Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-06-08


vegetation. A short distance up, the high
glittcring in the sunlight, hedged in by
sloping hill which was covered with rich
herbagc and crowned by a thick grove,
heavy with ripe bananas and other Eastern
fruits. On the lower swell Of the bank,
two lofty palm trees shot up into the air,
branching on, at the top, in cloud ofthick
green foliage, impcrvious almost, to the hot
sunshine, which fell broadly on that side OF
| the river.
The old Rajah fixed his eyes on the
stately palm, as the boat gradually neared
them while he gazed, The glit,cring branch
es which had hitherto remained motion
less began to tremble and wave to and fro.
| The leaves shivcred; low rustling sound
| was heard, as if q current Of wind had sud-
denly burst over them and then the head
and half the body of huge serpent shot
up from the mass Of leaves, swayed itself
back and forth in the sunshine for a mo.
men', and then dartcd back with the same
rus,ng sound into his huge nest of leaves.
The Old Rajahs eyes kindlcd witlra subtle
| fire and he commanded his attendants to
enter baggage boat and proceed to the
banana grove for supply Of fresh fruit.
"Moor the boat in the inlet beneath the
two palms, and let Jaje remain with her,"
he commanded pointing to the handsome
slave, who stood behind his daughter. The
slave made his salam, and was about to
step into the boat, when the princess called
to him "Thou shalt not remain idle" she
said with q smile "let thy task be to gather
some of those lilies which spring up from
the bed of white sand, just within the cove,
and scatter them over my cushions should
| be asleep when the boat returns, their
perfume will bring me pleasant Dreams"
! The slave bent his turbancd head and
sprang into the boat. The princess half
rose from her cushion and watched the
party as they drew towards the shore. The
slave, Tale, moored the boat and brought
an armful of the beautiful white lilies she
had desired, and laid them carefully in the
PROV, where he seated himself to wait for
his companions. Her eyes were fixed with
kind Of dreamy abstractness on the cove,
when she saw the tops Of the palm trees in
commolion the heavy leaves began 10
shlver again and the slender branches
crashed as with the force of hurricane.
AS she looked, that huge serpent began TO
coil itself like the stem Of grea: vine,
downward, around the palm; his neck
glistenng, his head thrust out little from
the trunk and his hungry eyes fixed on the
slave who had dropped asleep in the boat.
The princess sprung to her feet with cry
Of horror, then stood motionless, and white
as death =; her fingers locked and her pale
lips moving, but spcechess. She was stri
wing to cry out, but her voice was choked
in her throat. She saw the monster thrust
g., g. 4, &C
and then the horrid glitter Of his back as
lie unfolded coil after coil, and flung half
his length into the boat, cleaned before her
distended eyes. With cry, that rung
over the water like the shrek of q maniac,
she fell upon the deck and with her face
buried in her hand lay quivering in every
limb like dying creature.
"Peacc!" Numbered the old Raiah, lift.
ing her form from the deck and hInging ii
on the cushions, peace, migrate! What is
the dog of slave to thee? look up and
witness his just punishment ~ As if moth
ing could appease his thirst for vengeance,
he tore the hands from the shuddcring
creatures face, and again half lifting her
from the pile Of cushions forced her to look
upon the appalling scene.
The serpent had co,ed itself around its
victim, while yet one part of its huge
length was twisted about the palms. She
, gazcd with dizzy brain on the notified
folds as they writhed gllstening and swell
: ling eagerly around their struggling vic
tim. She saw the glossy neck flung up,
f ward with curve that brought the head
T with its fierce gloating eyes and its forkcd
Q tongue quivering like fiery arrow from
!, the open jaws, over the crouchng slave. -
d 4 low smothered cry Of mortal agony arose
I from the boat,-then a shout and a rush o
:, men from the grove. She saw the CLEAN
o OF their ha,chets and pixies as they fell up
n on the monster. She saw the horrid foIl
d that bcgirt her lover relax, and then witt
e faint gasp fell back in her fathers arm
sick and entirely senseIess. "Dog!" criet
d the fierce old man, seizing the rescued
Q slave as he assembled the side Of the barge
K pale and haggard as corpse, yet bearin!
} the lilies which his mistress had ordered il
G his arms-"Dog crocodile !! Thou has
c escaped the serpent. but who shall saw,
n thee from the vengeance of disgrace,
d father ?" The old mans cmeter FLASHED
e upward as he spoke. The slave drew hi
IS fine form proudly to it's height and fixed hi
y stern, calm eyes full on the old Raiahs
o rash old man." he said, "what would 20,
of me true have won the love of you
n daughter, but if you seek vengeance 70
is the wrong, claim 1t not of Tale, the slave
Is but of the prince Arungzebe, her Alliance
n husband, for, by the holy stream whlc|
l. hears Us, | am that man !"
y The Rajah's eye quaied beneath tina
stern glance and the clmcter fell to tn
t. deck with a ringing sound. The you,
Is calmly put away the hand which the fierc
y old man had fixed on his arm, and taking
hl sealed parchment from the folds OF his tur
IN ban gave it to him. Tho Rajah took