Mansfield High School - Manhigan Yearbook (Mansfield, OH)

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“The Derelict” Marguerite Kienle, ' 14 B ERTRAM HADFIELD had pleaded long, and begged earnestly, and at last much against her will, his mother had given her consent to Bertram ' s accompanying his father on his trip to Southern Africa- Mr. Hadfield was captain of the steamer “King George which was soon to start on her trip from London to Cape of Good Hope, and Bertram— the seventeen-year-old son was eagerly longing to go with his father, as this was the first journey of such distance that he would be permitted to make. His mother was very much opposed to this, for Bertram was her only boy, and she felt considerable uneasiness as to his going along on this trip. But his father assuring her again and again that the best of care would be taken of him, and this promise made doubly sure by the First-Lieutenant, Mr. Dunly, a true friend of the Hadfields, she at last consented. Bertram was overjoyed and his school-mate, Paul, was to go with him. The week pre- ceeding the sailing of the steamer, the boys spent in planning the enjoyment that was going to come; and when the day came for the departure, no happier boys could have been found in all London. The first few weeks fulfilled all the fondest expectations of the boys, the weather being clear and warm, the sea calm and the nights delightfully cool, with bright moonlight playing on the deep blue waves, changing the vast waste of waters to a hazy sparkling fairy-land. The sailors were very kind to the boys, telling them all about the stars, by which ships when lost at sea, were often guided back to safety. They told them about the tracks marked out all over the ocean, along which the great steamers make their journeys from land to land. They explained the ocean charts to them; told them storie s of their adventures, and the boys never had one tiresome moment. Then as they reached the southern waters they learned all about the curious fish and other inhabitants of the southern seas. One day after having been on the water for six weeks, it began getting a trifle monotonous, and the boys wishing for something out of the ordinary to happen, were startled by the cry, ‘Ship Ahoy! ' Instantly all glasses were lowered on a tiny speck far in the distance. On coming nearer, it was dis¬ covered that the ship had been wrecked, and not a living being was to be seen anywhere. The captain judged that it had been drifting around for weeks or months. A derelict on the waters, being tossed about by the waves which long since had robbed it of its once active crew, and now a wreck, forsaken and abandoned, a menace to every ship that happened to cross its path. A party was soon commanded to row to the vessel, secure the valuables and ascertain from whence it came. The captain himself who of course had to remain on his own vessel, appointed the First-Lieutenant, his friend Mr. page thirteen

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but the passengers were young, (though plenty old enough in their own estimation) and their parents had entrusted them to the train officials. Between the time of the selection of the speech makers and the deliver¬ ing of the results of their efforts, two very elaborate functions were enjoyed by the members of the party. The first was at the expense of the engineer, who all the time had been keeping a steady hand on the throttle. The other was given by the members of the party as it would be the last chance for them to enjoy a social good time. They seemed to have no trouble at all in enjoying themselves to the fullest extent. At last the day of the speech-making arrived. It wasn ' t a very joyful day for the majority of the passengers for it marked the last day they would all be together. During the journey all had made good friends with their fellow passengers and it is hard to give up friendships that may never be renewed. So it was with serious faces that the party assembled to hear the ad¬ dresses so carefully prepared. They were five essays, speaking the careful and thoughtful work expended upon them. A little music was given by a few of the passengers and it vvas such as anything fine is apt to be—An ex¬ quisite sample of unrevealed beauties that might follow. Finally the end came and the passengers descended reluctantly from the train. As they left they were handed a paper, signifying the satisfactory completion of the tedious journey. Good-byes were exchanged with the engineer, the conductor and the trainmen. It is small wonder that the last were given the most lingering handclasps, for, altho they had annoyed and harrassed the passengers more than anyone else, their very watchfulness had instilled reverence and respect into the hearts of the passengers. Every passenger, as he walked away, looked back at the train with a true feeling of affection in his heart, and as he went on and took up the thread of his life in a strange place and among strange people, the experiences of his journey were indelibly fixed in the mind. page twelve

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Dunly, to take charge of the crew. Both boys were naturally determined to go along, for what is more fascinating than to explore the ‘unknown’. But the father said, ‘No!’ He told them in the first place that it would be too dangerous, and in the second place, he had promised their mother to take good care of them. The boys begged so persistently though, that at last Mr. Dunly pleaded their cause, saying that he would take them entirely into his care and keeping, and that he would see that no harm befell them. Thus when the boat rowed out, the two boys were among the crew. With some difficulty the wrecked vessel was boarded, and it was found that it had been drifting about for weeks as the captain had guessed. Soon the members of the crew scattered about, each exploring different parts of the ship. Mr. Dunly went down to the captain’s cabin to look for the ship’s papers and other documents. The boys presently found themselves in the steerage room, and were eagerly inspecting the cargo. One of the boys discovered a very curious looking box. It was unusually large, being very long, but quite narrow, and their curiosity was instantly aroused. “The riches of the Indies, I’ll bet, ” exclaimed Paul tapping the box. “No, I’ll bet its full of diamonds from Africa, or pearls from Persia. Why we’ll be rich for life. Say, we made a lucky strike!” answered Bertram. They determined to open it immediately, and see what it contained. They lifted it. It was neither very heavy nor very light. They then wondered if they hadn’t better call some of the sailors to help them open it, but on reflecting, they concluded that they alone wanted to be the discoverers of the treasure, so they looked about for instruments with which to open the box. One by one the boards were removed, and still the contents of the odd box was a mystery. Only one board had to be removed yet. On top was a layer of straw, and before lifting this the boys made guesses as to what lay beneath. “Well let’s not guess any more, but see” said Paul; “one-two-three, g—” but the sentence was never finished, for with a a loud, angry hiss that froze their blood, the head of an enormous boa-constrictor reared itself high in the air. For an instant the boys seemed paralyzed with fear, then when the reptile, infuriated beyond measure by long imprisonment and hunger, freed itself from its confinement, they fairly raced out of the room, up the lower gangway, and to the upper deck, closing the hatchway behind them, but forgetting to shut the door of the cargo room, in which the snake was found. Weak from fear, they sank down on the deck, when a sickening fear, a horrible realization came to Bertram—the Lieutenant was exposed directly to the snake, the gangway from the cargo room leading directly to the cabin where Mr. Dunly sat unconscious of the awful danger threatening him. He must be warned and instantly too, as it would be too late to escape, for the only means of escape was through the gangway. The boys could not go back to the middle deck where the Lieutenant was, so he must be warned by some other means. An idea came to Bertram. If he could be lowered to the window of the cabin, he could then warn Mr. Dunly. Fortunately, in a cornel’ they found a rope and tying it securely around his waist, regardless of his own danger, Bertram was lowered by Paul, who was trembling with fear. page fourteen