Calaveras High School - Skull Yearbook (San Andreas, CA)

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ing sharply down the forest aisles, lest some unseen marksman pick me out along his rifle barrel. No fire had been built and my compan- ions lay rolled in their blankets side by side, motionless and silent, save when some one would utter a troubled groan or a sigh as he slept. It was time to change watch, and I had called one of the boys when my eyes detected a slight movement in the gloom of the forest. I watched and saw a dark shadow creep closer and closer, then separate. It was time to arouse the camp. We all lay quiet with rifies at half cock, waiting for a signal. When the silent shadows began to creep in on us, we opened fire and charged them. Taken by sur- prise, they were easily captured. One was dead, one lay wounded, and two others were trussed up to a tree when we were again pre- pared for sleep. The next day the wounded man died in spite of what we could do, and we buried him and his companion beneath the pines, with the great white mountains stand- ing guard. The two survivors appeared stoical enough, although I knew the parting was sad. But where was the fifth? Where was Jack? Where's the other one? I asked one of the outlaws. 'tHe cashed in a day ago, we left him on Injun Creek, they was running us clost. Dead! I could not believe it. Still it was better, perhaps, for the little girl whose picture stood on the dresser. I saw it was up to me to write her a letter, and tell her a lie, and it did not suit me inthe least. At any rate I would give him a heroic death. We reached town and hurried our prisoners by a back way to the jail so that the over- zealous citizens would not see them and treat them roughly. We were received like conquer- ing heroes, and many invitations had to be refused before I reached my own door. What was the noise in my rooms? Voices and laughter came to me on the stairs. Iloosened my six-gun in the holster, pushed my door open softly with my foot, and stepped quickly in. Such a sight met my eyes. The rooms were elaborately decorated, and acrowd of happy looking people were making merry. I was seized and hustled around. There was Jack, Shorty, Duncan with his head in a band- age, and many others, one of whom, a little stranger, Jack led blushing up to me. I started in amazement, for she was the original of the little picture on the dresser. Well, it was all cleared up. He had gone to meet the girl and had brought her home while I was off in the mountains on a wild goose chase. The man on Indian Creek cer- tainly was a dead ringer of Jack when it came to looks. The note Jack left me, Ihad used as a torch. In my hurry to make things fit my ideas I had gone a tride too fast. Jack and Florence settled down in asnug little home, as happy as two kids. This left me running loose. I began to realize that I was getting to be an old bachelor, almost thirty- seven. I found myself frequently examining a little picture on the inside of my watch case, and digging up her letters. The die was cast. I would go back. Shorty caught me packing my things, and asked me what I was doing. t'People gettin too soft and sentimental around these diggins. I pull out to-morrow, I replied. Goin to get married yourself, old scout. Can't tell me, I know em, he said, all fools ain't dead yet. Good-by, he slammed the door. A minute later he poked his head in and said, 'AAs a parting bit of advice, let 'er have her way in little things, but be boss, that's my experience. Shorty closed the door just in time to avert a catastrophe to his face. ROBERT McCONNELL, '15.

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on the dresser as if it, too, were worried. I determined not to let suspicion enter my mind again, for surely the man whom I had known and loved so many years could not be guilty of such a crime. Yet things looked bad, and I would find myself unconsciously trying to find a motive. Of one thing I was sure, it was not money, for we had cleared up fifteen thous- and apiece on our two claims, the Midas and the Florence R. Anxiously I went to seek the advice of Shorty Smith, a shrewd little friend of mine. I climbed to his rooms above Dad's Drink Emporium and knocked at his door. A voice bade me enter andl found my friend dili- gently brading a leather quirt. Top o' the mornin to yu, he said 'cheer- fully, heard all the news? I said that I had, and wanted him to help me clear up Jack's disappearance. Don't worry about the lad, I warrant he's cortin. ' ' You make me tired, I replied, they accuse him of blowing up the postoffice. Do they, now he replied calmly, and turn- ing his back he threw a line out of the window baited with a piece of bread. Soon he hauled up a fine white rooster Happing his wings vigorously in his endeavors to escape. In reply to my objections, 'tShort just grinned and remarked something about taking a payment out in chickens. What would you do? I asked, coming back to the subject of Jack. Me? he queried, oh, I guess I wouldn't woeey. Getting no satisfaction, I went out slamming the door behind me. As the door closed, he called out, I heard that if Jim Burnham's heart hadn't been in his mouth at the time he'd have been killed. I did'nt relish his stupid jokes, and kept on. 'When I reached home I waited, but nothing new turned up. The posse came back empty- handed, a fact which relieved me somewhat. They had tracked the bandits into the moun- tains, but had not succeeded in getting them. The outlaws were heading for a mountain valley infested with thieves and rustlers. If they reached this place, it would take an army get them out. A new posse was formed, I was in it duly deputized. We struck track and followed through boulder 183 strewn canyons that looked like giant's battling grounds, over trails so rough that we had to lead our horses. Some times we followed no trail, but pushed straight ahead to cut the outaws oH', while' the other posses were sur- rounding them from different sides. On the second day out, we reined in our horses on a high divide surrounded on all sides by steep mountains. Some were gleaming white and cold above the snow line, while the lower slopes were cloaked in dark blue and purple. Below us was a valley, or rather a hole in the rocks, deeply wooded and dark. It looked dangerous, it was so very quiet, dark, and secretive. No tell-tale smoke arose, no ring of ax or gunshot told of human presence. Yet we knew that in that little valley were five men who had broken the laws of the land and, had attempted to take the life of a fellow creature. Justice demanded these men, and we were sent to get them that they might pay for their misdeeds. I will not try to describe my feel- ings as I stood there, knowing that in that valley I was hunting a man who had been my friend, yet was as guilty as any of his compan- ions. I had been sworn in as a deputy sheriff, and was not going to aid in the escape of a felon. It sounded hard to me, but I was firm in my resolutions. Having surveyed the country, we began to descend over a rough trail. We led our horses over boulders, under impending rocks, and along slippery ledges where one misstep would hurl us into a chasm hundreds of feet below. Our horses' feet were sore, so we led them slowly. We went warily, each man on the alert, one hand clutching the reins, the other his carbine. We were deal- ing with men who were desperate and who valued life very lightly. We finally reached the floor of the valley and made camp for the night, after hobbling our horses and posting a guard. The great white moon rose over the snow capped peaks, tipping each mountain and trimming each tree with silver. Far away the shrill Hyap yappingu of the Coyotes was borne to us on the night air. The shrill cries of the night birds, the whispering of the pines, and the distant wailing of the coyotes was all that I could hear, yet there was some subtle movement abroad for the horses were stamping their feet restlessly. I crept up and down my beat noiselessly, peer-

