Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 2, 1894

128
THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
right side of the bay, wliile I went in the opjio-
site direction alone, feeling sure that 1 sliould
find the quarry hiding among the rocks in the
distance. Unsuccessful in uiy search, I decided
to conceal myself among the boulders, and watch
the sands in the hope of seeing the olyect of my
pursuit. It was a very lonely spot, and although
I was not much given to superstitious notions, I
began to feel just a little bit "queer." The
cold, clammy air, and the dismal surge of the
billows, combined with a sense of lonliness,
helped to cool my youthful ardent spirits. IMy
companions were now far out of sight and
hearing.
I was just about to rise from my uncomfort-
able position when I fancied I saw in the dis-
tance a figure near the water's edge. "This
roust be the hare after all," I thought. " I
knew I would catch him ! " so I decided to i-e-
main still, and when it had come near enough
to me, I would pounce upon it. I watched the
figure as it passed alongside the edge of the
water, and when it came nearer I could make it
out a little more distinctly. I had only watched
it for a short time when I felt a curious feeling
coming over me. I tried to shake it off, but
found I could not. The horrible idea suggested
itself to me that it was a ghost ! This proposi-
tion I soon ]iut to the test. Right in front of
the advancing figure was a part of the sand
which was still moist and dark with water.
" Now," I thought, " if this figure is a human
being, his footsteps will leave a mark in the
sand, which I can easily see. If a spirit —
ghosts leave no marks." Trembling with excite-
ment, I watclied the shadowy figure. It reached
the moist spot and — disappeared ! In a second
it reajipeared on tlie opposite side, and seemed to
glide along, rather than walk. I tried to scream,
but 1 could not, my throat was parched. I
strove to rise, liut I was utterly helpless. Some
powerful influence held me in its iron grasp,
and I was \inable to resist it. Oh I I .shall never
forget those dreadful moments.
1 lay still and simply stared at the ajjparition.
Then I saw clearly that it had the appearance of
a man with no clothes upon him except a shirt,
which fluttered in the breeze. Slowly the figure
approached, and soon it was quite close to the
side of the rocks. It had now left the edge of
the water, and was coming straight towards me.
Unable to stand the strain on my nerves any
longer, I overcame the feeling of weakness which
oppressed me, and struggling to my feet, scram-
bled over the rocks towards the grassy bank
wliich overlooked the sands. Trembling like a
leaf I reached the top, kee]iing my face towards
the sea, and dreading each moment that the
unearthly spectre would clutch me.
Before fl}ing from the scene I gave one glance
behind, and there, sure enough, was the ghostly
apparition gliding up tlie l)ank towards me. I
was again helpless — that terrible feeling had
again taken possession of me. I watched it,
fascinated, and I then saw for the first time
that — horror of liorrors — the spectre had no
liead ! The upper part of the head from the
mouth was missing. The lower jaw only re-
mained — the rest was a Ijloody cavity!
Then I found strength to run and scream. I
ran as I had never run before, feeling that a
horrible fiend was close behind me. Bursting
into the first house I came to, that of James
Mackay, I fell down on the floor in a fainting
state. Hearing the frightful screams, all the
the people round about ran out, and pressed
into the house. When I recovered somewhat I
narrated as best I could all I had seen. No one
said anything to doubt the truth of my story,
my pallid face and trembling limbs showed only
too ]ilainly that 1 had seen "something." No
one suggested that it was not a ghost, but it
was noticeable that the people gave the sands a
wide berth after that at night. The boys no
longer played " hares and hounds " among the
rocks, and soon every one in the parish, and for
many miles beyond, heard the story of the head-
less spectre of Durness Sands.
(To be concluded).
DONALO.M?^KMVR.CHOV
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