Tregeagle 2: Dozmary Pool

Jan Tregeagle wouldn't go back to his grave, he wouldn't go to Hell where he belonged, and Heaven certainly didn't want him. The Abbot of Bodmin and the churchmen of the surrounding villages gathered to debate a solution. They decided to tie the Tregeagle’s spirit to an unending task, with a fast track to hell if he paused. Bottomless Dozmary Pool on the high moor was chosen as the venue, a natural pool known to the early Celts as the lake of the underworld. The vicar wrapped Tregeagle in chains and took him to the pool.

Tregeagle was tasked with emptying Dozmary with a limpet shell, he was bound to this chore with powerful spells. Thing was, that limpet shell had a hole in it, and Tregeagle knew he would be there bailing forever. He howled with rage, and his cries were heard all over Bodmin Moor on stormy nights. No one had any sympathy for him. Every day for years Tregeagle bailed and every night the devil’s hounds snapped at his heels as they tried to distract him.

One night, a great storm raged above Dozmary Pool and Tregeagle was frightened and frustrated so he tried to run away. The hounds were soon snapping close behind and he was forced to double back to the lake. The only route was into the water where the hounds could not follow. Tregeagle waded through as the hounds bounded away round the edge of the pool, he reached the bank with a head start and tried to run across the moors but vicar’s chains held him and the hounds were close behind.