The Whistler at Whistler's Lake

The name of Whistler's Lake pre-dates this myth by several hundred years, as it is in reference to the sound the wind makes blowing through the caverns surrounding the lake. The Rinduma told this myth as a warning to keep children away from the lake and the caverns.

Summary

The Rinduma people living on the shores of Whistler's Lake lived a peaceful life, until one night children began disappearing. It was discovered that the missing children had decided to sneak out after dark and meet at the lake shore, but they disappeared without a trace. This continued for several weeks until a deaf villager shared that he had sat out by the water during the night and watched the children suddenly turn to the lake and begin swimming to the caverns on the opposite shore. The villagers gathered all of the boats they could and rowed to the other side of the lake. The faint glow of fire light lit up the openings of the caverns, silhouetting a figure watching them grow closer. As the villagers came ashore, the figure turned and ran, and the villagers gave chase through tunnels. In the chase they happened upon a chamber lined with wrist restraints, imprisoning all the of the missing children. Many had already died from dehydration. Some of the villagers rushed to release the children who were still alive from their restraints while others continued to chase after the figure. The children confessed that they had heard the figure whistling from across the lake and been entranced to follow him. The Whistler disappeared deep into the caverns, never to be seen again, but if you're not careful you may hear his song on the wind drawing you to your death.

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