Page 97 - The snake's pass

ON KNOCKNACAR. —
85
And then beyond all else would be the certainty—which
is at present in my mind only a hope or a dream
that we could fathom the secret of the shifting bog,
and perhaps abolish or reclaim it."
" This is exceedingly interesting," said I, as I drew
my chair closer. And I only spoke the exact truth, for
at that moment I had no other thought in my mind.
" Do you mind telling me more, Dick ? I suppose
you are not like Lamb's Scotchman that will not broach
"
a half-formed idea !
"Not the least in the world. It will be a real
pleasure to have such a good listener. To begin at
the beginning, I was much struck with that old cavity
on the top of the hill. It is one of the oddest things
I have ever seen or heard of. If it were in any other
place or amongst any other geological formation I
would think its origin must have been volcanic. But
here such a thing is quite impossible. It was evidently
once a lake."
" So goes the legend. I suppose you have heard
it?"
" Yes ! and it rather confirms my theory. Legends
have always a base in fact; and whatever cause gave
rise to the myth of St. Patrick and the King of the
Snakes, the fact remains that the legend is correct in
at least one particular—that at some distant time there
was a lake or pond on the spot."
"
" Are you certain ?
"A very cursory glance satisfied me of that. I could'