A Tragic Half-Holiday.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XVIII, 31 October 1903, Page 60

A Tragic Half-Holiday.

Written Specially for the “Graphic” by V. A. IIOt HK. It was such a glorious afternoon. lhe summer sun shone with dazzling bright - nes*, infusing the air with warmth and life. The air rang with the sweet- t rilling of tiie birds, and the soft musical hum of the bees, and every living thing seemed full of life and happiness. You may guess how maddeningly tantalising all this was to twelve grumbling, discontented youngsters who wore shut up in their dormitory for misbehaviour, thus losing their weekly half-holiday. To be deprived of their weekly halfholiday was considered a dreadful punishment by the boys of St. Thomas’ College, and any of them would cheerfully take a thrashing rather than lose Saturday afternoon. But the boys of No. 1 Dormitory got the thrashings and the detention besides this time. “fust because,” said Harry Kendon, with a contemptuous curl of the lip, “we gave that little beastly cad of a Maxtone a ducking in the lake. 1 bet he is grinning with delight, this very minute because we are kept here instead of going to the cricket match. But 1 will be even with him yet. or my name is not Harry Theophilus Kendon.” Maxtone was a new boy. and was heartily detested by the St. Thomas’ juniors. He had got them into more than one scrape while he was there, and in return the boys decided to duck him in the lake. But their pleasure of seeing the unhappy youth plunging and yelling in the water was quickly extinguished when one of the teachers appeared on the scene and ordered* them sternly to return to the class-room, and their dismay knew no bounds when later the teaeher announced there would be no half-holiday for them that week. Now they sat in the dormitory nursing their wrath, and hurling such vindictive epithets at the absent Maxtone that he would surely have trembled had he heard them. "I tell you what, boys,” cried Graham, junior, breaking in upon the grumblings, “are you on for a lark?” “Bather.” chorused the boys, "anything to break this beastly monotony.” “Well,” continued Graham, junior. “You know old Jaeob Evans. He told me the other day that I could -go outin his boat when he was not using it whenever I liked, so I vote that we all go down to the bay and have a jolly time. Never mind the consequences. Let us have a good time and show Maxtone that we enjoyed ourselves notwithstanding him.” If there had been any demurs they were quickly dispelled by the cunning Graham’s last shaft, who knew that it would go home all right. So twelve small figures stole softly and cautiously out of the school into some dense shrubbery, and from thence they cut across paddocks and fields until they came to the seashore. Shouting and laughing, they raced along the yellow sands till they reached the spot where Jacob Evans’ boat lay high and dry on the shore. Many a fisherman's wife paused in her work as they rushed past and murmured, “Bless their happy hearts.” But, alas. Jacob’s little cottage was empty. The woman next door informed them that Jaeob had gone to Packington, a town some miles distant, and would not. b.e home till sunset. This , was a crushing blow to their anticipated pleasure, and for several moments there was silence amongst them. “Well, you fellows,” exclaimed Graham at length, “I don’t see why you should look so glum over it. Jaeob gave me permission to use his boat, arfil why shouldn’t we go out?” The others brightened considerably at this. They had never thought of that. So in a few minutes they proceeded to launch the boat. Fortunately for them, though unfortunately as later eveuts

will show, lhe beaeb was deserted, with the exeeidion of an old fisherman, who had gone to sleep over mending his nets, and -a few children making tunnels and sandhills. After much exertion, for the Boat was a heavy lumbering one, the boys succeeded in launching it. With a shout of triumph they clambered into the craft aud proceeded to pull from the shore. The shout, however, woke the slumbering fisherman, and, on perceiving how matters stood, hurried down to the water’s edge, calling to the boys to come back. "Look here, young masters,” he shouted quietly away, the poor old fisherman’s Evans’. He duan’t allow no young fellows sky-larking in his boat." "And he don’t allow old land-crabs to interfere, either." retorted Hadlield, leaning over the bow. "Come out at once, or ITI tell the doctor. spluttered the fisherman, wratiiiiilly. "You had better not,” said Hadfield, v. ho was renowned for his ready tongue. “Your mother doesn’t know you are our, does she?” “Come now," remonstrated Graham, “that will do, Hadfield; there is no need to give him all that cheek,” so they rowed quietly awy, the poor old fisherman’s expostulations becoming fainter until they ceased. “By Jingo, boys, this is tip-top, ain’t it?” said Kendon, as they floated over 1 ::e smooth waters. There was some squabbling as to who should have the oars after Kendon and Graham. “You hold your tongue, Hadfield.” said Goodfellow, when the former wanted to take an oar. “I am older than you. and have had more to do with boat* than you have, therefore 1 should be considered first.” "No, it is not because you are older and pretend to know more,” returned Hadfield, hotly, "but because you arc greedy and want everything first. You are too fond of pushing that freckled faced, bullet head of yours into where it is not wanted.” The high words came io blows, till at last Graham and Kendon interfered, and peace was restored by deciding to call tiie boys in pairs alphabetically, giving each his turn at the oars accordingly. Thus everything went on smoothly until it came to little Jack Williams’ turn. Although he was too proud to own it. his little arm had not the strength to hold the oar, and by a sud-

