The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1891-04-25

ties IN the boat. As we began TO feel
rather tired at our long day, we started
home early, at the paddle, when sud
denly my friend said, pointing behind
me, Look, see there! what is itH
Hurriedly turning, / saw something
moving across the moonlight about
three hundred feet away, swimming
over the surface of the water, rising and
falling as swimmer would, then it
sank.
"'What on earth was it?' again asked
my friend, by heavens, the ghostn
with turn of the paddle spun the
light boat round, and sent her flying to
the spot.
"'Keep quiet, it may come again. I
said, and there we sat waiting.
''Soon it rsappeared, far over the pool,
something white cleaning in the moon
light, like an arm, and then suddenly as
the thing turned in its course, 1t changed
to a neck and shoulders, over which
tumbled mass of dark, wet hair; then
it sank as suddenly as it appeared, and
though we waited two hours, we saw it
no more.
Returning to the hotel, we decided
to keep our experiences to ourselves, and
investigate the matter further. The next
day we spent quietly. and as soon as
night fell again padded across to the
pool, and getting under the shore, waited
for developments.
"All was dark, with that peculiar blue
blackness that precedes the rise of the
moon in the mountains, and over all
things lay the mist of night, broken
only by the katy dds or the buzz-z-z of
a low flying night-hawk. Every now and
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 ray of FURNISHED silver, 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. 1t was as
light as day, except where we lay, In
deep shadow.
'>Anxiously we cast our eyes around,
but no sign appeared, and at ten o'clock
my friend said, no use tonight,
you paddle home, and l will
troll as we 90. l may get a
rise l think this ghost business is a
fraud-a case of too much pie last even
ing. | begin to think we dreamed it,
Il said nothing but padded slowly
along, while he stood forward, playing
his spoon, making thousand miniature
rainbows at every splash rs it fell into the
water, or was lifted from it. "A dream
was it. 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, sad my
friend. and smiling at the idea of fishing
for ghost, l turned the canoe in the di-
rection where it disappeared. Again it
rose, and l 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, hold and looking
where he pointed, saw the thing speed
ing toward us. the white neck and
shoulders, and dark hair showing plain
ly in the moonlight, swaying with the
movement of the swimmer, to right and
left, as an insensible woman might.
Again it sank suddenly as it had ap-
peared, just beyond casting distance.
Lying quietly in our canoe, but ready
for action, we waited little time, and
then, with an ever widening ripple that
at last showed something material, it
rose again. Quickly the boat flew to
meet it; another second, the shining
spoon flew out, but while the hooks were
in mid air again it sank, the spoon struck
the water with a splash, and the can Oe
shot over the spot, the hooks dragging
behind in her wake. \ quick, sharp
pull on the line nearly carried the pole
from my friends hands. and recalled him
, to himself. 'Ive hooked fish, he said,
and commenced to play 1t. And now
ensued curious sight, the fish,
evidently large one, rushed
hither and thither and once,
as it ran out nearly the
full line, and then turned, we saw the
white arm CLEAN in the moonlight as II
appeared to reach over and seize the
line as if to tear it loose. We were too
busy to speak, for with moderate tackle
and birch canoe, a heavy fish is nc
! child's play to fight, but a quick glance
passing between us told our thoughts
and as another sudden rush, and turn,
! almost under the boat, again brought the
arm to view, we knew we had hooked
the ghost, whatever it might prove,
While the fight waged, at every turn OF
the fish, and slack of the line, | drove
the canoe toward the Swallows, for VIZ
had forgotten the gait, and l meant tt
land the thing at all cost. Shorter and
shorter grew the line, weaker aud weaker
tire struggles, until at last my paddle;
touched bottom. Bring it close as yOt
can and hold it, | said as | stepped
overheard into the warm water. The boa