Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-05-18
THE KELpIE'S POOL.

trout to take freely, lie fclt the sense or his
own freedom somewhat irksome. Perhaps
his wood of Carve had cast its shadow on
his spirits On the few occasions when he
had visited his ancestral towers n chill had
seemed to fall on him as he entered tho
dark pine avenue that led to the door of
Carve Whether it came from his father
presence or from the trees he could never
tell. He was beginning to know that the
penalty of freedom is loneliness.
A thought suddenly came to him, and
he reelcd up his line and moved quickly
down stream. When he came forth into
the open, he was seen to he goodly
youth. He looked younger than his years,
which were 20 The movement of his
limbs revealed sinewy strength whereof
his slight, tall figure when at rest scarce
gave promise. The face was dark and
pleasant looking, but it was hardly that of
"A man who might be crossed with inn
punity. Tho hazel eyes could on occasion
give out flash of resolution and temper
and the lips under the brown mustache
could harden into sour, stern lines.
His long strides quickly brought him to
the spot near the neck of the valley whore
the Black wood runs down to the brink of
the river and throws "A skirmishing party
of gnarled and veteran trees across to the
farther bank The water, instead Of roar
ing and tumbllng increasingly over the
rocks in its narrow bed, moves by leaps,
with rests between. Below the projecting
lodges and the writhing fir roots the turbid
stream dashes over messy powders into
pot holes of unfathoincd depth, where the
froth spins dlzzily all day long. There the
trout love to lie, and the most noted OF
the pools on the barryvalt was that IN
which the old bull trout had taken up
his quarters. 1t was sald that ne had been
known for generation to haunt this spot.
( Marvellous tales were told or the size ana
/ the cunning OF TINS specimen OF the Sal1no
ferox Every lure had been employed to
capture him. but ny ana balt, ana even
hand ret and "leister, had all been tried
/ i'll vain. From his favorlte shelter under
great stone this leviathan of the burn
seemed to laugh at the attempts TO pun
hook into his Jaw and draw MN forth AT
length the country people had come to re
gard him and his pool with feeling OF
fear and awe, lie had inherited IN their
eye some OF the attributes Of his Predeces-
sor, the waterkelpie 1t was impossible to
take him. 1t was dangerous to try
Inc fortunate youth mas Resolved 10 give
up his day to making spoil OF the ancient
bull trout lie was free to choose among
other Things, the oahK OF the river whence
he should fish. Looking over the family
papers last night ne had notlced that the
march OF his lands with the helShoorlhR
estate of the stewards OF Drumoane loi-
lowed not the stream, but the skirt OF the
wood. 1t crossed the water ana lnclosed
both sides OF hclple 5 pool Fergus mao
some vague memory that the spot mad pcen
the scene Or the occasion, or both, OF the
long teud that had ragged between the
GrahameS OF Carve ana the stewards o.
Drumhane but the tale eludcd MN wher
he sought to recall 1t. In his wadlng boot'
and with the aid OF his ROD he crossed th'
slippery stones to the other BANK, ana, TAX
ing up his position on platform OF rocl
raised dozen feet above the surface OF th'
black ana troubled water, pegah dexter
ously whipping the kelpie' pool
The great trout 1t seemed was not a
home, or he sulked IN ms watery cave
scornlully regnruless OF the req pacA Il.
that so persistently lit and SKINNED OF
the water over his nose 1T least he mao
no sign meanwhile tlmc passed, ana lh
sun rose higher. Ihe nSht lorcen l,s wa.
everywhere save to the shadowy SIDE OF IN
pool. 10 the ear OF the Usher the hoarse
monotonous chant OF the laiilhg water
seemed 10 be broken now ana again by
low chuckle OF laughter as OF some ems
thing that Knocked MS Efforts StllI'
had no intention of abandoning mis- quest
ana he tried new lure hardly mad II
made fresh cast when ne became aWar
of two figures watching him from the Gill