den movement the oar slipped into the sea and floated away before the others really perceived what had happened. "By Jingo you’ve done it now,” whistled Graham iu dismay. “I’ll jump iu aud sw fan after it,” volunteered Goodfellow. “Just you stay where you are” said Hadfield. “We don’t want to go back to the school minus one, or eleven plus one dead one.” This was a poor compliment to Goodfellow’s swimming powers, but the situation was really doo serious to permit of high words, so the latter remained silent. A look of anxiety stole into Graham's face as he gazed around him. They had rowed several miles from the shore, and the bay from which they started was quite out of sight, though only hidden. no doubt, by one of the promontories that jutted out into the sea. As far as Graham could judge, they seemed to be pretty well out in the channel. And besides, the sun, which was high in the heavens when they started, was now sinking into the sea. No wonder poor Graham, junior, looked anxious, knowing that he was wholly responsible for the lives of his eleven comrades. The one oar proved of little use to them, for they knew very little of sculling and their young arms were tired with the previous exertion. The boat, which seemed fairly manageable with two oar*, now became totally unmanageable in their inexperienced hands. "The only thing we will have to do.” Graham said, calmly, through his face was pale, “is to drift until we eome across another boat, and then they can tow us back to the bay.” This was indeed a gloomy prospect. Suppose they did not meet another boat. Tiie sun gradually sank out of sight, tinting the sea and sky in brilliant colours of red and gold. It was a particularly beautiful sunset, and Graham never forgot it. Even years after, when he became a. man, he never saw a brilliant sunset without thinking of that evening in the open boat. A slight breeze began to ripple the surface of the hitherto calm water, and some of the boys shivered. They were beginning to feel the pangs of hunger, too, for it was past tea-time. Each one's thoughts reverted to his home, and parents, wondering if he would ever see them again. Graham Junior pictured his widowed mother if she heard the news of

his death, and his eyes became misty. But he quickly pulled himself together, for it would never do for him to be east down when the others looked upon him as their leader. So, putting on a cheerful face, he said: “What do you say to a song, boys’” “Yes,” assented Hadfield, eagerly, “let us sing ‘The Midshipmite,’ and the rest, only too anxious to break the monotony, joined in heartily, and their clear boyish voices rang out pleasantly over the sea. Two hours were thus spent in passing away the time, and they ended up by singing “Eternal Father Strong to Save.” The hymn had a very quieting effect on them, and as the darkness closed round each boy commended himself to the care of the Heavenly Father who guides them safely through so many perils and dangers. It was decided that the boys should take turns in watching. Graham Junior first, Kendon second, Goodfellow third and Hadfield fourth. The remainder were too small to be trusted alone with the eare of the boat. Fortunately the night was clear and the sea was calm, so there was little fear of being wrecked. Graham discovered a piece of tarpaulin in the bottom of the boat, and, covering his comrades with it as comfortably as possible, he proceeded to take the first watch. Harry Kendon was to relieve him at twelve, but at that hour he was sleeping so soundly that Graham had not the heart to wake him. At three o’clock Harry awoke, and on finding out the time upbraided Graham soundly for not waking him before. He took the watch from three to six while his comrade slept, and inwardly chuckled as he glanced at the snoring Hadfield and Goodfellow, and pictured their indignation in the morning when they found they were not called. The chuckle did not last, however, for he felt too utterly miserable. The gnawing hunger which assailed him at first had given way to a terrible thirst, and his tongue was parched and dry. At four o’clock a perceptible change took place in the atmosphere, and a strong wind started to blow up from the east. Dark clouds chased one another across the sky, and with the dawn came a smart squall. This awoke the sleeping occupants of the boat, who became terrified on seeing the change in the weather. Graham did his utmost to comfort them, saying that the squall would soon pass over. There was another thing that kept Graham worrying also. The boys were frightfully thirsty, and some were becoming almost delirious, and he had to watch them carefully to see that they did not touch the salt water. Inexperi enced as he was, he knew from what he had read, the terrible result of drinking sea water. A little rain had collected in the tarpaulin, however, and although there was not sufficient to quench their thirst, it alleviated their sufferings. F >r another two hours the boat tossed aimlessly along, its occupants becoming more wretched as the hours went by. All of a sudden two or three of the boys gave a simultaneous shout, and lo! Just in front of them steamed a big Atlantic liner. The officer on the bridge saw the boat, and immediately gave the order to reverse the engines. The passengers, who were down at breakfast, came hurriedly up on deck to inquire the cause of the stoppage, and were astounded at the unusual spectacle of twelve lit-

tie Eton-coated, white-collared and very miserable-looking schoolboys being helped up the side of the vessel. And what a fuss there was on board. After the boys were out of the surgeon’s hands the passengers could not do enough for them. Certainly the twelve juniors never received such petting and atention before, not even from their fond mothers. Graham Junior’s first thought was to find out where they were now bound for. The captain informed him that he was on the s.s. Oceanic, bound for Southamp-

ton from New York, and that the vessel was due at the former port in a couple of hours’ time. Upon their arrival at Southampton a telegram was despatehe.l to St. Thomas’, informing the doctor that the boys were quite safe, and not long at' ter the twelve truants were whirled along in the train back to school once more. And what gladness and rejoicing there was when all the terrible suspense was put to an end. The doctor saw that the boys were not in the condition to receive corpora! punishment, and h<

thought besides, the experience they had gone through was sufficient to teach them a lesson, so. after an earnest eon versation. which they took with wonder ful good grace, they were put on the sick list till they recovered. The boats which were sent out in search of them were recalled, and the anxious parents' minds put at rest by telegrams containing the glad news of their safe return. That half holiday was a very memorable one at St. Thomas', and 1 do not think any of them will ever forget it.