Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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to three cowboys, go and meet the Rostons and show them the way here. The three cowboys dashed off through the snow on their horses. About half an hour later, the Sheriff could dimly make out a party of horsemen approaching. The party consisted of the cowboys the Sheriff had sent and Jack Roston the owner of the Hotspur ranch and his family. Suddenly, when they were about a hundred yards away, a knife whizzed through the air and buried itself in Jack Roston ' s heart. He fell dead. The Sheriff seeing Roston fall, leapt on his horse and galloped up. What in Sam Hill has happened? he ejaculated. Cowley explained, I think the knife came from that direction , he added, point- ing. Then come on cried the Sheriff Pick up that torch which Roston was carrying, one of you , he added Bossen seized the blazing torch and the four galloped away. They had ridden about four miles when they saw something ahead that looked like a terrific fire. Is it a forest fire, Chief? asked Higley. No , replied the Sheriff, The rogue has set the bridge across Shelton Gully on fire. We ' ll have to jump it. The cowboys gasped in amazement. Shelton Gully was a deep gully sixty miles long and fifty yards wide. But chief , began Rossen. We ' ll have to jump it , repeated the Sheriff, and we ' re going to jump it, if all the United States Army tries to stop us. The little party was now about ten yards away from Shelton Gully. Even the Sheriff began to feel nervous. Then a distant hail, which brought back all his courage, reached his ears. You ' re wasting time. Sheriff. You can ' t catch me. It ' s Mike Ruff, the man who always escaped me! cried the Sheriff. The cowboys forgot their fear. They tensed — and their horses jumped to land safely. The murderer, who thought that the Sheriff would give up when he saw the burning bridge, leapt on his horse and tried to escape. But his horse was tired and in a few minutes the Sheriff ' s party caught up. Crack! Crack! The murderer was determined not to be caught easily. But the fates were against him. His horse was killed and he was taken prisoner. As soon as the Sheriff and his prisoner arrived, the fore- man of the ranch came and spoke to him. Well, it ' s a good thing you ' ve caught Mike Ruff. We shan ' t have any more stolen cattle now. Oh, by the way, Roston isn ' t dead. Just wounded in the left shoulder. Thank goodness for that, said the Sheriff. B. TOVEY. 14

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Hope. They landed there gladly and took on board supplies of water and of food, and commenced to go their way. After four more weeks of sailing the worshipful captain perceived that they were off their track, and he proceeded to turn back, but most unfortunately a right strong gale sprang up and the good ship was left at the mercy of the winds. Now the gale grew stronger steadily, until at last the cap- tain had ordered all the sails to be taken in with the exception of the upper top-gallants. The gale continued to increase, until a hurricane was blowing; the sailors were right frightened and a panic arose on board. After two days of this storm, great tumult was noted directly to the east, and from the watch came the cry of, Breakers ahead. Much panic ensued thereupon, and the screams of the women and of the crew raised such din that the deck shivered. The ship was drifting steadily towards the breakers, when with a crash she hit a rock. The crew screamed still more, and amidst great panic all rushed for the longboat. But, as suddenly as they started, all as suddenly stopped. For the impact of the ship upon the rock had caused a great disturb ance of her fabric, and, amidst the shouting, the crew had failed to hear the cracking of the mainmast, until suddenly it fell directly on the longboat, thereby splitting it to pieces, with a few of the crew narrowly missing death. Such was the tumult aboard, when all the ropes and rig- ging fell as was never heard. The ship was rapidly sinking, and the waves all round were grey and presented a frightful picture as though laughing at their faces and mocking them. The waves still continued to beat upon the ship constraining it to fall apart, and with a loud crack another mast fell on the unfortunate crew, injuring and killing several. At last the vessel fell in pieces, and all the crew, grasping bits of wood, manfully swam for the shore. The only ones to succeed in reaching the shore were the captain and the cook, who there took upon themselves to write this script, in case any individual should haply land on the island and find it, thereby disclosing the mystery of the lost ship Cristobal. H. P. MALLOY. o Murder on Christmas Eve. It was Christmas Eve on Sheriff Congan ' s ranch. All was bustle and excitement, for that night the Sheriff was holding a great banquet for his friends, the Rostons from the neightbour- ing ranch. Higley, Cowley and Bossen , the Sheriff shouted 13

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My Escape. I went to Spain about the month of November, 1935, to take some photos of different things in Madrid. One day, when I was taking a photo of a warship, I happened to glance out of the corner of my eye, and saw some Spanish soldiers coming towards me. Suddenly they all rushed upon me and captured me. They tied my hands behind my back and m.arched me off to prison on suspicion of my being a spy. When they had put me in a cell, they all marched off, feeling very pleased with them- selves for capturing one whom they thought to be a spy, to tell the captain of the guard. While all this was happening, I was gradually, getting a loose bar away from the socket in the little square vv indow. At last I had it out, and, just as I started to crawl out, I heard the tramp of about five men coming to see me, so I grabbed the iron bar which I had taken out and fitted it in again so that no one would notice it. Just as I had finished, a big fat man came in and said something that sounded like, Chamcohtein et htoinghorah tghaurze , and something else that sounded worse. At last the big fat man went out and everybody else went with him, so that I had another chance of escape, and I took it too. I took the iron bar out and climbed through the window, and, as it was night time with hardly anyone in the streets, I escaped quite easily. I made for the docks where my warship was (or rather the warship in which I was cruising), ran aboard her and told the captain that I had been captured by some Spaniards who suspected me of spying. The captain told me not to worry. The next morning, when I woke up, it was broad daylight and the sound of gunfire came to my ears. I put on my clothes and rushed up on deck, where I was met by an officer who told me that they were being attacked by a Spanish warship, and that we were winning so far. At last a deafening roar was heard, and one of our 18 guns went off, and the other warship, with a lurch, went to the bottom in the sight of her own country. Seizing our chance, we put on full speed for Bermuda, and after two weeks and three days arrived at our destination. H. P. WATLINGTON. 15