Medina High School - Mirror Yearbook (Medina, NY)

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TIIEJIIRROR 15 night before because I thought he had enough worry of taking care of me. He says that the forest is no place for a woman, but as I wanted to go, and usually had my own Way, I went. At noon we stopped and had lunch and rested a while. When we started again I had a queer feeling. It seemed as' though I were being watched. I had never had that feeling before, and it Was exciting. It lasted a long time and suddenly I turned my at- tention to Jimmy. He seemed to be watching the sides of the trail, not for pleasure, but because he thought some danger lurked there D-do-don't you feel rather queer? ,l. asked timidly for I began to be frightened. Yes, I do, and I. think it is because we are being watched. I've felt it all the afternoon. Why do you ask? I f-f-feel the s-s-s-same w-W-W-way, I quavered. 'tllh W-what is it I? 'W-W-why do11 't you do some-th-th-thing? Well, what the dickens can I do? If you're so darned scared, maybe we'd better turn around and go back. I think probably it is a eougar following us and waiting for a chance at us. VVe'll put up the tent to-night and keep a good fire. Still, it can't be a cat or Sue'd be acting up. Nevertheless, we 'll have a big fire to-night. lVhen he told me that if I were scared we'd better go back he made me ripping mad. lniniediately I bucked up and opened my mouth to send back a retort, but he kept right on talk- ing and when he finished I hadn't any excuse for being angry. I cooled down and tramped along behind Sue without a word, but the feeling followed us. About five o'clock we came upon a delightful place to camp, so We stopped then and there and pitched camp. The sun was still up when we finished the work, so I went exploring. Jimmy told me not to go far, therefore, I. went as far as I dared. Push- ing through some bushes I found myself at the mouth of a cave. It was ai delightful cave and I entered without a single fear. During all of my tramp to the cave, I had had the same old feel- ing of being watched, but as I entered it suddenly ceased. I thought I had thrown the watcher off the track and enjoyed my- self searching all the corners. I found no historical records or anything of that sort, but I did like that nice, roomy cave, until- I turned suddenly at a low growl and saw a cat, very much magnified, in the opening of the cave. Scared? Oh, no, not a

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14 THE MIRROR THE KING OF THE MOUNTAIN MERYL SKINNER :D O YOU believe in powerful eyes? By powerful eyes I mean eyes that compel you to do something whether you want to or not. I never believed in them until I went up into the Cana- dian forests a while ago. It was inthat glorious month of July, and Jimmy and I were on our first trip to the mountains. O11 the fifteenth of that month we climbed a forest covered mountain with Sue, the little don- key that carried our camping outfit, between us. Upon entering a little clearing at sunset, we found a wee cabin. As it looked habitable, we had decided to camp in that hut that night when suddenly up to the door marched one big giant of a man. Ah, but he was big! Why should all the lovely big men shut themselves up or run away from civilization? I-Ie was a handsome man and would have made a lovely hero on the screen. This big man was Big Bill Ferber, a hunter of that region. He kindly took us in that night. From the time he first discovered us in his home until supper was over and we sat around the fire, I found noth- ing wrong about the big man. Then, as I was inspecting him some more, I met his eyes for the first time-and right then I saw something unusual. I know perfectly well that man could read my most secret thoughts. His eyes simply bored straight through mine and into my mind. Of course I didn't like that a bit, so I tried to drop my eyes-and found I couldn't. My will seemed to go from me, I was like a beast in a trap. Those eyes commanded me to look at him and I had to obey. I have a decided will of my own and I usually had my own way, but not this time. Suddenly Big Bill smiled, and I dropped my eyes and blushed as red as-well, I can 't describe it. Very soon after that, I went to bed because I couldn't trust myself to meet those eyes again. The next morning when I rose Big Bill was gone and Jimmy was getting breakfast. I-Ie must have gone mighty early this morning, for I haven't seen him since I turned in last night, said Jimmy as I came out of the cabin. I felt easier, for I had dreaded meeting that dreadful man again. After breakfast we packed the things on Sue and started on up the trail. It was beautiful in the woods and as I tramped along I looked and looked on as. many sides as possible at once. I didn't tell Jimmy of my experience of the

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16 THE MIRROR bit! I gave one big shriek for Jimmy and cowered in the corner to Wait for him. Slowly the big cat crept towards me. Sud- denly I heard another growl, and like a flash the cat turned and faced the new comer, who was none other than Big Bill. His eyes were blazing, but in despair I saw he hadn't a weapon on his person. He couldn't light that cat barehanded and come out alive. The man and the cat glared at each other and the man used all the power of his eyes on that animal. Not a muscle moved in either as they stood there. It seemed as though I'd scream at their stillness. Oh, why didn't they do something? Then slowly the great cat began to shrink away from the man. Slowly, slowly, bit by bit, it moved away. Slowly, slowly, bit by bit, the man followed. In that great battle of man and beast the man was the stronger. Slowly, slowly, they moved until the man was on my side of the cave and the cat next the opening. In the slow moving the great beast reached the open- ing and suddenly it turned tail and fled. The man turned to me and said, Woman, you need someone to look after you. Come with me. I've followed you all day watching to see that you and that kid brother of yours weren't lost or killed. Now I'll take you to your brother and act as your guide the rest of your trip. Come. For the first time in my life that anyone had ever given me orders, I didn't answer back, I simply crawled out of my corner and obeyed him. His eyes told me to, and I had no will of my own to resist him. When we arrived in camp and told my brother fwho hadn't even heard my screamb what had happened, he scolded me up and down and said repeatedly that Uthe woods were no place for a woman. Big Bill Ferber agreed with him. However, at the end of the trip when we entered the town from which we started, there was a trip to the minister's and now I'm still living in the woods with Big Bill.', His eyes told me to, and I had no thought but to obey.