nd it was evident that it was
doomed to destruction, for it stood in the river Vyrnwy just where
operations were to commence. There was no small stir among the Welsh
inhabitants when preparations were made to blast the huge Spirit-stone.
English and Irish workmen could not enter into the feeling of the Welsh
towards this stone, but they had heard what was said about it. They,
however, had no dread of the imprisoned Spirit. In course of time the
stone was bored and a load of dynamite inserted, but it was not shattered
at the first blast. About four feet square remained intact, and
underneath this the Spirit was, if it was anywhere. The men were soon
set to work to demolish the stone. The Welshmen expected some
catastrophe to follow its destruction, and they were even prepared to see
the Spirit bodily emerge from its prison, for, said they, the conditions
of its release have been fulfilled--the river had been diverted from its
old bed into an artificial channel, to facilitate the removal of this and
other stones--and there was no doubt that both conditions had been
literally carried out, and consequently the Spirit, if justice ruled,
could claim its release. The stone was blasted, and strange to relate,
when the smoke had cleared away, the water in a cavity where the stone
had been was seen to move; there was no apparent reason why the water
should thus be disturbed, unless, indeed, the Spirit was about to appear.
The Welsh workmen became alarmed, and moved away from the place, keeping,
however, their eyes fixed on the pool. The mystery was soon solved, for
a large frog made its appearance, and, sedately sitting on a fragment of
the shattered stone, rubbed its eyes with its feet, as if awaking from a
long sleep. The question was discussed, "Is it a frog, or the Spirit in
the form of a frog; if it is a frog, why was it not killed when the stone
was blasted?" And again, "Who ever saw a frog sit up in that fashion and
rub the dust out of its eyes? It must be the Spirit." There the workmen
stood, at a respectful distance from the frog, who, heedless of the
marked attention paid to it, continued sitting up and rubbing its eyes.
They would not approach it, for it must be the Spirit, and no one knew
what its next movement or form might be. At last, however, the frog was
driven away, and the men re-commenced their labours. But for nights
afterwards people passing the spot heard a noise as of heavy chains being
dragged