Pembroke High School - Mattakeesett Yearbook (Pembroke, MA)

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20 THE WAMPUM expanse of blue-green waters. A man came from behind a sand bank, and pushing a dory from the shore rowed to a motor boat. In a few minutes he was at the engine, and the big boat be- gan to plow her way out. Evidently he was a lobster dealer, for a great pile of lobster pots, all baited, with their anchors and ropes attached, were on the front of the boat. At last he reached a place which was quite free from bobbing lobster buoys. He reached forward, and taking hold of a rope, was about to push one of the pots off, when an extra large swell came and threw the man forward. Instant- ly the pots began to slide off, pulling the man with them. Ropes tangled about his legs, and the rocks pushed him down. He grabbed for the side of the boat and-missed it. Again he reached, and this time his fingers closed about the edge. Struggling and breathless, he pulled himself onto the boat. He looked about him. Cn three sides lay an ugly expanse of green Waters, on the other a faint strip of yellow beach, and not a soul in sight. Again he looked into the gray waters, and under his breath he murmured, Suppose-- M. M. n '18, THE LOST WORLD The Lost World by Conan Doyle is one of the most interesting books written in recent years. The story is as follows: Malone, a London reporter, proposes to the lady he loves, but he is refused. She tells him that he must do something dangerous, and wonderful before she will marry him. Malone gets an assignment from the head reporter the next day 5 he is to in- terview Prof. Challenger, a man who has a marked ability for kicking re- porters into the street. Malone goes into the gutter in the same manner as many others have gone, but upon his telling the interfering officer that it is his own fault, Challenger invites- him back. In this second visit Chal- lenger shows hinf proof of an unknown world in South America. At a lecture a few days later, Chal- lenger tells the people that there is a great plateau in South America on which there are many prehistoric ani- mals. He receives much jeering, but his suggestion of a party 'to investigate the matter somewhat quells the noise. Three men volunteer to go, Malone, J-ohn Roxton, a Sportsman, and Prof. S-ummerlee. Several days afterward the three set out, with sealed orders which they have faithfully promised not to openim- til the noon after their arrival in Slouth America. When they open the envel- ope, they find nothing but a blank piece of paper 3 Prof. Summerlee, who believes this a proof that they have come on a wild goose chase, calls Challenger a few names, and says he well return as soon as possible. He has hardly finished talking when Prof. Challenger walks ing he has come to take charge himself. They soon get together a band of negroes and some provisions, and the next day they start into the wilderness. Very little happens on the way from civilization, and about two weeks later they find themselves before a large plateau. This plateau is about six hun- dred feet high, and it is with great difficulty that they get to the top. They find a dense forest there, into which they no sooner disappear than they hear a loud crash. Upon returning they find that the only means of de- scent which they know of has been des- troyed by an enemy of Roxton. They build a small camp, where they store 1

