Memories of Skeleton Lake by Paul Temple

Two of them built a life-size skeleton out of silver birch branches.
They mounted a pulley on the branch of a tree overlooking the water,
and with an attached fishing line, they lowered the skeleton into the
water. Others were to lure the cook down to the water, and at
midnight, the two hidden in the bushes would let out a howl, and
raise the skeleton out of the water. They lured the cook down to
the water, telling him he would see a friendly spirit in the horizon at
midnight.
At midnight there was a horrible scream, not a howl, and out of the
water rose, not the skeleton, but an Indian chief in full battle dress
brandishing a tomahawk, and wading out of the water towards them.
They fled back to the camp in a panic.
The next day was Sunday, when it was traditional to have a late
brunch. A minister showed up in a horse and buggy to perform a
service before breakfast. It was discovered that the two who were
hidden to pull up the skeleton had not returned, so a group went
out to look for them. They were found in the bushes, apparently
asleep. It took a while to wake them up, and they said they couldnt
remember anything. The skeleton still was underneath the water.
The cook quit—he left after brunch with the minister—probably
figured he had some sort of protection from the spirits. After he left,
one of the loggers said he had looked in the window of the cookhouse
on the way to brunch, and saw the cook and the flunky standing up
and pissing in the cauldron of soup. The other loggers were angry,
and said WHY DIDNT YOU TELL US THEY PISSED IN THE
SOUP? He answered that he didnt want to cause a ruckus while the
minister was there, and besides, everyone agreed that the soup had
tasted real good!
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