Plainfield High School - Hermiad Yearbook (Central Village, CT)

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V THE HERMIAD 5 at the situation, I'm sure he did not show it. His countenance remained per- fectly calm and undisturbed. The men who had come aboard our ship were typically Chinese in appear- ance. They were very fierce-looking-that is, fierce enough to make me, a lad of fifteen years, feel rather uncomfortable. More menacing-looking, however were the guns which they pointed at us warningly. Hands up, youse, grufiiy commanded one of the Chinamen whom the others called Tashi. In almost perfect unison we all raised our arms. My heart was fairly racing within me. What would they do next? The leader, Tashi, with an ugly scowl on his face, sauntered up to Dad and, pointing his gun at him, demanded roughly, Show me de chesteeff Chest? repeated Dad. I don't know what you mean. You know velly vell what I mean, replied Tashi, getting angrier and angrier. Show me chestee or we shootee. Men, looke alle oola shipee good. All right, I'll tell you, asserted Dad. You'll find it in my cabin. Velly veil, responded Tashi, now pleased. You two go gettee. The restee stayee and watchee des men. I was by now even more puzzled. What chest did Tashi want? I repeat- edly asked myself 3 but no answer came. In a very short time the Chinamen reappeared with the mysterious chest. It was merely an ordinary wooden chest with a big, powerful-looking lock on the front of it. Never before had I laid eyes upon it. The chest was lowered into the rowboat, the men themselves got in and rowed with great force and speed across the waters to their large vessel. I was aroused from my wild thoughts by a loud command from Dad. Back to your posts, men. We must be on our way immediately. Each did as he had been hidden and soon we were swiftly gliding farther and farther away from the Chinese vessel. I watched it with interest as it sailed on and on until I could see it no longer, for night had by this time silently crept over the waters. I was aroused from my deep thoughts by a voice just behind me. Your dad wants to see you in his cabin, Bob. Okay, Sam, I saId and went to Dad's cabin immediately. Well, Son, I suppose you'd like a few explanations, wouldn't you? he questioned as I seated myself in a large comfortable chair just in front of his desk. You bet I would, I responded eagerly. Well, it's a rather long story, but I'll try to make it short. The boat which attacked us today belongs to Tysa Wong, the wealthiest woman in China. It was she whom you and I saw giving commands to her men. Tysa and her crew of men are very bold, daring seamen and in her luxurious vessel they roam the China Sea attacking, looting, and often burning other vessels. You see, I know about Tysa and her pirates, but never had I encountered them on my voyages. However, when you told me about the ship you'd seen I became suspicious. On seeing it myself, and also seeing one woman among

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4 THE HERMIAD ALL AT SEA K Helen Paolilli, 19355 HE day was slowly drawing to its close as our ship, the Storm, lay anchored in the peace-ful waters of the China Sea. Our journey was nearly ended and in a few days we would be on the land of the mysterious yellow people, the Chinese. Thoughts of visitlng this interesting country and seeing its queer inhabitants had occupied my mind all day long as I worked about the ship, doing numerous odd jobs here and there. Dad, who was both captain and owner of the Storm, dIsmissed me from my work earlier than usual with a cheery, That's all for today, Son. Thanks, Dad, I replied with a smile and then immediately I hurried on deck to watch the beautiful sun set over the waters which had always been so familiar and fascinating to me. On this particular summer afternoon the waters were especially calm and mysterious-looking. As I gazed in wonder across their blue expanse, I was attracted by a small, moving object a great distance ahead of our ship. I watched it with interest as it glided nearer and nearer and became larger and larger. It was a Chinese vesse', no doubt, but quite different from those which we had encountered while voyaging in the China Sea. At first I could not see in what respects it differed, but as it came closer and closer, I noticed that it was much larger and more magnificent in appearance. Never before had I seen such a ship. How grand and noble it looked against the beautiful back- ground of bright sunset. Many questions entered my mind and my curiosity became greatly aroused. I thought, Probably Dad knows something about the ship. I think I'1l go ask him. I went in search of him and, on finding him, I related what I had seen. Well, replied Dad in his usual drawl, Uwe may as well go on deck and get a look at it. In a short time Dad and I, with several sailors, were watching with intense interest the approach of the vessel. As far as we could see all the members of the crew were Chinese. Look, Dad, I gasped, Is that a woman I see among the men? I think it is, Son, replied Dad solemnly. 'KI think I know who she is. What! I exclaimed. You know who she is? Yes, but I haven't time to explain. See that big boat full of Chinamen nearing our boat? Well, every man is well armed and, if we do not do as they order they will start a fight. We are in no way prepared to stop them, so the only thing to do is to surrender peacefully. Men, stand by and do as you are told. Remember, there is to be no fighting. By this time the Chinese boat had reached ours and her men were coming aboard. Slowly, one by one, they approached us. The air seemed to be fairly bursting with excitement. I glanced at Dad. If he were the least bit alarmed

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6 THE HERMIAD the men, my suspicions were confirmed. I immediately surmised that the news of a chest of money had reached Tysa's ears. I knew also that it would only prove disastrous should we attempt to stop the men from coming aboard our ship. A chest full of money? I asked, very puzzled indeed. Yes, replied Dad. f'It contained money, counterfeit money. Counterfeit money? I asked. Where in the world did you get the money, Dad? Let me explain, Bob, replied Dad. The chest of counterfeit money belonged to a dear friend of mine back home. He asked me to deliver it to a cer- tain Chinaman who would be on hand to meet me when our ship reached China. I agreed to do so. He explained to me how the Chinese use the counterfeit money instead of real money to burn when a person dies. This money is supposed to keep the dead person well provided after death. I understand, Dad, I replied. My, but I'd hate to see Tysa Wong when she opens the chest and finds out that the money is only counterfeit. Quite right, Bob. That's why I wanted to get as far away from her ship as possible. You bet! I asserted with a grin. DOUBLE BACK FLIP O'MALLEY fHenry Morlock, 19351 NE day I went swimming down at Lake Adatash accompanied by my brother and his wife. They had never seen me swim before and were anxious to see if I was as good as I had been telling them. I demonstrated my ability by swimming 100 yards to the raft, using the Australian crawl. They soon joined me on the raft and asked me to dive for them. Now I was never very good at diving, but I was determined to make an impression on them one way or another. So I climbed up on the highest diving board which was fifty feet from the water. Looking down at my brother I shouted: Hey, Jack, what do you want me to do, a double back flip or a triple front Hip? Glancing up he replied: Let's see you do the double back flip. I turned around on the board and stretched my arms out trying to get into the right position. After springing the board for about five minutes, I looked down and to my surprise saw that the raft was covered with people who were stretching their necks to observe carefully the professional dive that I was about to make. Again I shouted to my brother: Hey, Jack, it's a little too windy for a double back flip: how will a jackknife dive be? I did not hear him answer, but a man with a loud voice shouted: Hurry up and do something. Our necks are getting stiff !