Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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13 surface. My father got out his boat, which is called the Banco , and met my uncle and Gordon at our private dock. There were two sturdy rods on board, so that all my uncle and Gordon had to bring was their lunch. My mother had prepared a good sandwich lunch for my father and myself, and had given me some pills to take, in case I be- came sea-sick. By nine o ' clock we had started and were heading for Argus Banks , about twenty miles off Bermuda, a well-known place for trolling. As we drew away from the barrier reef, I noticed that we were be- ginning to come across the large ocean swells. I started to feel slightly sea-sick, but, after taking one of the special pills, I soon felt all right. At eleven o ' clock we reached Argus Banks and the two trolling lines were put out. About two hours later we got a strike and, after a big struggle, my father landed a twenty pound wahoo, which is a fish looking very much like a barracuda, except that it has a larger tail and in general grows much bigger than a barracuda. After this, we decided to eat our lunch. As the afternoon wore on, I noticed that the wind was springing up and that the ocean swells were getting larger. The Banco rode over these swells with ease. S he is a twin-engined motor boat, thirty feet long, and all the boat is cabined in, except for about six feet at the stern, which has canvas over it. She can sleep four people comfortably and has a galley and bathroom. About four o ' clock my uncle got a strike and landed a small fifteen pound tuna. The wind was now rising steadily and soon the spray was washing right over the boat. We decided to start for home and, as we did so, the storm broke, with thunder and lightning. As the boat was turning, a large wave washed right over the stern. I could see that my father was worried and, when I asked him what was the matter, he said that, with the storm raging, we might not be able to find the channel through the barrier reef. He also told me that we had not mucTi gas left, as a result of a leak in the tank. The wind kept getting stronger and every now and then €he boat would give a great lurch as it plunged over the waves. Water washed in through one of the ports, which would not shut properly, causing the water in the boat to rise. We each had to take turns at the built-in pump to keep the boat from capsizing. In the distance a faint flash of light could be seen, which we supposed to be the Lighthouse. We knew that we must be drawing near the barrier reef. My fatTier de- cided to try to cross at once, because, if we did not, we would run out of gas and consequently be washed against the reef.

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12 Tn a few weeks, however, he was his old self again. Then one day one of my helpers was granted a day outside the walls. When I asked the reason, the fellow replied, Well, the prison safe with all the ammunition got stuck and they knew I was a great safe-cracker, so I opened it for them. For the next few weeks the prison was quiet — too quiet. I spoke to (Simon about it. He tried to change the subject and then I knew that something was wrong. Simon, some of the men are going to try to make a break. Is that why it ' s so quiet? Are the men planning something? Simon would not answer and I knew that my guess had been correct. Simon, you ' re not going with them? You know you ' re up for parole soon. Simon muttered that he had some work to do and left the room. That night at supper, Simon fell asleep; I had placed a sleeping pill in his coffee. Then I told the Governor about the break. He gave instructions for tripling the guard and told me to go to my office as there would be shooting. When it was over, four convicts were dead. I discovered later that one of them was my friend, the safe-breaker, who had planned the escape. Since that night there has been no violence at Sing Sing. I was sorry to leave the prison, but my work was finished — the epidemic had passed. To-day, if you come to my office on Blandings Street, you will meet my chief assistant — who is also my best friend — Simon Johnson. And he will tell you about the six men who worked under me at the prison — My Six Convicts. S. A. WILLIAMS. Aged 15. The Storm Last Sunday my father was going on a fishing trip with my uncle and Gordon, a friend of the family. He said that, if I wished to go with them, I might do so; naturally I was thrilled at the idea and on Sunday morning I was up bright and early. Sunday morning was sunny and there were few clouds in the sky. The water looked clear and cool, with little ripples blowing across its

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14 It was now getting dark and, by the help of the searchlight, we could make out the barrier reef, bathed in foam and waves. My fa ther put the boat at full speed. We all held our breath as we rushed to- wards the churned up water; the boat gave a lurch and plunged into the swirling water of the reef. We heard a loud grinding sound and then we were over. Once we were past the barrier reef, the water was much calmer, and under the steam of one engine we managed to get home safely. The next day the Banco had to be pulled up on the boat-slip. We then saw that one propeller had been broken off and that the other was almost off; the rudder was completely ruined. I have had quite enough of fishing for the moment and I imagine that it will be a long time before I go out in a boat again. R. LINES. Aged 14. Messing About in Boats Every other Thursday afternoon there is a Boat Regetta held at Deepdene Boathouse, the headquarters of the Harrington Sound Dinghy Club. About half past one men and boys start strolling in and begin their task of launching and rigging their sailboats. First the cover is removed and the boat is rolled down the slip and into the water; then it is paddled to the side of the dock. The spar is fixed in position and the stays are fastened. The sails are brought down and made ready for hoisting. Then, when everything is ready, the boat sails out of the camber. One by one the boats are fully rigged and sail away. By the time all of them are ready, the first race is about to start. The boats from the other parts of the Sound begin to come on the scene. The stake-boat puts the buoys out and comes back to start the boats. Boom. The five minute gun goes off. The boats jockey back and forth along the starting line. Then the one minute gun sounds, and at last the final gun is fired and the race begins. The boats sail on the tack on which they started for a little while, then they go about on the other tack. Meanwhile, back at the boathouse, quite a crowd has gathered to watch the race; most of them have brought their children. People begin to go swimming. Some of them paddle about in the canoe, others go for a row while the rest just enjoy themselves on the raft. As all this fun is going on, some of the members are up on the balcony