Sydney Academy - Record Yearbook (Sydney, Australia)

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BATTLE OF THE SNAKES Karl Butler, XA One evening in summer several years ago, I set out to look at my nets set for fish i11 the North Platte River. As I passed my sheep herd, I noticed a com- motion amounting there. I could hear the rattles and knew it was a rattle- snake. A moment or two lat.er, I heard a different noise by the bank of the river. Hurrying fover, I found a large bull :snake shaking his head furiously, trying to disgorge an overgrown toad. Knowing that rattlesnakes and bull snakes are deadly enemies, I secur- ed the snake and put it in niy buirlap bag. I then hurried toward the place where the rattler had been. He was a huge, six-foot snake. I dropped my bag and out came the bull snake, free from the tload. The bull snake advanced toward me threateningly, but then the rattler sounded his rattles and the bull snake turned. The bull snake raised his head and an- other buzz sounded axbout twenty feet away. The bull snake started toward the rattlesnake, who, seeing the bull snake, turned and fled. The bull snake quickly gained on him. The snakes stopped about six feet apart. Then the rattlesnake drew himself into a coil and the bull snake started to circle his quarry. Gradually the bull snake went faster and faster and getting closer to the rattler. Finally, the bull snake drew himself into a coil. Suddenly, the two heads of the snakes came together with a resounding smack. Then the snakes moved so rapidly that one could not distinguish o11e from the other. The movements became less violent and I could see that the bull snake had the rattlesnake about two inches behind the head. The rattler was vainly trying to sink his one-inch fangs into his adversary. Suddenly, the bull snake made a terrific lunge, which carried his body to the other side of the rattler. For a moment all was still and then the bull snake moved slowly away. The rattler, with his head be11t double, writhed in his death throes. I followed the victor. He had not gone- far when he stopped, drew him- self up into lumps and turned on his back. By the fading light, I could see the small pricks, dark with blood, wfhere the venomed fangs of the rattler had pierced. I returned to the scene of the struggle. The rattler was dead. The overgrown toad, the unwitting cause of the fight, was the sole survivor of the tragedy. msgs-Q-ga.- Mr. Glasgow: You in the back, when was the Magna Carta signed? I dunno. VVho was Bonnie Prince Charlie? HI dunno. You don't! I assigned this stuff last Fridayg what were you doing?', I was out having a coke with some friends. You were! What audacity to stand there and tell me such a thing. How do you ever expect to pass this course c I n Janitor: 'WVal, I don't, Mister. You see I gust come in to fix the rad:- tutor, 17

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The bell rang, ending his reverie. An upper classman, approached him selling tickets for the basketball game that night. Tim fished out a quarter, more to get rid lof him than anytlhing else. He had nothing to do that evening so he decided to go to the game. The game was a ripper. Pickney was all over the court with the ball. The groans of the city rooters were drowned out by the cheers of the students of the Pickney section. Pickney had a twelve point edge and were still going strong. The city team grew more despoindent wit.h every basket. Just before the whistle -sounded for the half, the ball was knocked free. Four players charged after it. They met at the sidelines. with a sickening thud of bodily impact. Th-ey fe-ll together and when they were untangled only two arose. On the floor lay the two city men. There was a gasp from the stands. The doctor and the coach ran out. During the half there wasn't much noise. The game would have to be halted. Timmy h-eld his breath - then decided. He walked to the coach and tapped him on the sho-ulder. I can play, coach, he said. l've played lots before and know all the positions. Very well, the referee agreed, Go ahead and good luck. Who was this new fell'ow'?f' Never saw him before! Can he play? Maybe - let's hope so- Is he in school here H Yeah - in my history class. What a giant! g Not only was Timmy big, but he was a good player. He got right in there and played. He broke and ran, pivoted on a pinpoint and flipped the ball with amazing accuracy to his teammates and let them score. Time after time he snagged the ball in mid-air and converted it intci a basket. He was the swpairkplug. His team drew fire from him. The score went up and finally they led with fourteen points. The next day his teacher called on him again. Timmy, do tell us more about Arizona. I'm sure the class would like to h-ear about it. He looked around. No longer did the many eyes hold laughter and ridicule. Instead, there was a new respect, a new friendliness. He slid from his seat carefully and stood up. He cleared his throat. Now he could tell them and they would listen! -qgf-Q-eg.- Mr. D. W. MacD.: What were the Venetians noted for? Farmer Macl. : ' ' Blinds. ' ' -gf-g,3.3,- Teacher: 4'Young man, are you the teacher of this class? Student: No, sir. D Teacher: Then don 't talk like an idiot! 16

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.5 . Ginfaiflusifn John Hugh Campbell: John H. is one of fhwe star athletels of the Academy, being co- captain of the blalsketzblall tefam and fa -mem- ber of the footbrahl squad. A quiet and modest chap he is fpopular with teaclhers and students alike. .Best of luck in the fu- ture, John. Norman Ma-cDonalld: Actaive is another of the Pier bo-ys of XIIA. He is ua diligent student and is plopullafr witlhtpufplils and teachers alike. He its undecided about the fillvULll'G but we wish him the best of luck in wlhlatlever the does. Angus Smith: Angus is a quiet clhap who may be adfepended upon to always Ihave his 11'0I11'8W'Ov1'k done. .He is Ian excellent stu- dent, espefcially in Math. We know .he will do Well in the future. l Allan Sullivan: Allan is a great ladunirer of the fialir sex bnut does not uallow this to in- terfere wiitlh lhis shudies. He .aflso phays basketball and hockey. Alllann is off to Dal next year whlere he will studly law. Best of lulck, Allan. John JIa,cDougall: John is .a quiet, ldlepend- alle studcent wilro larrivlelsv at 'dhe Academy on the !Plier bus. LHis unlalssxuming manner h-as won hilm manly friends. Best of luck ill the future, John. Eileen Young: Eileen 'comes to Aus from South Bar Oafter lhavzing considerable dif- ficulty catching the buasll land is a member of the XlllIA class. She has -achieved great success as a student, only finding it hfard getting soineone to llaugh lat her jokes. Al- though lier future is lundlecided we know success is hers. The best of luck to you Eileen. 18