Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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not part with it and now he himself had suddenly and almost without thinking stolen it from a dead man murdered within five yards of him. He began to wonder too what secret that tribesman could have divulged, or why he had been so anxious to retain possession of the Buddha, and above all why he had been murdered. It was already late by the time Dick reached his house, a bungalow building on the outskirts of the town, and by the time he had finished his evening meal, the sun had set and night had fallen with all the speed of the Tropics. When his servant had taken away the remains of his meal Dick remained where he was, seated on the verandah. It was a lovely evening, and the soft cool of the night was a welcome relief after the torrid heat of the long summer day. Dick sat thinking. The Buddha still rested in his top pocket, v here he had placed it when he had taken it from in front of the dead tribesman. He now decided that he might as well see if he could find anything peculiar about it to explain its mystery. He took it out and started to examine it. But for the second time that day he was interrupt- ed before he had properly started, and once more it was by a curious sound. This time he heard behind him a soft thud like the noise of bare feet landing on his verandah. In the quiet of the night the sound was easily discernable. Once again it took him little time to overcome his surprise, and having risen swiftly from his chair, to turn round and ascertain the cause of the noise. As he turned some sixth sense warned him to . duck. It was v ell he did so, for even as he ducked a heavy knife flashed past him just missing his head. The next moment he jumped in, and after a brief struggle he overcame the native who had so quietly entered his house and so very nearly ended his life. Meanwhile his servant, hearing the noise, had hurried to see the cause. He found his master sitting on a strange native and holding a re- volver to his head. With the servant ' s help the man was quickly bound up, and a message telephoned to the police for him to be sent for. Sud- denly however Dick noticed that the servant was looking in an amazed fashion at something on the floor beside the chair where he had been sitting. Turning he too received a shock. When he had got up from the chair on hearing the noise he had the Buddha in his hand, and as he lept at the native it had fallen from his hand and broken on the floor. But it was not the broken pieces of china that held the attention of the two men. Amongst the broken pieces lay a tiny glistening sphere, a pearl, and as he saw it Dick began to understand. 13

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Buddha of Kyo-Satsuma. Now Dick, besides being a popular and competent Army Officer stationed in one of the most troublesome districts of the Northern Indian boundary, was also deeply interested in the collection of this beautiful type of Chinese art. This piece was unique in that it was of a very small size, since most of this work, because of its intricate nature, is only executed upon large pieces. Therefore Dick stopped suddenly and bent down to look closer. The tribesman, seeing his obvious interest, immediately forsook his religious meditations, and became a merchant,, ready to get as much profit as possible out of a customer who appeared bO be so much struck with his wares. But upon learn- ing which article it was that Dick wished to purchase, he merely uttered the two words no sell , and again lapsed into his meditative silence. Nothing Dick could say, nor any offer he could make, was able to shake out of him anything more than a senseless reiteration of these two words, although the price offered was far in excess of the actual value. Dick turned r:way in disgust and continued his stroll along the road, vaguely wondering why the tribesman, usually like his type so eager for profit, had neglected such an excellent oppor- tunity. But his meditations did not last long. He had not taken five steps before he heard behind him a curious noise. Turning round he was amazed to see that the tribesman was now doubled up over his wares, and that from the middle of his back projected the handle of a heavy knife. It took Dick about five seconds to overcome his natural surprise and to return to the man. He knelt dov n and examined him, and as he did so, almost unconsciously, his hand closed over the Buddha. The next moment it was safely deposited in the top pocket of his uniform, and he was the centre of a crowd of amazed onlookers, of ail colours, but all asking the same questions, and all dis- playing the same curiosity. , The official machine however quick- ly got into action, and after a brief examination Dick, having expressed his willingness to testify at the inquest, was allowed to return home. As he went he was accompanied at a respect- able distance by the pad of naked feet. Unseen eyes were watching him, . eyeij as they had been watching the tribesman and had seen Dick pocket the Buddha. But Dick walked on in ignorance. He still could not quite understand exactly what motive had prompted him to pocket that Buddha. The risk had been enormous, but he believed that it had passed unoticed. $till he would keep it out of sight until things had quieted down, just in case there was any trouble. There must be some- thing strange about it, he thought, for first the tribesman would 12

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But he did not comprehend fully until he heard the official explanation from the Commission the next day. It appeared that this native and the tribesman had cleverly stolen the pearl from a wealthy American who had been travelling in the Punjab. They had concealed it inside the hollow Buddha and patched the hole up to agree with the pattern of the intricate design of the outside. Then however the tribesman had disappeared and taken the pearl with him. The other native followed him to the town where he eventually caught up with him, and seizing his opportunity and thinking to snatch the Buddha and disappear, he murdered the tribesman. Here however his plans were upset by the fact that Dick, for no apparent reason, pocketed the very thing he desired. He, however, followed Dick, and would have killed him for the pearl if he had not been heard as he dropped onto the verandah floor. The pearl was eventually returned to its owner, and the native, after a brief trial, suffered the penalty of the Law for the murder of his associate. Yet Dick was sorry for one thing: he had so very nearly obtained a unique piece of art that would have been the prize of his collection. Still, even if it could not be called a piece of art, he would always keep the patched-up Buddha to remind him of an adventure that very nearly cost him his life. o The Poet ' s Corner. SAMSON THE COWBOY By David Nicholl There once was a cowboy named Samson, Who was caught and held for ransom, He said — Let me go! - But the men said — Oh no! Till you pay us a sum that is handsome ' Then said Samson — You just mind your step! I could beat you with one finger-tip. Said the men — You shut up, Or we ' ll blow you right up, If we get any more of your lip. Then Sam took a jump and a run At the nearest man with a gun, Who shot in the air But Samson was there So Samson and ransom were gone. 14