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j A DAY IN THE MOUNTAINS. l One spring morning, just as day began to break over the distant mountains, I started from home intending to wander into the forest, wherever my footsteps led me. Suddenly the woods seemed to ring with the wild, free, joyous notes of thousands of birds, awakened by the first morning light. I startled- a blue-jay and he fiew screaming into the distance. A tiny linnet, perched on aslender bough which swayed up and down, fluffed his red breast, threw back his little head, and set forth a burst of thrilling, warbling notes. He seemed to bubble over with happiness. After his song was finished, he put his saucy little head on one side, fastened his bright beady eyes upon me, and said, Parrot, parrot. His mate came fiying along just then, and they chattercd together awhile, then fiew away. I tho't maybe she had founda place for the new nest, and was going to show it to him. I was walking through a rather open forest of pines and oaks. The sun was just coming, up when, climbing over a little hill, I came upon seven half grown squirrels. They were play- ing on an old limb, which was lying on the ground close beside a large yellow pine. One of them sat up with his tail over his head, and seemed to be lecturing the others: Chic ting! Chic tung, but they paid no attention. Cautiously I moved to get nearer, but immedi- ately they went scurrying down the hillside, making the queerest noises. One of them ran could hear him falling. I was straight up a big pine. I climbing, and see the bark sorryl had frightened themgl should have liked to watch them longer. My attention was presently drawn toahawk above the tree flying swiftly over head, just tops. He sent down his death cry, f'Perodee, and in an instant the birds werb silent and hidden. I could see him turn his ugly head from side to side, his fierce eyes trying to pierce the thick foliage. I screamed at him, jumping up and down, for he was so high up I could not throw at him. My voice rang out with such startling clearness in that still wood, that I think it scared himg for he fiappcd his wings and fiew straight away over the blue hills, until he was a ma-re speck in the sky. I Walked on, crushing blooming fiowers and tender green grass at every step. Spring was in the air and found its way into my blood. Everything was very fresh, very sweet, very beautiful. Suddenly a long-eared jack rabbit came leaping past. I did not think much of it until a dog came yipping after him. It was funny to see the dog go faster when he tho't the scent was fresher. He was several minutes behind the rabbit, so I him. Wondering about the walked on enjoying the every side. There was serenity. All at once hissing sound from some weeds on my right sent cold shivers up and down my spine. I stood still in horror and stared, my muscles refused to act. I could see the shiny coils, the uplifted square head, the glittering eyes, the cruel blunt nose, with its forked tongue running in and out at me, and the quivering rattles, buzzing their challenge to battle. Iknew it was the deadly poisonous rattlesnake. It seemed so out of place in that beautiful forest, that my first thought was to kill it. I picked up a large dead limb and struck. I in- jured it and the rattles fairly sung as it crawled into the grass. I followed carefully witha rock. Soon I saw my chance and threw, crushing its ugly head. There it lay squirming and twisting at my feet. The sight made me sick and I walked quickly away. I could hear the buzzing for a long time afterwards, andI imagined I was going to meet one at every step. It was now near noong so I started for a green spot near a little brook. I ate my lunch and then lay down to rest. The birds had ceased their singing, but the brook still gurgled and splashed. I gazed up into the blue sky and saw a white cloud drifting aim- lessly about. Far otl' in the hills,I heard the soft coo of a dove. The warm sun fil- tered down through the trees and it was so quiet and peaceful, I drifted ofi' to sleep. I woke with a start and sat up. The sun was going down and it was getting chilly. hope he never caught fate of the rabbit, I thousand beauties on nothing to mar the I stopped short. A gin,