The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-01-12
THE HAUNTED POOL.

The day had been hot one even for
India, and it was an unspeakable relief
to every one when the scorching sun
began to decline at last, and the length
ening shadows of the tall palms along
the river bank told that night was at
hand.
And now the Hindu inhabitants of
the neighboring village, who had just
been lying motionless all the afternoon
under the shade of their reed-thatched
roofs, or Of the vast over-arching ban
yam 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 the noise and hustle, Chill
dren padded in the broad still pools,
or chased each other in and out Of the
tall, feathery bamboo clump that grew
along the bank. Wamen filled their
earthern pitchers from the stream, or
washed their thread-bare clothes. Men
began to scour their brass lotahs drink
ing vessels or to kindle fires for the
cooking of their evening meals while,
little farther down the stream a group
of young girls, wading out into the
shallow water, fell to splashing each
other with might and main, amid shouts
of merry laughter.
To any one unaccustomed to the ways
in India, it would have seemed strange
enough to see, upon the wrists and an
kles Of nearly all the girls, and many OF
their mother likewise, heavy bangles of
solid silver, which any western lady
might have been proud to wear. But
the Hindu peasants, to whom savings
banks are utterly unknown, have no
way of keeping their money safe except
by carrying it about with them in this
fashlon-a somewhat hazardous plan,
it must be owned, in country swarm
ing with the most expert and daring
thieves in the world.
b, Suddenly, one of the girls, who had
ventured little farther out in the
stream than the rest, disappeared un'
der the water with piercing shrek, as
if dragged down by some overpowerina
force. A few bubbles that rose sullenly
to the surface were the only token oi
her fate, while her terrified companions
turned and rushed back to the shore as
fast as possible, screaming:
"a crocodile a crocodile ~
Several days passed before any of the
village women dared to approach the
scene of this terrible mischance. A
length one bolder than the rest, ventur
ed in again, and the others, seeing tina
no harm came of her daring, began tt
follow her example. More than weel
passed without any accident, and every
thing began to go on as usual, when
one evening, second girl disappeared
in precisely the same manner as tn,
first.
The terror was now universal, ant
all the best hunters of the village SCI
thems elves with one accord to get riC
of this destroying crocodile, Baitt
were laid, traps set, men posted along
the bank with loaded guns to keel
watch for the monster but, look fol
him as they might, nothing was to b.
seen of him.
Several days later the wife Of one o.
the villagers was washing her white
wrapper on the bank of the river, wher
it slipped from her hands and floateG
slowly out into the wide, still pool
formed by the bend Of the stream, The
woman waded after it, and had just
succeeded in cIutching it, when She
was seen by those on the bank to give
sudden start, throw her arms convul,
sively into the air, and disappear un.
der water just as the other two had
lone before.
About three day after this last catas.
ophy Mr.. Henrp Sparks, the British
commissioner for the district of Jung.
eywallah, was at work in his office
amid a perfect mound Of paper, halting
every now and then to wipe his stream.
ing face (which, despite the enormous
punkah, or swinging fan, worked by
his native servant outside with cord
passed through hole in the wall, look.
ed very much like half-melted snow.
ball, when he was suddenly disturbed
by a knock at the door.
Come in !" cried he snappis ly, ex.
pecting the entrance of some Hindu
farmer or peasant with complaint as
long and unintelhgible as an Assyrian in
scription. But at the first glimpse OF
the person who entered his face cleared
at once.
The visitor was tall native. with
the handsome features and stately bear.
ing of Mahratta. His figure, nearly
Isix feet in height, was so gaunt and
sinewy that it seemed to be made Of
pin wire, and his piercing black eye'
looked out from beneath the folds o.
his white turban with the quick, keen
lwatchful glance of practical hunter.