Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-10-29

to repeat my visit at his fine old cstate,
and as knew he really wanted me- 70
come. had neither heart nor reason to
decline.
''The weather during July was ex-
ceedingly warm, and during our fire.
quent fishing trips to Lake Fryksdal
my friend and l often refreshed our
selves by taking dip in the clear
waters. One afternoon. as We were
fishing off shore near the place where
had shot my eagle. I said to my host
with bantering triumph, Well. a year
has passed, and haven't seen the ghost
Of that sacred eagle yet.
Never mind was the reply, you
will see it yet. Mark my words. 1t
will come to you some time when you
least expect it.
Il laughed and proposed that we take
a swim. as the sun was getting very
warm, and the fish were not biting at
all. My friend assented, so we un-
dressed and plunged into the lake.
dove straight down. and catching hold
OF the jagged end OF large rock. opened
my eyes to look about me for a mo-
ment.
Never, II I live to be a hundred,
will the sight that met my eyes at that
instant be effaced from memory. Com.
ing toward me, silently, and vet with
incredible swiftness, was the bleached
and snowy skeleton Of a gigantic bird,
with wings outstre'ched. 1t made no
ripple. no pulsation Of the water. 1t
seemed to have no means of propulsion.
for the ghostly wings were rigid and
motionless Yet on 1t came, swift and
still; and. to my Mortified Imagination.
IN the white sockets OF the skull
cleaned those same reproachful, con-
demnlng eyes which the dying eagle
mad turned upon me a year ago.
TO say that was fairly paralyzed
with fear but inadequately describes my
condition. Though beginning to suffer
for lack OF air could not to save me
let go Of my grasp Of the rock. l was
fascinated, enchanted Every muscle in
my body was rigid and beyond control
OF the brain. And still that horrible,
mysterious specter was coming on to-
ward me. and l could neither avoid it
nor ward it off.
How long chung there, suffocating
and helpless. know not l only know
that. just as the water ghost was about
to strike me in the face, a 1.-the, white
FORM flashed in between. a strong hand
seized my arm. and l was dragged for
cibly up to the surface of the water.
lhen lost consciousness; and the next
thing remember was being rolled over
and over on the beach, and punched in
the ribs. and then opening my eyes on
the pale. anxious face Of my friend, who
had dived down and saved me.
When, an hour or two later, I told
MIN the story OF my deep water appari-
ton. he smiled incredulously, even as
he said, Did I not tell you you would
see 1t sometime?'
But the mystery was solved, a few
days later. when. picking up Stock
holm paper. read the following para
graph:
"a CHASTITY TROPHY.
"A recent writer tells what may be
truly regarded as one of the most curl
GUS incidents OF natural history. In
some OF the Swedish lakes, he saws.
large birds of prey are in the habit of
swooping down on the pike basking st
the surface OF the water In these cases,
II the pike be more powerful than the
bird, the latter, unable to extricate his
talons. ID borne to the bottom and is
drowned. Incredible as the story seems,
Ecksrom. the Rev. Molier, and other
writer's. state that the flesh Of the pike
heals with the talons Of the bird in it's
back. while tie bird becomes converted
into skeleton. which is carried about
by pike. One skeleton, which had
long been exhibited by pike in Lake
Wetter. had acquired a greenish tinge,
and was regarded by the fishermen rs a
harbinger Of misfortune