The Yazoo sentinel. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1878-1916, 1891-04-02

with q turn o. the paddle ! spun tnf
light boat round, and sent hsr flying Z
n'Keep quiet. Il may come again,
said. aud there We sat waiting.
"soon IL rcappcared. fat ogerfhe pool,
something white cleaning Ia the moon
/ light, like 40 arm, aud then suddenly a.
/ the thing turned IN is course. Il changed
70 neck and shoulders. over which
tumblcd a mass Of dark, wet hair; then
Il sank as suddenly a. Il appeared, and
though we waited two hours, We saw i
no more.
Returning 70 the hotel, We decided
70 keep our Experiences 20 ourselves, aud
investigate the matter further. The next
day we spent quietly. and as soon as
night fell again paddlcd ncross 70 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 oil
things lay the mist Of night broken
only by the katy-dids or the buzz-z-z OF
a low flying night.hawk. Every now ard
again the falntest breath swayed the
pines, aud sent their soothing fragrance
floating over the water, and then, far on
the other side OF the lake, slowly ap-
pcared ray Of FURNISHED silyef, 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. II was as
light as day, except where We say, In
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, aud II will
troll as VIC 20. / may get
rise think this ghost business Is q
fraud case Of too much pie last even
ing. begin to 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 ii. "a dream
was it, ! said suddenly, see there"
AWAY of 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 a ghost, turned the canoe in the di-
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.
"'Thero 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
of the swimmer, to right and |
left, as an iusensible woman might. |
Again 1t sank suddenly as IL had ap-
peared, just beyond casting distance.
Lying quietly ia our canoe, but ready !
for action, we waited little time and I
then, with an ever widening ripple that |
1t last showed something material, it
rose again. Quickly the boat. flew to
meet it; another second, the shining
IpooG flew out, bgt while the hooks were
q mid air again Il sank, the sp5on struck
lie water with splash, and the canoe
hot over the spot. The hooks dragging \
behind in her waka A quick, sharp
,ull on thr.lina. nesely carried SAe hole 4
- lII,iII lSsSssS ,Sssufh. Z. M
q liiinselt. i've \ "A rru aii9 i he sid, 4
and commenced q lay it! And now
onsued curious sight the fish,
,vidently large one, rushed
hither aud thithcr and once,
IS it ran out nearly the
Iull line, and then turned, we saw the
white arm CLEAN in the moonlight as it
appeared to reach over and seize the
inc as il to tear it loose, We were too
busy to speak, for with moderate tackle
md birch canoe a heavy fish is no
,hild's play to fight, but quick glance
passing between US told our thoughts;
md as another sudden rush, and turn,
almost under the boat, again brought the
lrm 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
aud forgotten the gaif, and meant to
and the thing at all cost Shorter and
shorter grew the line, weaker aud weaker
he struggles, until at last my paddles
.ouched bottom. Bring it close as you
'an and hold it, | said as | stepped
overheard into the warm water. The boat
iwung around the line hang qulverng
n front of me, as the conquered fish
urned at bay for the last time, aud then
With a step forward, a sudden stoop, a
yrasp of the line with the left hand and
reach downward with the right, the
myers ana thumbs grasping the great /,
ish by the eyes, while the baud, releas-
ng the line, dipped under its body, aud
n second it was in the canoe, and the
thost for eves laid What do vol think {
{ was, boysl 4 tremendous pike, /.
welye or thirteen years old, by his grey
yhiskered snou. and gills, weighing
bout sixteen pounds, with frame TO
upport aaothey ten pounds il he had
zen we'll fed That was all-but there
n his shoulders sat the ghost. 1t was
he skeleton Of young sea eagle, who, |
down at the fish had me. more [
han It's match. The talons OF the bird,
eeply embedded among the stout bones
t the back had prevented its release, and $
he fish, drowning the bird, had been 5
orced to carry the skeleton around like
a old man Of the sea. Every time the {
sh rose to the surface, the white breast 0
'one and back cleaned in the moon. light.
While the feathers of the wings, matted q
u weed had grown to be a veritahle gar '
len of water growths. and floating be- {
ind gave the semblance Of hair to the c
,host. Our catch created quite , stir at Z
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