Riverbend School for Girls - Vox Fluminis Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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Page Fifteen Vox FL UMINIS least one marshmallow on the end of it, at some stage of the roasting pro- cess. Suddenly Arthur, the most particular boy in the crow'd, burnt his marshmallow, and then with a few words which sounded more like a growl threw the crazy stick which had brought him all the bad luck to the top of the shack, still with a spark of fire in it. He was then compelled to eat marshmallows roasted by the other boys, even if they were burnt, for he knew that awful word sissy which was applied to any boy so particular as he, if he were ever noticed. Now that the marshmallows were finished the boys took turns at telling ghost stories, then a sing-song followed, wound up by Good Night Ladies. Later footsteps running hither and thither to be home at the promised hour were heard. At half-past eleven or about that time Cso the weather-man certified the next dayj a furious wind came up, blowing the leaves off the trees and incidently carrying also a very small portion of the stick from the club shack to the roof of Mandaly's and also helping to light the remaining spark which had nearly gone out. At quarter to twelve Gerald made his usual tour of inspection of the town for the fire department and, passing Mandaly's he said to himself, Goodness how I hope nothing happens to that store to-night of all nights -for he had left the pearl necklace at the store as he was going directly home to his mother's at the time. After a sigh of relief, he looked up at his mirror in the car just as he was turning the corner, but something seemed to tell him. that there was smoke rising from the jeweller's shop. But as he was at the corner, he must watch where he was going, to avoid a collision, therefore after he had backed and stalled at the nearest lane and again turned the dangerous sharp corner he found the whole roof ablaze to meet him g quickly he hastened to park his car opposite the store but was delayed by a passing truck. His first thought was I will phone the station although I know they are all in bed, which will cause a further delay. Then after running to the first fire signal post which was half a block away and putting in a rush call he ran back to Mandaly's to try, first of all, to get his necklace, thinking surely it will be in the safe and I know where the safe is. Mandaly always leaves it unlocked. Breaking the window he ran across the fioor to the safe and emptied its contents as quickly as he could, to try and recover the necklace but it was not there. Then remembering the rules he had always been taught in case of a fire with no help coming, he blew through his hands on to the flames. Then, glancing up, he noticed a square box which had not yet been reached by the flames. While taking it down the other men rushed in with the hose and released Gerald to go out and supervise. All during the rest of the battle with the fire Gerald kept thinking drearily, I've lost my neck- lace, I've lost my necklace. At the end of the fire, David, second in command, came over to Gerald and patting him on the back said What's the worry, friend o' mine ? in a kindly manner, and then pointing to the box What have you here P It

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VOX F L UM I NI S Page Fourteen Tom obeyed instantly and as soon as he got in the cave he was chloroformed and taken in a passageway down a tunnel where he was bound so tightly he could not move. Suddenly there was an unearthly yell followed by a volley of shots. My friend Brown Buffalo, said Tom. He then shouted, Brown Buffalo, can you come and release me P There was a reply of a volley of shots from Pete but none of them hit Tom. Pete had fired wildly because he was hard pressed. King and Bill went down under the Indians and were bound up. There was a final shot and Pete killed one of the braves. Then the Indians pressed around him and he was borne to the ground and tied up like Bill and King. Then a brave came and untied Tom and said, Come, Pale Face Tom, we have no time to lose, I show you the way. Tom went and he found Bill, Pete, and King tied to trees. VVell, said Tom, are there any more men Pete ? . Naw, said Pete, we used to belong to Snake Anson's gang. I see, replied Tom, I suppose you are wanted by the sheriff, are you not ? No answer. VVell, said Tom, turning to the Indians. you have done me a great service and you will be well paid. VVill you bring these men to the Pale Face village ? Yah, said Brown Buffalo. we bring 'em. Bring them along and I'll ask the Sheriff if he will give you and your tribe some blankets and hatchets. Come on! It was long ago that this happened and Trapper Hawkins is old and grey. He does not hunt any more but he lives in the little village of Great River where he was born. -Morna Kenny, Grade VII. i., A FIRE f2nd placej I Gerald, the young fire-chief of the little town of Home-Haven, had just left the jeweller, Mandaly, from whom he had purchased a real pearl necklace for his mother, who was to celebrate her wedding anniversary on the morrow. ' Next to Mandaly's was a small old wooden house, very badly built, which had now been standing empty for at least three or four years. On the other side of the house, the fence was only about two feet away, and against it stood the small shack of the Hiky Club for the boys of Home- Haven. As this Friday night was the last warm one they could expect, they were celebrating the last meeting of the year with a marshmallow roast. So at eight o'clock just at dusk the boys gathered at the shack, some holding sticks, some tins, and others fire-wood. The camp fire was soon ablaze in the open field at a safe distance from the shack and the boys crowded round, each holding a green stick, with at

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VOX FLUMINIS .Page Sixt-een was then, but not until then, the thought came to Gerald to open it. Prying open the cover of the rescued box, the first thing to meet his eyes were his pearls, then underneath were all Mandaly's papers' of value. Gerald knew no more that night. The next morning, lying on his bed-table, was a note addressed to him on a fire department envelope. Opening it Gerald read: Congratulations for saving the valuable box. Your mother has the pearls. For your reward you are to be allowed three months leave of absence. All expenses will be paid for a return trip to the Atlantic Coast, promising also that you may resume your occupation on home-coming. Sincerely, David and department. Gerald, after reading his note, fell back on his pillow and thought of all that the trip to the coast would mean to him and again fell asleep. -Isobel Hutchison, i Grade IX. The following poem Make Believe, by Margaret Aldous, took first place in the Senior School Poetry Contest. Second place: Ballad on a Modern Racketeerf' by Susan Thomas. Honorable Mention: A Holiday,'i' by Catherine Jeffries. - MAKE BELIEVE Stars are twinkling up in the sky Pinning the moon's silver crescent on high: Breezes from the mountains blow Into the valley that sleeps below. Suppose the fairies come again To haunt once more both fell and fen, Let's make believe. Sleeping are the mortals bold, Little folks their revels hold, Round about their fairy ring, Where they delight to dance and sing: Dewdrops are hanging in the grass A glittering, sparkling, moon-kissed mass: VVon't you believe? Slippery with seaweed are the jagged rocks , All mortal men the great sea mocks, , With its great unconquered power. Here, fairies play at some magic hour, They hover above the whirling pools And the sea-spray covers their wings with jewels. Come, make believe.