176 Drifting 



but half sober, the tree slowly raised up and 

 tilted the boat so that its occupant felt com- 

 pelled to swim. His view of the offending 

 monster was much like my own fevered vision 

 of to-day. He not only swam ashore, but ran 

 a mile over a soft marsh. To him the sea- 

 serpent was a reality, although he saw it in 

 the creek. 



It is of interest to note that among the 

 early settlers of this region, for at least three 

 generations, the impression was prevalent 

 that there might be some monster lurking in 

 the deep holes of the creek or in the river. 

 The last of the old hunters and fishermen of 

 this region, who had spent all his life in a boat 

 or prowling along shore, was ever talking of a 

 " king tortle" that for forty years had defied 

 all his efforts to capture it. " Mostly, it 

 only shows its top shell, but 1 have seen it 

 fair and square, head and legs, and I don't 

 know as I care to get very close, neither." 

 This was his unvaried remark whenever I 

 broached the subject. To have suggested that 

 it was a sunken log, or in some other way 

 tried to explain the matter, would only 

 have brought about his ill will. I once at- 

 tempted it, very cautiously, but he effectually 



