Castle School - Drawbridge Yearbook (Tarrytown, NY)

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THE DRAWBRIDGE Nineteen-Twenty assaults of the prisoners. At last, urged by the captain, who seemed to be absolutely fearless and to be everywhere at once, the guards made a quick charge, the resistance of the prisoners was broken, and they surrendered. A ' The reinforcements from the barracks arrived about fifteen minutes after the fighting had ceased. They were led by the general in person, who com- manded that the gates be opened, and entered at the head of his troops. T am very glad that we succeeded in forcing the prisoners to surrender without the aid of the troops from the barracks, said the captain to Porter, for now they will change the garrison here and we will all have more favorable places of duty assigned to us as a reward for our braveryf' As dawn was breaking they had breakfast in the same room in which they had had dinner the night before. In the uncompromising light of day they all looked quite different than they had several hours earlier. But despite their disheveled appearances, and their tired attitudes, they were all ready to make iokes about the night's experience. They were pro- fuse in their admiration for Porter's part in the Hght, and almost embarrassed him by their expres- sions of praise. As for Porter, he was in excellent humor, although extremely weary, already the experience of the night was losing some of its seriousness and assuming the attributes of a good adventure. A little later Porter's friends arrived. News of the fight had reached them at breakfast and they had hastened to the prison. They were hysterically glad to hnd him unhurt, and he had to take upon himself the role of hero before his admiring friends as the captain graphically described his courageous con- duct. Q After bidding farewell to his host, Porter found himself once more in the midst of his friends, out- side the prison in the bright sunlight of the early morning. After they had gone a little distance he looked back at the Watchtower ofthe prison. lt seems as if I must have dreamed all of last night, he murmured. A glance at his clothes, how- ever, convinced him of the reality of his experiences. His appearance bore all the earmarks of battle. His reflections on the events of the night were interrupted by the voice of one of his friends at his elbow. As soon as we get back to the hotel you must hurry and change your clothes, for we're going to see an old church outside the city today. It won't be tir- ing, because we'll ride there and back, but it's some- thing you shouldn't miss, and today is the only time we have in which to see it. Again the unending round of sight-seeing! Hurry up so we can see everything! admonish- ed his friends as they arrived at the hotel, we'll wait for youf' Well, for a time Porter was willing to let others plan his days for him. The night of action was ample recompense for many weary days of following the guides and looking at interesting ruins. For a time at least, he would resign himself to the conventional: he had had enough of radical change and excitement for that day, at least. All right, l'll be ready in ten minutesf' he re- plied as he ascended the stairsf, Contributed by Doroihy Quigley, ISU

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THE DRAVVIBRAIDGE Nineteen-Twenty yard, this is fortunate, as these gates are usually open, but now we can hold this part of the prison until reinforcements arrive from the barracks. Why can't they escape from the rear of the prison?'l asked Porter. There is only the one entrance, the front one. It is regretable that this should occur when you are here, but if you remain in this room, you will be quite safe. Do not go near the windows. And now, if you will excuse me, I must see what my men are do- ing in defence. He turned to go, but Porter caught him by the arm. Hold on, I'm not going to sit here quietly if there's anything I can do. You haven't any too many troops here, have you? No, but you must not expose yourself to any danger. Fm going to be one of your soldiers for tonight, then. Give me a weapon and I'm ready to follow instructions. The captain objected, but in the end, Porter had his Way. The troops were gathered in the courtyard, quiet- ly waiting. ,The first move from the prisoners would be to batter down the wooden gates, then as they en- tered the courtyard the action would begin. There was nothing to do but wait until the prisoners had forced the gates, but they seemed in no hurry to do this, the suspense became more and more of a strain. Porter and the captain stood in the darkness waiting, now and then talking in whispers. The captain seemed quite calm. This is the fifth time I have had a similar ex- perience. The longer we wait, the worse it is when the fighting really comes, he said with no apparent misgivings. The night was very dark, there was no moon. The men looked like shadows in the faint starlight. To Porter it seemed as if they waited hours in the darkness. I-Ie began to think the prisoners were not so desperate as he had thought. Suddenly, without warning there was a crash, fol- lowed by others in quick succession. Thegate fell inward under the impact with a great splintering, and all at once the place was full of cries and the sound of men struggling desperately in the dark. There was no chance to use firearms at such close quarters, but the flash of knives could be seen in the dim light. Before he knew it, Porter was in the fight. For a time he was beside the captain, but they soon be- came separated, and it was with something akin to surprise that Porter discovered that the Hght was no mere skirmish, but a struggle in deadly earnest against ruthless, desperate men. He realized that he wasfighting for his safety, probably his life, and went into the melee with abandon. For the next few hours or so he fought as he had never believed it possible for men to fight. The struggle became almost unreal to him and he seemed to be watching himself from a distance. Once, while in the grasp of some powerful antagonist, it seemed to him that he was lost. His pistol had been knocked from his .hand, and he had no other weapon. I-Ie tripped over the body of someone fallen in the fight, and his op- ponent fell upon him. Porter could not rise, half stunned by the fall, he saw the flash of a knife in the dim light. Then, instead of the expected blow, the man fell, or rather collapsed, on him, and he made out the figure of the captain standing above him. I saw that just in time to knock him unconscious, or perhaps kill him, he remarked casually as he assisted Porter to arise. f'It is fortunate that I did so, for I do not know what explanations I could have made to your friends in the morning. None would have been necessary, laughed lim-- ter shakily, HI think the facts would have spoken for themselves. The fight went on, back and forth across the courtyard, but the guards held the gate against all

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A I Two swans were swimming in a pool, Swimming with all their might. They did their very best to make A picture of delight. And this was kind, because the cold Was sharp enough to bite. II Two swans were swimming wearily, And yet they must not cease, For if they snatched a momentls rest Their aching feet would freeze. f'I'btgatchig gold! said one, and gave A melancholy sneeze. III The air was cold as cold could be, The pond was dry as dry. The swans were frozen in the mud. CExcuse me while I sighj They Happed their wings-and sobbed They were too cold to fly! V IV Miss Farwell and iMiss Mason dear Were walking hand in hand. Miss Farwell wept like anything To see them frozen stand. If they were only in their house,', She said, it would be grandiw V Are they too proud, or else too dense To use my shelter here? Do you suppose, Miss Mason said, That I could make it clear? I doubt it much! Nliss Farwell said, And shed a bitter tear! The Swan Song Repinfed from 1910 VI Oh, birdlings, come and walk with us! Miss Mason did beseech, A pleasant walik, a pleasant talk, Whilst I hygienics teach. A little exercise would be Of benefit to each. VII The eldest Swanlet looked at her, But ne'er a word he said, The eldest Swanlet winked his eye, And shook his heavy head, Meaning to say that they were fast Within their icy bed. , VIII 'Miss Farwell and qMiss Mason then VValked on a pace or so, And then they rested on a rock Conveniently low. And both the frozen creatures stood And waited in a row. I IX The time has come, Miss Mason said, To take this thing in hand. This climate should agree with them- I do not understand- Their native habitat, I think, Is frigid Switzerland. aloud- X Be quickl Be quickly' the sufferers cried Turning a little blue. f'l fear that we shall die of cold- A dismal thing to do. They drooped upon each other's necks, A sorry sight to view.