The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-04
THE HAUNTED PO0L.


THE HAUNTED P00L.
The sun was setting over the Ganges
one bright summer evening ia 1871.
The day had been hot one even for
India, and it was an unspeakable relief
to every one when the scorching sun be-
gan to decline at last, and the length
ening shadows of the tall palms along
the riyerbank told that night was at
hand.
And now the Hindu inhabitants of
the neighboring village, who had been
lying motionless all the afternoon under
the shade of their d-thhtched roofs,
or ofthe vast overarching banyan trees
around them, came trooping down to
the water in body
Instantly the whole bank of the great
river-so lovely and silent all through
the long, burning day-became all alive
with noise and hustle Children pad
died in the broad, still pools, or chased
each other in and out of the tall,
feathery bamboo clump that grew along
the bank. Women filled their earthen
pitchers from the stream, or washed
their threadbare clothes. Men began
to scour their brass lotahs drinking
vessels), or to kindle fires for the cook
ing of their evening meals; while little
| farther down the stream, group OF
young girls, wading out in the shallow
water, fell to splashing each other with
might and main, amid shouts of merry
laughter.
To any one unaccustol4ed to the WAYS
of India it would have seemed strange
enough to see, upon the wrists anC
ankles of nearly all the girls. and many
of their mothers likewise, heavy bangle.
| of solid silver, which any Western lad
might have been proud to wear. But The
Hindu peasants, to whom sayings-bank;
are uttexk unknown. have no way o
keeping their money safe except by
| carrying it about with them in thi'
fashion, somewhat hazardous plan
it must be owned, in a country
swarming with the most expert ant
daring thieves in the world.
Suddenly, one of the girls, who hat
ventured a little farther out into tn,
stream than the rest, disappearedunde
water with a piercing shrek, as !
dragged down by some oyerpowerin.
force A few bubbles that rose sullenl,
to the surface were the only token o
her fate, while her terrified companion
turned and rushed back to the shore a
fast as possible, screaming:
"A CROCODILE crocodiler'
Several day passed before any of tn
village women dared to approach tn
scene of this terrible mischance A
length one, holder than the rest, ven
1ured IN again, and the others, SEEM
that no harm came OF her daring, bega
to follow her example More than
week passed without any accident, an
everything was beginning to go on a
usual, when. one evening, a second Oil
disappeared in precisely the same man
ner as the first.
/ The terror was now universal, and a
the best hunters of the village set then
selves with one accord to get rid of tn
+ DESTROYING crocodile Bats were laiC
traps set, men posted along the ban
with loaded Guns TO keep watch for til
, monster; but, look for him rs the
might, nothing was to be seen of him,
Several DAYS later the wife of one
the villagers was washing her whit
wrapper on the bank Of the river whe
it slipped from her hands and tloate
slowly out into the wide, still POI
formed by the bend of the stream. I'll
woman at once waded after it, and ha
. Just succeeded in clutching 1t, when 81
u was seen by those on the bank to give
, sudden start, throw her arms 'convu
E siyely into the air and disappear und,
e water Just as the other two had dor
II before.
About three days after this last cata
trophe Mr.. Henry Sparks, the Britt:
Commissioner for the District
JungleyWallah, was al work in his Off
amid perfect mound of papers, hal
ing every now and then to wipe b
n streaming face (Which, despite Il
enormous punkah, or swinging-fa
worked by his native servant outsi'
with cord passed through hole
the wall, looked very much like a ha
melted snowbalD, when he was sudde
ly disturbed by knock at the door.
Come inn' cried he, snappishly, e
pecting the entrance of some Hin,
farmer or peasant with complaint
n long and unintelligible as an Assyri:
20 inscription. But at the first glimpse
u the person who entered his face clear
at once.
The visitor was tall native, with t
handsome features and stately bearil
of a Mahratta. His figure, nearly 5
, feet in height, was so gaunt and sineN
that it seemed TO be made of pin-wll
and his piercing black eyes looked O
3. from beneath the folds of his white ii
ban with the quick, keen, WATCH
glance of q practical hunter.
In truth, Islnail, the Mahratta, W
> well used to tracking other game best
re deer or tigers. Over and above his {
VI equations as scout, hunter and Cover
ID ment courier, he was in constant /
- quest as q detective, and, for tracki
nj, down either wild beast or a Grimm;
,g, be had no equal in Bengal
nd Gliding into the room as noiselesS
rs as shadow, he made low salaal
and said in his own language;
MAY the humblest of his servaI
speak to the Sahib?' (master).
4. There was nothing particularly hul
" BILE. it must be admitted. in the spea
n er's bearing; on the contrary, he he
N himself erect, and looked the. Comm
sioner full in the face with the air of
man who knew his own value. and h
something to tell which he felt to
s worth hearing; but Mr.. Sparks, vi
& | whom Ismail was an old acquaintant
appeared to understand these signs p,
fectly, and said
what has ISmail to tell? | am Ii
ening."
Il have been at the village of Ra
ganj," answered the Mahratta, laying
G slight stress upon the last word