feel more cheerful. If you get the opportunity, please come and visit me again as you are a delightful guest, although you do not always attend strictly to your own afTairs and property. Yours with sincere regrets. — Hazzan. When I had read this, Bruce went on and finished his tale. He had done as the letter ordered him and the head of the little buddha shot up with the force from a spring concealed in it. There, in a cavity in the head, was the map. There was silence in the room when Bruce finally concluded his tale. Surely this was a strange conclusion. A native of India outwitting the entire Secret Service! Many men searching all over India while the map for most of the time was hidden safely in England ! As these thoughts passed through my mind I looked up at the little buddha, which I had replaced on the mantel-piece, and as the light from the fire reflected from his eyes he seemed to wink knowingly down at me. He, surely, was a souvenir to be proud of. t n yr Lamprey. Page Eleven