Another story from Uncle Tatters:
Cutty Dyer -- Dartmoor
The ancient stannary and borderland town off Ashburton possesses its own evil
little sprite that appears in the shape of Cutty Dyer. He is easy to find as he
lives near King's Bridge in the centre of the town. For many generations a visit
by him was threatened to naughty children who didn't mend their ways, but
misbehaving children were not his sole clients - he was particularly active
against those folk who drank too much. He would eagerly waylay anyone in a state
of alcoholic stupor as they staggered home. At best they could expect to be thrown
into the River Ashburn but at worst this evil little sprite would cut their
throats, drink their blood and then throw them into the river!
In the Middle Ages an image or statue of St Christopher, patron saint of
travellers, stood beside the river to help travellers when the Ashburn was in
flood. Possibly a drunken reveller destroyed it which turned the image into this
large, red-eyed watersprite - 'Cutty' being a derivative of St Christopher and a
'Dyer' is defined as a scoundrel of the deepest dye - so beware.'
Hey, Jurak, you and Gal had better be careful with all that drinking. I would
hate to find your bodies thrown in the river with your heads cut off. Oh well,
I guess I could tell the tale to Uncle Tatters and then he would have a new
story to tell. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devil.gif" alt="" />
Shan <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/alien.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
