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The following version of the story of the well appeared in The Antiquary (Volume 26) and was an article by R. C. Hope: | The following version of the story of the well appeared in The Antiquary (Volume 26) and was an article by R. C. Hope: | ||
''On the south bank of the Dighty, opposite the churchyard, is the Nine Maidens' Well, a name of which tradition has handed down an explanation too interesting to be passed over. | ''On the south bank of the Dighty, opposite the churchyard, is the Nine Maidens' Well, a name of which tradition has handed down an explanation too interesting to be passed over. '' | ||
A farmer in Pitumpton, blessed with nine lovely daughters, one day sent one of them to the well to fetch him a draught of water; she not returning, another was sent to learn the cause of delay, and to hasten the gratification of the farmer with the coveted draught. | ''A farmer in Pitumpton, blessed with nine lovely daughters, one day sent one of them to the well to fetch him a draught of water; she not returning, another was sent to learn the cause of delay, and to hasten the gratification of the farmer with the coveted draught.'' | ||
Neither of them returning, daughter after daughter was sent, till the whole nine had been despatched on the same errand. | ''Neither of them returning, daughter after daughter was sent, till the whole nine had been despatched on the same errand. '' | ||
The astounded father at length followed them, and was horrified with the spectacle which met his eyes: his nine daughters lay dead at the well, and two large snakes were throwing their slimy folds around them. | ''The astounded father at length followed them, and was horrified with the spectacle which met his eyes: his nine daughters lay dead at the well, and two large snakes were throwing their slimy folds around them. '' | ||
The reptiles, on seeing him, hissed loudly, and would have made him their prey also if he had not saved himself by flight. | ''The reptiles, on seeing him, hissed loudly, and would have made him their prey also if he had not saved himself by flight. '' | ||
The whole neighbourhood assembled in a state of the utmost excitement, and a young man, the suitor of one of the sisters, boldly attacked the snakes, and wounded both. | ''The whole neighbourhood assembled in a state of the utmost excitement, and a young man, the suitor of one of the sisters, boldly attacked the snakes, and wounded both. | ||
They left their victims, and, wriggling their way towards the hills, hotly pursued by the youth and his companions, were destroyed near the base of the Sidlaws.'' | ''They left their victims, and, wriggling their way towards the hills, hotly pursued by the youth and his companions, were destroyed near the base of the Sidlaws.'' | ||
The above account has the nine maidens being killed by two snakes, where as other and more popular versions have the well being guarded by a dragon. | The above account has the nine maidens being killed by two snakes, where as other and more popular versions have the well being guarded by a dragon. |