Janet Reachfar and the kelpie - Jane Duncan

Janet was willing to believe Tom and George when they told her about Black Rory, who lived in the old quarry, and the horrible Whigmaleerie, who lived in the bog. Those were ugly, eerie places that no sensible person would want to visit. But when they told her about Sandy the Kelpie who lived in the well, ready to drag people in with his slimy fingers, Janet began to doubt. The Reachfar well was a good place that sent sweet fresh water down to the house and the farm yard. 'There is not any Sandy in the well!' said Janet angrily to her dog, Fly. 'It is just a pack of lies. I am going up to that well to see for myself if there is any kelpie in it. What Janet saw in the well brought nightmares later, a confrontation under the stern eye of 'Herself', Janet's grandmother, and a neat moral in which George and Tom were as discomforted as Janet.