The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-10-10

real old fashioned fireplace in the waiting
room OF the hotel and here we used to
gather every evening to smoke our cigars
compare notes on the sport of the day, and,
''swap yarns"
remember in particular the story that
Lloyd told us, the night before we parted.
1t was unique and weird. Lloyd was
tremendously big, athletic fellow, and he
had wavof saying things in that deep bass
voice of his that made them doubly i'm
pressive.
He had been sitting for some time with
his chin on his hand, looking steadily into
the open fire. Benson had been telling a
rather commonplace ghost story, and the
rest of us had dutfully oh-d and ah-d and
pretended to SILVER at the proper places but
LLOYD said never a word. When silence
settled upon the little group once more,
however, LLOYD sat up in his chair, I'M
crossed his feet, and remarked:
"Now, boys, I am going to tell you a
ghost story the like of which you never
heard before, and the best of it is it's all
true, for it happened to me exactly as l
shall tell it.
"When | was in Sweden, some 10 years
ago, had an opportunity to do consider
able cunning, as my friend and host was
landed proprietor and controlled the hunt
ing and fishing rights of large and valu-
L. I,t trap
lake, called Lake Fryksdal, which abound
ed in fine fish, particularly pike OF re-
markable size. lowering over this lake
almost constantly were few pairs OF
whitish-gr birds which the Sweedes call
sea eagles-great, magnificent, broad
winged creatures, whose food consisted OF
the large fish that were so plentiful in the
waters of their habitat
81 had strong desire to shoot one OF
these birds, although knew them to be
held in almost sacred esteem by the in
habitants, who believed that if anyone
should kill one of them, he would be
haunted by the spirit Of the bird as long
uo hC llNCt. l)ul HoV bOili- I'iS 4N''S' ''S
superstitious, my passion for obtaining a
specimen of each new bird or animal |
came across in my travels easily overcame
all scruples, and forthwith laid my plans
to secure one OF the sea eagles.
81 shall never forget t..c circumstances
connected with the shooting of this bird.
1t was bright, still afternoon. | had
been lying for hours behind large rock
on the shore OF the lake waiting for one OF
the birds to come within range of my fowl
ing-piece. A pair of them were sailing
hither and thither above the surface of the
lake, waiting for an opportunity to pounce
upon some pike or other fish that might be
summing itself at the top of the water. At
length | saw one of the eagles drop like a
shot from height of more than 100 feet,
and strike the water in cloud of foam
and spray. The next moment he rose,
bearing a good-sized fish in his talons. and
flew heavily toward the shore. Ny heart
began to thump against my ribs, as ! saw
that, if the eagle held to its course he
would pass almost directly over the place
where lay concealed. Crouchidg down,
waited for the shadow which knew must
precede the bird, as he was flying between
me and the sun.
"At length it camc-a big, slowly travel
ing blot of darkLcss--ald the moment it
passed me on the Single of the beach, |
leaped up, with both barrels of my gun
cooked and ready. There scarcely 10 yards
away, and little to the left, the eagle
doomed in the clear sun-lit air. The gun
sprang to my shoulder, and quick, loud
report rang out on the silence With an
almost human scream, the bird dropped the
fish from its talons and came sailing down
with outspread, quiyering wings, graceful
even unto death. Slowly he settled upon
the beach, wings extended. | dashed
towards him. The great wings were Vi
brating silently on the stones. The head
and neck had fallen prone in the weakness
and stupor Of death. But as | stood over
my victim, the eyes Of the great bird met
mine with a glance which / shall never
forget - reproachful, pleading accusing,
condemning fairly shivered and turned
away my eyes. 1t was It look to haunt a
man his life long. But when | turned
again the eyes had glazed, and the magnli
cent white eagle was stretched out in the
motionlnsa beauty of death
"When | took my prize home my, host
said, sadly, and more than half Seriously
Il am sorry you killed the bird. lie will
haunt you to your death | laughed care
lessly, yet somehow my heart misgaye me,
and it was weeks before could get over a
certain apprehensiye uneasiness that pur-
sued me even in my dreams.
81 spent the ensuing winter and spring
in Stockholm; but with the return of
adothcr summer my friend in the country
invited me most cordially to repeat my
visit at his fine old estate, and as | knew
he really wanted me to come, ! had neither
heart nor reason to decline.
"The weather during July was exceed
ingly warm, and during our frequent fish
ing trips to Lake Fryks,iaI my friends
opI .lg.,. ,.F.4gi,..l ...,,... 100. -