The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1843-09-02


another. and that by great exertion ant
not without difficulty, they had succeed
ed in destroying few. confess hat
been for some time anxious to discover
one Of these reptiles; not that wished
connection with it far from it.-The lit
tie ! had seen of them had given me at
aversion to them, and this feeling was
much heightened by the numerous stories
had heard of their fearful powers of de
gluiition. Ihad no objections, however
10 view one at distance 'sdragging h.,
slow trembling length along" But in
all our Excursions nothing Of this kind
was to- be seen. and | hau begun to con.
ceiye some laten! suspicious that Mr. Helm.
vault and Caesar had tile exaggerated
the number and size of the reptiles they
had seen and DESTROYED. But an alycn-
'ure soon after this befel ME, which made
me entirely change my opinion of their
veraciEy and convinced me thai lher ac-
count rather fell short of than exceeded
The truth. Occasionally, when pressing
business detained Mr. Heinvaut a. his
plantation or called HIM to distance. ard
when found time hang heavy upon my
hands Cesar was always willing to volur-
ater his services as my guide and assist IN
any rambles which wished to undertakes;
and clever and active fellow indeed
found him. lie was a capitIi SHOT; and
unequalied in the success with which he
| contrived 10 hook his fish when not one
would look at the bal, belonging to an
other.
One day, about three weeks after my
arrival. Mr.. HemvauIt informed me tina,
he was under the necessity Of going to
plantation, distant about ten miles, and as
The way lay partly through the woods
and trackiess savannahs, he was obliged
to lake Caesar with him, be being The
only che on the estale who had DIOR
ongh knoWled &c Of The way. and who,
from his dcxicriiy and address proved a
useful and agreeable attendant. lie added
that he should be back early in the al
ternoon, and that if wished Ia take u
stroll, or go on the water, any Of tie res,
OF his people should lie at my disposal.
Alter MIR. II! had rode a"ul, / >Irnl!g,
about the plantation an hour ~ twu.
looking al every thing 10 amnse nyyeli;
n@. getting 'eSfF40!Y is 4; @q d.
lines ready, for it was my intention 10 60
out fishing for some tine, l!e day being
rathsS warm and sul,ry for enjoying Il
shooting excursion.
These being soon ready, likewise
sent for m, gun, and tieciWed the offer
he made TO attend me. pushed cat into
the stream and dropped sloaly down the
river, The cnrsent beng slow, was
while i'll reaching The lace where the
river branches oif' intoa number Of streams,
lgnided my canoe into one of those in
which | had formerly been along with
Cesar, and where our sport hu,! been
very good. The stream in general was
not above eighteen or twenty feol, l''pad-
died my light canoe" up and down this
trying to get shot at some of the beau
tiful binds which frequent these lagoons
But the birds were scarce aud shy.
a.igued with this unsuccessful sport. |
set the lines, and padded for about some
time. drew them up; but whether lhev
had not been baied as we'll as Cesar
used to do it, or whether the f.h were as
shy as the birds, | connot tell; bat after a
few trials ! 90: tired OF this spot likewise.
Thinking would be more success-ful
elsewhere, proceeded about quarter "'
a mile farther down, and set lines. By
this time the day had become exceeding.
ly sultry and oppressive, Seeing there
was no prospect of shot. | took Off my
shoes aud Stockings, and bahed my feet
in the water, and working my canoe It
The other side, laid my gun, ready load
ed for shot, upon the benches, ant
stretched myself alongside Of it, waiting
till it was time TO draw The lines which
had set, in this position fel! asleep, over
come, as suppose, by The hea! Of tie
day, and the fatigue had undergone.
l know not how long may have slept
but was reused from my slumbcr by ;
curious sensations, as if some animal wa:
licking my foot. in that state of hal
stuJ,or felt alter Immediately awakine
from sleep, | least my eyes DOWN. ard ant
r never til my dying Gay shall forget thu
thrill of horror that passed through my
frame on peIceiving the neck and head "
monstrous serpent covering my foo
with saliva, preparatory, as Immediately
-, flashed upon my mind, to commencing
The process of swallowing 1t. | had face,
j death in many shapes--on the ocean-ol
: the battlefield; but meyer ill tina. momen
had conceived he could approach M
in guise so terrible. For moment,
was fascinated. But recollection or IN,
state soon came to my aid, and quickl'
I Withdrew my foot from the monster
which vas all the while glaring upon
y me with its basilsk eyes, and at the sam
momeu, ins;inctlvely grasped my gnn
I. which was lying loaded beside me. Tn
= reptile, apparently disturbed by my mo