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THE WAMPUM 19 was making up for the sleep he had lost when he presented his astonishing inventions to the world. The food having been digested, the toasts were opened by Billy Sunday, who had been the unanimous choice for toastmaster, -since he had the big- gest gift of gab, as Enrico Caruso said, of all the shades. The first speaker introduced was Bryan. He had chosen as his topic, Peace at any Pricej' a subject which it pleased him greatly to speak upon. He said in part: We must always maintain peace among us here, for peace is the brotherhood of man. We must settle all disputes by arbitration, not by the sword 3 for a victory without blood is far greater-. Here his speech abruptly ended as Charlie Chaplin, ever getting himself in Wrong, applied a moist spit-ball, which had been dipped in salad dressing, to the peace advo- cateis nose. This resulted in a physi- cal encounter, which ended only when the two were seized and carried off to serve two days with only doughnut holes to eat. Apart from the rest in a nearby cor- ner sat Kaiser Wilhelm. The German Emperor, who had been a very naughty boy in the upper kingdom, had been punished there by a seat apart from the rest. Sunday, always a gentleman, politely asked that he hear from the Frankfort King, but Bill Kaiser had not a word to say. When the toasts were finished, all re- tired to the recreation rooms, where some indulged in games, others in top- ics of general interest. It was at this time that a heated discussion arose in the lounging room. Rockefeller as- serted that Newton Newkirk should have been arrested when he lived in the upper world. Newkirk, he claimed, was Harry Thaw,s chauffeur when that flighty individual escaped from Matte- wan. Sherman Whipple, in order to adjust the disagreement, offered to hold a trial at which each should -have a fair chance to produce evidence and necessary witnesses. With a water pit- cher serving as a gavel, Whipple called together the court. He said, We are h-olding court here this evening to de- cide whether or not Newkirk should have been arrested for his part in Thaw's escape. Mr. Rockefeller, what is your charge against the prisoner P John D. cleared his throat and in a hoarse voice responded, 5'For reckless driving, your honor. How so P inquired Whipple grave- ly. About this time Mr. Rocketellerds patience was well nigh exhausted. He replied, I repeat, your honor, for reckless driving. I have proof here that the prisoner drove through the town of Mattewan at high speed with a loose nut. What more is needed, your hon- or, to prove him guilty? This last statement sent the entire shade population into convulsions of laughter at 'Thaw,s expense. At the end, Whipple judiciously pronounced the prisoner released, as it was a clear case of one and one making two. At nine-thirty all retired to bed, where the shades wearily laid their heads on their pillows and fell asleep. Nothing could be heard in the stillness but the deep-mouthed bay of a heavy sleeper, and the incessant beating of the water against the coral reef. And as the sun gently rose in the eastern sky, a wearied b0y awakened in Bry- antville, Mass. A, H, D, 18- SUPPOSE. It was a lovely morning, about four o'clock. The sun, which had just risen, was throwing glistening beams over an

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THE WAMPUM 21 their provisions and make themselves quite comfortable for the night. The next day in their explorations, they find a large swamp in which there are hundreds of huge flying reptiles. The professors get into an argument, and make so much noise that they alarm the beasts and are attacked. Two of the men are bitten so severely that they are very ill with a fever for several days. About two o'clock one morning Ma- lone is seized with the idea of going out alone and seeing the great lake, which they all know is in the middle of the plateau. He finds a gun and starts out, but is very sorry for his action long before he reaches the la.ke. In his haste -he has taken a shotgun, and he finds the woods silent and ugly. He reaches the lake, however, and sees many strange animals, he even thinks he sees lights in the distance. On returning to camp, he is chased by a monstrous beast. He hurls his worth- less gun away and runs faster than a man ever ran before or since. In his great haste he stumbles into a pitfall, where he remains stunned for several hours. Finally he climbs from the pit with little trouble and staggers toward camp. His ho1'ror is increased to the limit by the sight which lies before him. The camp is torn to pieces 5 their provisions are strewn over the ground, and near the gate is a small pool of blood. He spends the rest of the day in a fruitless search for his compan- ions. The next morning, after he has restored the camp as much as possible, he feels a touch upon his shoulder. He turns quickly to look into the pale, drawn face of Lord John Roxton. Roxton soon told the story without any questioning from Malone. They had been awakened about daylight by an attack on the camp from over a hundred ape-men. Only one shot had been fired, they had soon been over- powered by the strong beasts and drag- ged to their colony. There were other prisoners there, small men, a type of Indians. That morning they witnessed the execution of about half the Indians. They were hurled from the top of the plateau onto a great field of bamboo six hundred feet below, with the idea of seeing whether they would be spear- ed by the sharp sticks or would fall between them and be dashed to pieces on the hard ground. Malone and Roxton get four guns and hasten to the rescue of their friends. They arrive just in time, the ape-men are preparing to hurl them from the plateau. A few shots, how- ever, scatter the ape-men, and their companions join in helping them save the f-our remaining Indians, one of them a young chief. The Indians lead the four explorers toward their village. They are met by a strong force that has started out in search of the young chief. After a little sign-talking they all decide to make an attack upon the ape-men accompanied by the four ex- plorers with their high power rifies. The next day at dawn they started out to fight the great battle. The In- dians had bows and arrows and long poles with sharp pieces of bone at- tached. They spread out in a long line about six deep with Summerlee and Malone on the right Hank and Roxton and Challenger on the left. The first skirmish was with about fifty of the ape-men, who made an assault on the middle of the line. They were armed with great clubs which they wielded with fearful effect, often kill- ing four or live before they could be speared. The attack was easily re- pulsed without any help from the gun- ners. They soon got under the trees,