Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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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

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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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ARCHITECTURE By K. D. Young. Construction of buildings and making them correct, In beauty and utility is the job of the architect. He draws many sets of drawings, and many sets of plans, Sections and elevations; all lies in the architect ' s hands. Arches are made in churches between the nave and the aisle, And in constructing bridges, arches are used all the while. In constructing all these arches, voussoirs must be made. And after these are carefully set, the keystone is then laid- And if it ' s to be solid, materials must be good, For buildings cannot last if made of mouldy wood. Now just as for a building, the forming of one ' s mind, Is a slow and careful business, and we will always find, That if materials are good, and no mistake is made. Foundations of a useful mind will certainly be laid. o A word in your ear This has been called the Poet ' s corner because that is all that it is. It is so small as to be scarcely noticeable. How is it that out of a complete school of intelligent boys there are only two who can produce some amusing idea, or some beautiful idea, or any idea whatsoever in a form which rhymes and scans? This must be remedied! o Girl GuidevS Gala, By H. North. We went over to the island in a motor-boat, and when we arrived the Girl Guides awaited us on the dock. We landed, and soon a whistle was blown, upon which a few of the girls formed a line in bathing suits to go in for an obstacle race. They skipped, crawled through barrels, and then came to the most ex- citing part which created much laughter. They had to dip their faces in flour and water, which made them look like ghosts, and after this they had to bite an apple hanging up without the help of their hands, run over and dress, and last of all jump over a piece of rope. The next amusement the Guides had prepared was Swim- ming Sports, which included races of all descriptions, and ex- hibition swimming. No diving was done, as there was no suit- able place from which to dive. After tea we watched the 15