, 1896-03-25

liSSe uass SUCH a"leSSHesS was but
too common TO cause especial remark
The troopers picketed their horses
among the trees, camp fires were light.
ed, supper was eaten; there was a rest
full hour or W given up to smoking,
storytelling, laughter, singing, the
playing upon guitar and mandolin, and
then zach man, tired and drowsy,
wrapped himself in his blanket, soon
to be soundly sleeping. All but the
sentinels, who kept their steady rounds
as the solemn night wore on. There
was a nearly full moon, that at mid
night rested just short of the zenith.
Illuminating with its mild light the
surface of the open lake and empha-
sizing the black shadows under the
trees. The sentry whose beat lay near
est the shore CHANGED to glance care
lessly out I'VE the water, as he walked
slowly along, n he saw something
there that changed him from a half
somnambulist to an intensely awaken
ed man.
CHASTITY VISITANTS.
The water lay still and quiet as death
and from its waveless surface the sen.
tinel saw what first seemed to be
wreathes and strands Of gray mist,
rising and twirling. In a moment,
even as he looked, the shadowy vapors
resolved themselves into the forms of
men-horible shapes. with agonizing
faces and pale lights dimly shining in
their faces, that arranged themselves
in CHASTITY procession, and, swaying as
in a gentle wind, moved swiftly for
ward toward thee amp OF the sleeping
soldiers. A weird low cry, the shadow
CT a wall, rose up and chilled the hear
er's utmost soul with deadly terror.
More from fright than boldness the
sentinel fired his carbine at the advanc,
ing shades and then ran shrieking into
the woods. The sleepers reused up as
onem an, saw, heard, and they too fed,
panic-striken, into the thickets. The
horses plunged and broke the picket
ropes. The noise OF maddened beasts
crashing through the underground and
the cries of terror stricken men grew
fainter as all hurried from the horror.
Later on in the night a few of the
boldest met together, and, with cour-
age somewhat restored, determined to
go back and have a second lock at the
things that had a~ffrighted them. Cau>
tiously they returned within view OF
the camp. They saw form moving
about here and there, strangely dimm-
ed in the Pickering radiance of the
camp fires and strangely illumined
when in the shadows. Dropping be-
hind bushes and trees they watched
breathlessly. not daring to advance.
The camp was. indeed, occupied, but
by no mortal occupants. The unearth-
ly visitors moved swiftly and noisless,
ly about as though busying themselves
with camp duties, and, as the scared
watchers yet looked on, the first flush
of morning began to mingle with the
wan light Of the dying noon. Again
arose the vague wailing cry Again
the shades marshaled themselves in
regular order and moved down silently
to the edge of the lake and out upon
the water, there to sink out Of sight.
When the demoralized troop had
been gathered together again and was
well on its way the men spoke of the
occurrence with bated breath and
called the place "Espantoso." AS the
story became known the lake came to
be regarded as accursed. and travellers
passed swiftly by. not daring to rest.
however weary. Belated wayfarers.
chance hunters and fishermen added
reluctant tales to the sun total of ex-
periences. Strange form were seer
after dusk and whisperings were heard
from beneath the water and from I'M
seen lips in the air. AS years passed
the experience of the soldiers was I'M
some strangers who knew not. All
were one in belief thereafter. 1t is
also said that certain persons who
were known to have camped there at
night were never seen or heard OF
again. So evil became the name Of the
place that the road was finally turned
away from the lake shore, and "Es-
pantoso" became a name to lie spoken
with dread and a place to be avoided.
1t SO remains down to this very day.
ABOARD SHIP.