Gents Mag 1900 part 2 p.363

---

	introduction, lists
	list, 1st qtr 20th century
	previous page next page
	Gentleman's Magazine 1900 part 2 p.363 hand jumped up and galloped away, crackling the heather as he went. With a shrill alarm the ducks - we never discovered their variety - rose in a body, and at the same moment bang, bang, rang two shots down the ghyll. We were astounded that the keeper should be so near, and lay quite still till he should leave the spot; as yet he might be unaware of our presence. His shots had both been successful, for he walked leisurely in view to pick up a brace of fine birds. Ten minutes later we ventured for home, passing round the opposite side of the tarn to the gamekeeper. He never knew that we had been so near him, though had he been accompanied by his dog it could hardly have missed us. Another night's frolic was a skate on Windermere in 1895, the last time the whole length and breadth of it was bearable. I had already done the thirty-mile round of the lake, before leaving the brilliantly lighted pier at Waterhead for the heavy black woods of Wray. The ice, it will be remembered by those who at this time visited the lake, was furrowed between Bowness and Ambleside by two enormous cracks, and to cross these a course had first to be taken down the Pull shore, not, however, so near as to reach the thin ice around the mouth of the becks. The first seam was about a mile from Waterhead. As I approached it a few skaters were still gliding near me - apparently they were goning as far as the crack and back. Now a long gurgling crackle travelled along the ice; a lady screamed and made for the shore, fourscore yards away. I called out that we were quite safe, but she did not heed, and rushed towards a dangerous bay which I had reconnoitred earlier in the day. I spurted in pursuit and caught up to her; barely in time, however, for the thinning crust rocked like a raft before I could arrest our impetus and swerve to sounder ice. I did not fear drowning for the water was shallow, yet an immersion would have been very unpleasant. The crack now loomed in front like a feathery surf. In daylight it was easily passed, but at night things look different. Across this, the widest part of the lake, gleamed the many windows of Lowwood; at various houses by the shore lamps had been hoisted into the trees, and figures were gliding on the lighted area beneath them; but out with me was utter darkness, loneliness, and silence save for the quiet rasp of my skates. Wray Castle and a few farmhouses showed occasional gleams of light through the black fir woods and narrow snow fields. Suddenly in front appeared something black, a huge dog squatting on the ice it seemed to be. But as I neared, the mass seemed to dwindle in size - was it the head and shoulders of a man clinging for dear life to a splintered ice-egde? I put on speed,
	next page
	gazetteer links
	-- Bowness Bay
	-- Windermere lake

Lakes Guides menu.

---