The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-20

" nulmHnHmHluaimRI1 1EElnMmMERuWmMB1 place in winter. This be queer spot ain't 1t, sir?y
 They had come to the Tidal Pool. and were walking along the path by the edge of the wood. The moon, which had not risen far above the horizon. was almost hidden by the trees, but q dim light filtered through the leafiess branches, and showed the outline of the wall, faint and ghostly like a fairy ring. The water, ebbing out through the narrow culvert. gurgled notsily, and the faint sigh of the wind in the trees was not loud enough to drown the sound of it. You're right. Jocelyn," Shil replied; I'm thinking of filling 1t up. or else cleaning it out. Whats the matter with the dog?"
 Pat had stopped. with his head laid close to the ground. and his eyes fixed on the trees. Both men looked in the same direction. but they could see noth- ing in the darkness which shrouded the lower part os the wood. What Is it. Pat?" cried Shil. Good dog. what is it?'
 But the dog did not move. He might have been chiselled out of red bronze. "Tis bird or beast, mebbe." said the keeper. But John Shii sheld out his hand and kept his eyes fixed on the trees.
 me the gun." he said quietly. The keeper held out the heavy s-bore. Shil took it from his hand. and slipped two csrtridges into the breach. "Is there anyone there?' he contin- ued in a loud, clear voice, "he'd better speak. for I'm going to fire couple of shots into the trees" There was still no answer. and the next moment two loud shots rang out in quick succession. But still the dog did not move.
 Then John Shil and the keeper made their way across the grass to the trees, and searched in tls undergrowth. There was nothing to be heard, and nothing to be seen by the light of the small lantern which the keeper car ried. A few shattered twigs. few shot marks on the bark of the trees represented the net result of the fusil- ade. Yet John Shil1 was not sorry that he had fired. He knew that if there had been anyone close to the edge of the trees, the man would have overheard the previous conversation, and would have known that he was going to Con- asea Island
 '"Twas nowt." said the keeper roughly, ''but don't know what's come over the blamed dog. Look at him a. standing there for all the world as if he were mummy" John ShiT looked and saw that Pat had not stirred. He was still in the same position and his eyes were stili fixed on the trees.
 Pat" he cried. ''here--come here. Pat"
 But the dog did not move. He did not even look at his master. but. as Shil advanced towards him, he sudden ly threw ub his head in the air. and howled dismallY
 "What Is 1t, PatY' shil asked in an encouraging voice. What is it. old fel1ow?"
 But Pat continued to howl, and was apparently in a state of abject terror. The hair on his back was ruffied, and the tail was tucked between his legs. shfi stooped down and patted him on
 .Bayin' at the moon, mebbe," said the keeper, though I ain't ever seen dog look so skeart when he was a. hayini."
 "He's an old fool" exclaimed shii an- grily. "Therei must be something about Just have another look, Jocelyn. Take | a turn round and search the wood" for ten minutes the keeper searched, and the light of his lantern flashed across the grass and through the trees, and even into the depths of the pool itself. He kfound no trace of any one but the dog continued to howl at intervals, and show unmistakable signs of fear. Shil had not slept for thirty six hours, and his nerves were strung to a high pitch by day of toll and anxiety. The noise of the bowling ir. ritated him. and he began to feel afraid of some indehnable danger. "Stop that row." he cried harshly, and, walking up to the dog. he struck the animal across the head with his open hand.
 Pat yelped, and lay down on the ground, as though asking for forgive ness. But his master paid no atten- ton to him.
 Come along, Joceiyn," he said curt ly. I'm missing, the last of the ebb tide" He moved towards the trees and the dog slunk along behind.
 T ain't ever seen him like that be- fore" muttered the keeper. But dogs is mighty sensible. Mebbe he see some- thin as we couldn't"
 "A ghost perhaps" said Shil with a laugh, as they passed through the trees and reached a small wooden gate in the wall.
 "Taint so unlikely. sir. There be ghost about the place. My father see him just afore mother died. He come out of the pool, so they say. He were drowned 300 years ago-one of the old Hintons he was"
 Shil opened the gate and laughed. He had more to fear from the living than the dead.
 He don't show hisself," the man said, as they walked across the grass to the little quay and I don't hev much faith in him. 'Tis more likely the dog used his own nat'rel instinct and howled cos he knew summit was about to happen. They do howl like that just afore death."
 John Shil made no reply but this time he did not laugh,
 He stepped into the punt, and ar- ranged the rug as cushion for the dog. Pat crept quietly on to 1t, and