Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-09-03
A OEEP-WATER GHOST.
BY PAUL PASTNOR.

We were four bronzed, jolly sports.
mel, who happened to meet during the
partridge shooting season at a little
hostelry in the southern part of Vir.
ginia. There was a real Old-fashioncd
fireplace in the waiting room of the
hotel, and here we used 10 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. Itwas unique and weird. Lloyd
was a tremendously big, athletic fell
low, and he had way Of saying things
III that deep bass voice Of his that made
thcm doubly impressive.
lie had been sitting for some time
with his chin on his hand, looking stead
ily into the open fire. Benson had been
telling rather commonplace ghost
story, and the rest of us had dutifully
Oh-d and ahd and pretended to SILVER
al the proper laces, but Lloyd said never
ii word. When silence settled upon the
little group once more, however, Lloyd
sat up in his chair, uncros8ed his feet,
and remarked:
Now, boys, am going to tell YOU
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 shall tell it.
when was in Sweden. some IS years
ago, l had an opportunity to do con-
siderable cunning, as my friend and
host was Z landed proprietor and con-
trollcd the hunting and fishing rights
OF large and valuable territory. In this
tract was one large lake. called Lake
Tryksdal, which abounded in fine fish,
particularly pike of remarkable size.
lowering over this lake almost con-
stantly were few pairs of whitish-
graz birds which the Swedes call sea-
eagles - great, magnificent, broad
winged creatures, whose food consisted
of the large fish that were so plentiful
i'll the waters of their habitat.
Il had a strong desire to shoot one of
these birds. although / knew them to
be held in almost sacred esteem by the
inhabitants, who believed that if anyone
should kill one of them. he would be
haunted by the sprite of the bird as
long as he lived. But not being the
least bit superstitions, my passion for
obtaining a specimen Of each new bird
or animal l came across in my travels
easily Oyercame all scruplcs, and forth
with laid my plans to secure one Of the
sea-eagles.
Il shall never forget the circum-
stances connected with the shooting of
this bird. 1t was bright, still after
aoon. | had been lying for hours be-
hind large rock on the shore of the
lake waiting for one of the birds to
come within range OF my fowling- piece.
a pair Of them were sailing hither and
thither above the surface of the lake,
waiting for ali opportunity to pounce
upon some pike or other fish that might
be summing itself at the top of the wa ter
At length l saw one of the eagles drop
Ike Snot from height of more than
lGO feet, and strike the water in q cloud
OF foam and spray. The next moment
ne rose, bearing goodsized fish in his
talons, and flew heavily toward the
shore. My heart began to thump
against my ribs, as saw that, if the
eagle held to his course. he would pass
almost directly over the place where 1
Hay concealed. Crouching 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
travelling blot of darkness-and the mo-
m"nt 1t passed me on the shingle of the
beach. l leapcd up, with both barrels
ct my gun cooked and ready. There,
scarcely 40 yards away, and little to
the left. the eagle doomed in the clear.
sun-lit cir. The gun sprang to my
shoulder, and It quick, loud report rang
out on the silence. With an almost
human scream, the bird dropped the
fish from his talons, and came sailing
down with outspread, quivering WINGS,
graceful even unto death. Slowly he
settled upon the beach. wings extended.
dashed towards him. The great winrs
were vibrating silently on the stones.
The head ana neck had fallen prone in
the weakness and stupor OF death. Eut
as stood over C,y victim, the eyes OF
the great bird ract mine with glance