The Yale expositor., 1896-05-22


the soldiers, bound them hand and foot,
tied heavy stones to them and tossed
them, living, one by one over into the
dark water. OF all who had laid down
to rest in the evening" not one was
alive in the morning. Pools OF blood,
trampled grass, half burned wagons,
the ashes of expired camp fires, marked
the spot, and that was all. Deep down
in the still, cool water lay the bright
silver, and on the surface swirl here
and there told Of the alligators fighting
over their hideous feast.
Exactly one year later to the very
day another party camped at the lake.
They were troopers returning to easy
service in Mexico, after n season OF
loneliness, hardship and danger on the
frontier. The memory of the tragedy
enacted there had either been forgot
ten or given slight consideration, for
in those days lawlessness 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 rest
full hour Or two given W to smoking,
storytelling, laughter, singing, the
playing upon guitar and mandolin, and
then each man, tired and drowsy,
wrapped himself in his blanket, soon to
be soundly sleeping. All but the senti-
nels, who kept their steady rounds as
the solemn night wore on. There was
o nearly full moon, that at midnight
rested just north of the zenith, IL
| Eliminating with it's mild light the sur
| face of the open lake, and emphasizing
the black shadows under the trees. The
sentry whose beat lay nearest the shore
chanced to glance carelessly out over
the water as he walked slowly along
! and he saw something there that
changed him from a half somnambulist
to an intensely awakened man.
The water lay still and quiet as death,
and from its waveless surface the SEN
| tinel saw what first seemed to be
wreaths and strands of gray mist, ris-
! ing and twirling. In moment, even
as he looked, the shadowy vapors re-
solved themselves into the forms Of
men-horrible shapes. with agon!zing
| faces, and arranged themselves in
CHASTITY procession, and, swaying as in
a gentle wind, moved swiftly forward
toward the camp of the sleeping SOL
diers. weird low cry, the shadow
of 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 ad-
vancing shades and then ran shrlek!ng
into the woods. The sleepers, reused
up as one man, saw, heard, and they
too fled. panic stricken, into the thick
cts. The horses plunged and broke the
picket ropes. The noise of maddenlng
beasts crashing through the under
growth and the cries Of terror-stricken
men grew fainter and fainter as all
hurried from the horror.
Later on in the night few of the
boldest met together, and, with cour-
age somewhat restored, determined to
20 back and have q second look at the
things that had affrighted them. Cau-
tiously they returned within view of the
camp. They saw forms moving about
here and there strangely dimmed in
the fickeying radiance Of the camp
fires and strangely illumined when in
the shadows. Dropping behind bushes
and trees they watched breathleSsiy
not daring to advance. The camp was
indeed, occupied, but by no mortal &C.
cupants. The unearthly visitors moved
swiftly about as though busying them
selves with camp duties, and, as the
scared watchers yet looked on, the tirst
flush of morning began to mingle with
the wan light of the dying moon. Agar
arose that vague wailing cry. Again
: the shades marshaled themselves il
regular order and moved down silently
: to the edge of the lake and out upoI
J the water, there to sink out of sight.
When the demoralized troop had beer
} gathered together again and was wei
on it's way the men spoke OF the cc
currence with bated breath and called
the place "Espantoso. AS the story be
came known the lake came to be re
garded as accursed. and traveller
passed swiftly by, not daring to rest
however weary. Belated wayfarers
chance hunters and fishermen added re
luctant tales to the sum total of ex
periences. Strange forms were seel
after dusk and whisperings were hear
from beneath the water and from I'm
seen lips in the air. AS years pasSe'
the experience of the scldiery was un
dergone by other camping parties, som
strangers who knew not, and other
who had heard and believed not. A
were one in belief thereafter. 1t Is al:
said that certain persons who wer
known to have camped there at nigh
we're never seen or heard of again. 5
evil became the name Of the place tina
the road was finally turned away fror
the lake shore, and "Espantoso" becam
\ a name to be spoken with dread and
s place to be avoided. 1t so remains dow
s to this very day.
A Sad Dream That Came True.