The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-06-28

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better chance of entrapping the troublesome
spirit, and indeed felt disposition to
breathe short and lie still, which was very
favorable to my purpose. In spite Of ones
reason shsre is tendency in the human
Wind to foster and encourage fancles OF a su-
pernatural agency, and I. perceived 1t in
niHe. felt chilled throughout and ti:nid,
though determined not to be so, and | was
holding my teeth close, that they might not
chatter, when suddenly the cold damp hca-
~ touch oF something like naked arm
was placed across my open eyes, which,
Dpon my shrinking involuntarily, was as
suddenly Withdrawn. Summoning my cour-
age, / shook Of a tremor that seized my
frame, and boiling Upright ia bed, laid hold
OF my dark lanthorn, ai.! turned it so as to
chvow blaze Of light over the state room;
and you may judge ofmy terror, when be-
Acld.-not a ghost, nor thief, but tall,
dark coored serpent, standing erect by my
bed side, with its eyes brightly cleaning
from a head, frightful and appalling beyond
description. Never in my life had ] seen
such fearful object, for to the usual hide
Gus and disgusting aspect OF snake, were
added features peculiar to its own, and
which almost led me to believe that Satan
himself was present before me in the guise
Of this hateful reptile. rhe light of my
lanthorn, increased in brightness by pol
;shed steel reflector, fell in glare upon the
deylish apparition, and discerned distinctly
that its mouth was wide open, armed with
large crooked fangs, and furnished with a
long tongue, that vibrated menacngly be-
yond its jaws It's head was rather small
but, on either side, its neck was swollen out
20 an immense size. inflated, as | imagined,
Etak
20 my veins, when it should spring and seize
hold of me; but what seemed more horri-
BILE than all its other deformities, was, that
in this bloated mass, which bolstered a.
round its collar, were things which APP
pearcd like two wild eyes. in' addition 10
the small ones in its head; and this sight al
most convinced me that the monster could
only be some diabolical spirit, for | knew
that no animals but insects have more than
a pair Of visual organs In "A state Of mingled
awe, doubt, and utter dismav, | remained
holding my lanthoIn, and staring at the dire
countena8ce OF the serpent, which all the
while stood erect, waving its body in the
manner of rope shaken at one end while
its tongue played around its lips, its eyes
slittered, and its scales cleaned. ! felt, or
1ancied that ! telt, as if facnated by its
glance, and began to give myselfup for lost;
{or had heard of the power of fascination
posse by snakes, which deprives the
victim of the energy to escape or defend it.
self Besides, this creature, serpent or de
Ill, was not a small enemy of the kind. for
It stood nearly four feet from the floor,
7shich, ss my head was fixed down low,
brought its head nearly level with my fice;
and my fear Of moving, lest should pro-
woke it to DAFT upon me, held me in state
of stiffness as complete as if had been rv-
eted by the hateful influence of which / was
so much afraid. Had it not been for an IN
nate disbelief OF the existence OF goblins,
should probably have spoken to the dragon
who kept me thus at bay, for it had all the
characteristics OF demon, as far as the i'm
aginatlon could array an evil spirit in vis-
bic form; but either sceptcism or terror
kept my tongue quiet, and while neither of
us seemed disposed to do otherwise than
stare at each other, my candle, which was
nearly burnt out, sunk into the socket, and
the fame expired.
All my horrors before this moment were
nothing to what seized me when foand my
self exposed, in darkness, to the senomous
fury Of an unknown, though undoubtedly a
dangerous serpent. A long hiss, which it Ut.
tered, and which I deemed preparatory to
its sprnging at me, wound up my feelings
to pitch Of desperation, and having nothing
else at hand, ] dashed my dark lanthorn to
The place where it had stood when the light
wa, extingui.hed. Whether nv missile
struck the reptile OF fend. know not, but a
horrible kissing filled the state room, and a
zattling cropping noise succeeded, and in a
short time ! heard my enemy behind the
bulk head, retreating swiftly, as its repeated
sbilations indicated by their growing les,
audible.
Bathed in cold sweat, and stiffcned with
fear as was. | leaped out Of bed as soon a:
Twas assured that the devil was at some dis
tance, and Iran stumblingup On deck as fas,
as could, where remained till daylight.
ihen called boat and went ashore, to re-
Late my adventures to the captain.
Captain Y heard my relation with
great attention, and with little inclination
of doubt, till was nearly ended; but wher
came to describe the visage Of the appari-
tion, he fell into such choaking fit of laugh.
ter, that tancied he would have died in al
agony of mirth. At length he became
eamer, and while he wiped tears Of merm
ment from his eyes, he told me he believed
my vision of Lucifer was nothing else thar
a large Cobra de Capello, which had be
longed to the mate who killed himself aboarc
the ship. THE mate added he, was tn,
last person who occupied the state room
for being disposed to be solitary, he volun
secred to reside in the Marvel as you hav
htp H. -l.A