Ferndale Union High School - Tomahawk Yearbook (Ferndale, CA)

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her grandfather, who was the lighthouse keeper. When she reached the door old Captain Hendrix met her. I . Why, Elaine, where have you been? I thought you were lost.', Oh, no. I am all right. But Grandfather, why haven't you lighted the lamp P she asked. HI was just going up when I heard you coming,', he answered. Well,-you go now and I will soon have supper ready. Elaine took off her cloak and hood and then started to prepare supper. The wind grew fiercer and the shrill whistle of a ship could be heard now and then whenever there was a lull in the storm. just as she was putting the meal on the table her grandfather ran down the stairs crying, Shipwreck on the Reef! Wrecked l cried Elaine, dropping the dish of potatoes she was about to put on the table. Yes. I am going to the station. You stay here and take care of the light,'l said the captain as he reached for his hat and coat. i All right l Elaine called after him as he shut the door. VVho will go? Who will take Craig's place? Some one volunteer, Cap- tain Sinclair was crying as the old lighthouse keeper came up. I will go.'l said he. No, you shall not: you are too old,,' exclaimed Sinclair. I must and willfl was the answer. No, think of E.laine,', said Sinclair as he lightly pushed the old man aside. Let me. I am young and strong, called a young man who came running up. All right. All aboard! cried Sinclair. A dozen men fought through the throng of women and children to his side and within five minutes the lifeboat was afloat. It was tossed like a cork among the great waves and soon, only a second it seemed to the watchers on shore, and she was broken to pieces on the rocks and her crew thrown into the mighty waters. Helpless, with smashed boats, with her masts overboard and her rudder in splinters, lay the ship. The wind was relentlessly bearing her toward the great blade of rock. Half an hour, perhaps twenty minutes, perhaps fifteen, would suffice to see the end. The only thing left for the watchers to do now was to shoot a line to the doomed vessel. Again and again they tried, but all in vain, each time the rope fell short of its mark. She lasted just twenty minutes and then all was over: she had parted in the middle. - All night the rescuers tried to save the drowning passengers, crew of the ship and lifesaving crew. As streaks of light began to appear in the east the wind slowly died and by seven o'clock not a trace of fog was left. The sun shone down on the peaceful sea. There was hardly a ripple, when the night before the waves had been mountain high. All along the shore were strewn pieces of wreckage and many searching parties were out looking for the dead and injured. Captain Hendrix was among them and had not been home all night. About eight o'clock some one asked him why the light was still burning. The old man turned and looked at the tower. lVlly God, he exclaimed at last, what has is u ' 28

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Ghz lbnlunteer Maren Skow, 317. YOUNG man lounged upon the wind swept turf of the cliff overlooking Lone Reef. His brows knitted as his glance wan- dered up and down the shore. Far out over the ocean he could see the fog slowly drifting landward and his frown hardened as he looked. A moment later his frown became a welcoming smile. as turning, he saw, climbing down the slope, a girl. She waved her hand and ran the last few steps before she flung herself panting at his side. Her cheeks glowed, little curls, unsettled by her running and by the wind, nodded over her brow. He leaned down and kissed her. VVhen she could get her breath she cried, Oh, jack, I am so glad you were appointed captain of the crewf' So as I, my darlingf, he answered. I wonder how long it will be before we have another wreck and you will be forced to go out ? she asked. I donlt know, but if there's a ship anywhere near here and it gets lost in this fog, I shall have to go out tonight, he answered. There's one whistling now, she said. Hut if you should be called out you will have to get an extra man, for Craig is sick. Srick! VVhy, no one has reported to me. Who told you? His wife told me this morning, answered Elaine. Well, if that's the case I must leave you. There's not another man I can get to Hll his place. Hut something must be done. Are you going now P she asked as he got up. Yes, You had better come, too. The fog is drifting in fast and the wind is increasing every minute. No. I am going to stay here for a while and watch the fog. VVell, then, I will have to say good-by, sweetheart, he replied as, bending, he kissed her. I V The next moment he was Hying down the slope at top speed. Elaine watched him until he was out of sight and then turned her gaze oceanward. The fog had settled in a thick blanket over the sea and the little village be-'ow her. The sun was fast sinking into the fog and its rich red glow on the snowy whiteness fascinated her. She sat there for an hour or so, then rose to her feet and walked down the slope until she too was enveloped in the fog. VVhen she reached the village a fierce gale was blowing, the breakers were dashing against the cliffs and spouting foam and spray high in the air. Elaine was buffeted by the fierce gusts of wind, her hair flew about her face and into her eyes so that at times she was nearly blinded and her dress wrapped about her, almost tripping her. She bought a few things and then went on down the little street past the life saving station, where she stopped to ask Jack Sinclair if he had found his extra man. To her question he answered No, She climbed the little cliff on the other side and then picked her way slowly along the top to the point, where stood the lighthouse and the small cottage of 27

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happened to Elaine? I left her there. Come with me, my boy,'l he said to the young man who had called his attention to the light. I cannot go alone. The young man took the captain as swiftly as possible to the tower, but no Elaine could be found. Leaving him in his chair heartbroken, the youth ran back to the village. Another party was gotten up to look for the missing girl. All the forenoon they searched, but nowhere could she be found. About noon a large plank was seen Hoating toward shore and on it was something that looked like two people. A boat was sent out and when it re- turned, imagine the surprise in the eyes of the crowd when they saw Elaine Hendrix and Jack Sinclair step out. The crowd gathered around them and one cheer after another arose. VVhat does this mean P was their cry. With an arm around Elaine, Jack began, Well, good people, you all re- member that when I called for a volunteer yesterday a young man came down the beach and took the place. The boat was launched and soon after was bro- ken to pieces against the rocks. I was thrown out and hit my head on a rock. That was the last I knew until about four o'clock this morning, when I found myself on a plank far out at sea. My head w'as in someone's lap. When I looked up I saw Elaine's smiling face and then she told me all about it. She was the young man who volunteered. She saw me hit my head, she swam to me and then fought in the surf for her life and mine, until the boat we11t to pieces. Then she managed to get me onto a piece of wreckage. All night we drifted and about seven this morning we started to drift back to shore and here we are. Yes, that is the end of the romance, said Elaine blushing. 'iNo, not the endf' said jack, for my guardian angel has promised to be mine forever. Q 011 Gbemistrp S. M. N., yI5. The hours I spend with this dread stuff Are making an old man of me. I work on it from dawn till dusk- My Chemistry, My Chemistry. , Each line a taskg each task a pain, I work until the light grows dim. I plod along until I meet-my fate- An Ex., so grim. I-Iow each equation does me Vex, How quiz and problem do perplex. But still I work as hard as I can, To pass the Ex., by gump, to pass the Ex. 29