Mansfield High School - Manhigan Yearbook (Mansfield, OH)

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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

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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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Arriving at the little round window Bertram peered in. Oh! the horror of that scene! There sat Mr. Dunly, his kind friend whom he had known and loved since he was a little tot of four, there he sat before a table littered with papers, and deeply engrossed in them. The door stood wide open. From where Bertram was, he could see down the hall a little distance, and there, swiftly gliding along, came the furious reptile. “For God ' s sake, Mr. Dunly, close the door! Close the door!” he shrieked. Mr. Dunly turned around slowly to see where the voice came from, but did not make a move to close the door, not apprehending the reason or meaning of Bertram’s warning cry. “Oh—Mr. Dunly—quick close the door! Don ' t you understand? It ' s the boa-constrictor just close the door! Oh —too late— too late , he sobbed, holding his breath, for the infuriated snake had entered the cabin. Mr. Dunly gave one startled cry, looked around for some way of escape, but there was none. The snake entirely blocked the door. The window was much too small to escape by means of it, and not knowing what to do, Mr. Dunly made an attempt to crawl under the table. Just then the snake coiled up, made one leap and was upon the helpless Lieutenant and wrapped itself around him. All that Bertram remembered after that was: he heard one awful agon¬ ized cry from Mr. Dunly, who tried to say a farewell word to Bertram but could not, for he was being crushed to pieces by the hideous monster, and with one look of mute appeal, he gave up the attempt. Then there was an exultant hiss from the boa an awful crash of bones, as they were being crushed by the reptile a gasp then all was darkness. When Bertram awoke he found himself in bed on his father’s steamer, with his father kneeling beside him, his face buried in his hands. My boy, are you feeling better? his father asked looking up. Bertram had recovered considerably from the shock, and his father, taking him by the hand, led him on deck. There a few yards off was the derelict, half sunken, and in a little boat beside the wreck was the crew. “What are they waiting for, father. “Wait and see , his father replied. A few moments later Mr. Hatfield gave a sign, the little boat rowed quickly away from the wrecked ship— there was an awful explosion —the ship was in flames, and on the upper deck, lashing furiously against the sides was the boa-constrictor rearing itself high into the air. Shortly afterward the burning remains sank. The Derelict, the boa-constrictor and Mr. Dunly were no more. page fifteen