/ HORSDES.

From the Knickcrbocker for February
THE MYSTERIOUS LAKE.
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From the knickcrbocker for February


THE MYSTERIOUS LAKE


SOME time ago. when | sent you Mr.. EDIroK nm
account of that mysterious spring The WAKuLLAIi,
! promised as you will remember farther partc,i-
lars of this wonderful land in which NV lot is cast
In performance of that promise | think Of nothing
which will interest you more than our near neigh
hor LAKE JACKSON, which shall prove to be Us
scli-willcd and unreasonable body of water for u
lake as the Wings fancy they have proved its illus
trons name axe to have been a. u president and /,



Three wears ago it was beautiful sheet of water,
extending north and south distance of about seven
miles, and varying in width from one to two. Its
shores were uneven; sometimes rsing abruptly TO
the hight Of forty fifty feet, and sometimes run
nlng in gentle slope from the waters edge to Il
considerable distance; but always they were beau
ttu he sturdy live oak was there, casting its
branches out with perfect ab0nd0n: looking as
brave and free as the noble ship itself of which, it
some day will form part. The grand magnolia
WAS there, the monarch of the southern grove TO
Which the oak sliccurnbs as the stout and seryiceabl
ycomal bends to his slight but handsome and ac-
complishcd lord. These with the countless other
trees which this climate Produces tied together
with fcstoons of wild vines and lrapcd with long
gray moss, made Its shores resort for all who
loved The beautiful in nature. Nor was art entirely
wanting AT al early period after the occupation
OF the country the ncighboring planters, avaiEng
themselves of the many beautiful situations which
1t. banks presented, built their houses ON the high
bluffs that overlooked The lake, and cultivated the
grounds IN falling gardens down To the waters
edge Two at leus, of these establishments would
IN all respects compare tvornbly with manyin odcn
countries; and in hospitality and good cheer they
are ccrtulnly where to be rXccilcd.


ion haze perceived that in all this description
have been speaking the past tense and you will
ask, why adopt this mode Of telling your story2"
You shall hear


Two years ago the dwclers ON the lake were
startled to observe strong current setting from all
directions toward one two particular spots The
waters we're all greatly agtitcd, and strong cddics
were observed to be working where the currents
met. The level OF the water rapidly subsidized several
teet then suddenly remained stationary for few
hours, and then fell again us the same mysterious
currents set in afrcsh from every side This con-
tnued until the whole lake, witt. the exception of
few deep places here and there s;ls drained and
the poor fishes and other swimming and crawling
things that " do business in great waters luv oun-
dcring in the mud at the mercy of animals of the
other element, chiefly men and hogs But there
were many who went there no. for fish but TO find
out what had produced so great n revolution. The
strong currents had ploughcd broad burrows in the
sand, and following them they found their terminus
ton IN deep chnsns and creyicrs in the rocky bot
tom of the lake, bu, which were too marrow and
Irregular to be satisfactorily examined.


Hcre then was the explanation: tired of the sun
hght nld glitter OF this upper world il had broken
the crust and inundated SymmeS's hole; or weary
ot the name IL bore caul on disg,ls,ctl with the
injustice ITS namcsakc encountered among men, it
hn1u III \.
their opinion.


was not there at the time, ,,n, cannot saw for
certain. ltwaS some ,uon,hs after the event that
found time to ride on, with who once was Il bold
dragoon, but who now sleeps, alas where he can
never again hear his hugle's call 4 merry ride wc
had; but sad am |, poor G -! to think even of
Its loyolsness when remember all that has hap
pened to thee since.


But for the ride. The Cap tain was mounted on
vicious little black and lupon powerful and we'll
conditioned roam: and followed bv couple of ut-
tenlan,s, we started for the runaway lake Our in
,enons chiefly scientific but to be- ready for
every emergency we each ofuS shouldcrcd a double
bare!lcd towling-piece heavily loaded with buck
shot. and had plenty more Of the matcrel stuffed in
TASKS IN our pockets, or Sung in pouches over our
shoulders


Inc hrst view OF the lake, US we emerged from
'''' ' 'ieWootts, was very hne--a OF
waving grass. Water could not haze Welded more
readily to the influences Of the breeze than did the
long and fcathcry hcrbagc which spread for miles
oe'ore us Wave after wave rolled up gradually to
the shores, making long sweeps and broad furrows
where the wind PLACED freely. and pctted INFO dim
pies and cddies as they rounded the hcadlnIs and
were met by byoppoSins currents


But we did not stand long to look Thor, wos
stronger attraction in the clouds ot-gam which
from time to time were floating over the lake from
ftedingground to another; and we plunged into
the long grass, riding till got within gunsho, of
the nearest pond, and then proceeding more eau
1iously foot, that might not alasn, quick
sighted prey


(" There exclaimed the Captain, in nervous
whisper, what q fine chance! Why did YOU no,
shoot" /"


gave hm no cause. YOU may rest assured, tor
second similar remark, for rs he aftcrward laugh
'ngly said, 81 let nothing escape my aim inlpos-
|iblc distances never daunted me; Ill wanted was
10 see the bird, and bang went my gun, and away
flew the shot, describing harmless parabolas in the
ar. The consequence WAS, that before my COM
loanion had donc any thing my shot was all gone
and not caring to burn powder to no purpose nor TO
shorten his sport by borrowing his ammunition,
left the field and wandered OFF in search ot the
chasms of which | mad heard so much


soon came to one Of the gullies which traverse