The Yazoo sentinel. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1878-1916, 1885-05-07

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''SoOn II rcappeared. iafoyerthc pool
something white cleaning ID lie moon
light, ike 10 arm. aud then suddenly o
the thing turned Ii il course. It changes
70 a neck and shoulders. oYef which
tumblcd o mass Of dark. wet hair; thel
y sank as suddenly as II appeared, AMI
though we waited two hours, We saw j
no more.
"keturning to the hotel, We decided
10 keep our experienccsto ourselves, anc
investigate the matter further. The nexi
day we spent quietly. and a. soon al
night fell again paddlcd ncr0ss 70 hi
pool, and getting under the shore, waited
for developments.
"All was dark, with that peculiar blue
blackncss that precedes the rise Of the
moon in the mountains, and over all
! things lay the mist Of night, broken
only by the ty-dids or the huzz-z-z OF
a low flying night-hawk. Every new ard
again the faintest breath swayed the
pines, and sent their soothing fragrance
floating over the water, and then, far on
the other side OF the lake, slowly app
peared a ray Of FURNISHED silvef which
stole silently towards US across the bosom
of the water, as the full moon climbed
the pine-clothed hill behind Us, and
passed over into full view. It was as
light as day, except where VIC lay, Ia
deep shadow.
"Anxiously we cast our eyes dround,
but no sign appeared, and at ten o'clock
my friend said, no use tonight,
you paddle homo, and III will
troll as we 20. may get
rise ] think this ghost business is q
fraud "a case Of too much pie last even
ing. begin 70 think we dreamed it.
II said nothing but padded slowly
along, while he stood forward, playing
his spoon, making thousand miniature
rainbows at every splash as it fell into the
water, or was lifted from IT, "A dream
was i'll said suddenly, see there
Away off IN the lake was the
ghost, flashing over the water
and disappearing as before. We
looked at each other. Get me
close, and I'll cast and hook it, SAID my
friend, and smiling at the idea OF fishing
for ghost, turned the canoe in the d.
rection where it disappeared Again it
rose, and drove the canoe toward it
with all my strength, while my friend
held his rod poised ready to cast.
There it is heading straight for us.
Hold her steady, holdi' and looking
where he pointed, saw the thing speed
ing toward us, the white neck aud |
shoulders, and dark hair showing plain
ly in the moonlight, swaying with the
Of the swimmer, to right and |
left, as an insensible woman might.
Again II sank suddenly as II had ap-
peared, just beyond casting distance.
Lying quietly ia our canoe, but ready
for action, we waited little time and
hen, with an ever widening ripple that
1t last showed something material, it
'ose again. Quickly the bcas-. flew to
meet it; another second, the shining
poor flew out, bgt while the hooks were
n mid air again it sank, the spoon struck
he water with splash, and the canoe
hot over the spot, lhe hooks dragging u
'ehind in her walk A quick, sharp |
- - "a n y Uvsss i 4 Nm NJ
) Himself. i've M kru L tsk5 he said, n II
nd commenced to lay It'll And now
nsued curious sight the fish,
a large one, rushed
ither and thither and once,
5 it ran out nearly the
I'LL line, aud then turned, we saw the
1hite arm CLEAN in the moonlight as it
ppeared to reach over and seize the
me as if to tear it loose. We were too
usy to speak, for with moderate tackle !
nd birch canoe. a heavy fish is no
hild's play TO fight, but quick glance
assing between US told our thoughts;
nd as another sudden rush, and turn,
lmost under the boat, again brought the
rm to view, we knew we had hooked
he ghost, whatever it might prove. !.
While the fight waged, at every turn of
he fish, and slack of the line, drove
he canoe toward the shadows, for we !
ad forgotten the gaf, and | meant to I,
aud the thing at ali cost Shorter and
horter grew the line, weaker aud weaker
be struggles, until at last my paddles Z
ouched bottom. Bring it cIoselas you Z
au and hold it, l said as ! stepped !
verboard into the warm water. The boat :
wung around, the line hung qulvering !
a front of me, as the conquered fish 4
urned at bay for the last time, aud then y
With step forward a sudden 4oop, !
rasp Of the line with the left haId, and I
reach downward with the right, the :
myers ana thumbs grasping tad great 7
sh by the eyes, while the hand, lreieas :
ng the line, dipped undeT its BODY, and Y
a a second it was in the canoe, dnd the y
host for ever laid WHAT do yod think g
was, boysl 4 Tremendous pike, y
welve or thirteen years old, BY his grey IS
'hiskered snout and gills, weighing
bout sixteen pounds, with frame 70
lpport another ten pounds il he had
cen well fed. That was all--but there
n his shoulders sat the ghost. 1t was
be skeleton OF young sea eagle. who, ID
down at the fish, had me- more fe
nan It's match. The talons Of the bird,
eeply embedded among the stout bones pI
I the back had prevented its release, and st
he fish, drowning the bird, had been Sc
breed to carry the skeleton around like d
Il old man Of the sea. Every tide the th
sh rose to the surface, the white breast al
'one and back CLEANED in the moonlight.
rhiie the feathers Of the wings, matted az
u weed had grown to be veritalile gar "
len of water growths, and floating be- q
ind gave the semblance Of hairito the GU
-aost. Our catch created quite stir at d.
ne time, anu | have often regretted I b.
lid not keep the skeletons. Some years th
alter, well-known traveller tod me GU
here were several such cases on record bI
n EuroDe. one in Lake Wettcr Snntheri Sc