The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-09-24
A wonaernaI Lnke.

,b1an Nights, but having the confirmation
J 4 scientific cauthority ia tile person OF j. P.
.eeies we do not hesitate to publish the
tccount: ~
ssFhis lake rivals the famous valley of
}inoad the sailor. 1t is thought to average
II, ,OO07f II down TO tie water, all round. The
walls may be reported as entirely perpen-
dicuIar, running down into the water aud
leaving no beach. The depth of the wa
ter is unknown. and its stWfaee il smooth
and ynrufied. as it lies so fur under the
surface OF the mountain that the air cur
rents do not affect it. It's length is esti-
mated at twelve miles and its breadth at
ten. There is a beautiful island in its cen
ter, with luxuriant trees upon it. No
living man has ever yet reached the water's 5
e3ge. and It is not probable that any ever
will 1t lies silent, still. and mysterious.
in the bosom of the everlasting hills like
a huge we'll scooped out by the giant genll
of tile mountains in the unknown ages OF
long ago, and all around it. great primeval
forests an eternal watch and ware! are
keeping :
SIN company with an experience guide
/ reached the little lake in question at
about the hour of ten in the morning.
How large it was I could not tell, but /
Judge it must be of considerable size. from
the fact that could not see across 1t. al
though enjoying Kind of birds-eye view
from location some distance above the
level OF the water.
ssSeeing nothing unusual about the place
1 was on the point of expressing my dis
appointment to the guide, when he. hav-
ing read my thoughts. cut all short by ask
ing that make careful survey of the WA
ter. remarkiDg, at the same time. that
while there was really nothing extraofti-
nary about the lake itself, it was strangely
and wonderfully Inhabited.
III turned my attention To the water,
and was soon convinced tina. | had. ua-
doubtedIy. met with phenomenon, for II
was so clear so very aHsparent, that L
could see through it i'll every direction
with as much apparent case as if 1t mao
been the atmosphere itself. Presently
saw one of the Inhabitants hiited at, q
little creature of a light brown color
looking. as it glided here and there through
the pure element, not unlike common
chimney swallow. Then came another
and aanother. and another, until all the
waters of the lake seemed to be thiekly
swarming with them. They were very
busy and very swift III their motions, dart
ings whirling, and angling with the great
est ease and the most charming grace ; the
is fl,a1s fttpV
were in quest of their prey, feeding upon
animals ton small to be seen by us fron
our standpoint.
s.Suddenlv, while was gazing in won
der upon these strange creatures, ne"
actor appeared in the person of large
animal, abont the size. shape, aud color
a huge Inuskmelon. He was quite trans
narslIt, so much so that could see through
and through him as plainly as if he hat
been a glass jar; and as he moved le'surel'
about, Inotfced that he was catching arc
deyohring the little swallows withou
mercy. His Interior. which seemed to b'
n huge cavity-nofhing more-was lItera ~
filled with them, some still alive and swim
ming about in their strange prison. Th
entire mass held within his gigantic ston
ach kept mp a rapid whirling round an'
round in one direction, from which l in
ferred that he had ne regular digestive or
gans, but simply teore ont his food; .ha
is, reduced it by friction to a proper con
Lition for his sustenance.
scarcely had got fairly Interested il
this extraordinary animal when along
came something which looked, with it
slim, arching neck, very much like swan
Its course was so directed that ere long
was brought into contact with the musk
melon and fight was the consequence
1t was short fight. however. for ueithe
ofthe parties seemed TO relish the business
so they parted and struck off in opposit
directions. A little distance, and th
ssswan' met another of its own Kind, alr
they commenced billing and cooling iik
two mated doves; but their pleasures WEI
destined to be of short duration. for just
that Instant large ard hideous Iookiu
creature, with great horns and glaringey
pounced upon them from covert hard b.
selling them both. A terrible struggle e.
sued, in which one of the swans made
escape but the monster gripped the other |
its slender neck until it ceased to struggl
after which he settled down with it to Il
bottom of the lake, ard very quietly beg
converting it into meal.
sssAhout tLis time i noticed secol
monster equally as frigtftul in appearan
as the one Just referred to, though eyider
sly-of a different species He was movii
aiong on the bottom of the lake. and u
less bis course were changed, would pa
very near The other Tile first monster
Treatment OF the swans bad made me
enemy, so ! was well pleased with the tn