Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-10-28

which clothed 10 profuson the wreahila
branches above us. had let my com
panlon for short time in the pursuitsof
game ap,l, in elinbing a Jagged ledge oil
psks, inlerspersed with shruband dwarhsh
reeS, was siarlleJ by quick, grating
lrttile. looked forward. On The edg,
ot loosened rock. lay a large rat lesnakr
ceiling hlpseiiar the deadly spring. Il /
was wiihia fewfrei OF me; and lpanse q
li.r instant ID. survey him. knew II 4
why but stood still, and looked at the dead
ly serpent with strange feeling OF curl
asity.
.Suddenlyhe unwound his coil. asst re-
leniing from his purpose Of hostility, and,
Rising his head, lie fixe, his bright fiery
le z directly upon my own. A chilling
ana indescribable sensation, totally differ
rnt firm any thing had everbeiore espe.
rienced, followed this movement OF the
serpent; but stood still and gazed sleadl-
| ~, Tor, at that moment there Was a visible,
change in the reptile. His form seemed 10
grow larger, and his colois brighter. HIS
body moved with slow alInos impercepti-
BILE motion towards me, and a low mum OF
music came from him, or at least il sound
ed in my cara strange sweet melody,
fllnt as that which melts from the throat OF
The humming bird Then the tlnts OF his
BODY deepened and changed and glowed,
like the changes Of beautiful kaleidoscope,
green, purple and gold, until lost sight OF
| the serpent entirely, and saw only VIDE and
curious woven circles of strange colors,
quiyering around me, like an atmosphere
OF rainbows.'
| ~sI Sc med in they centre Of great
lprism-a world of MYSTERIOUS coors-and
tints varied and darkened, and lightened
up again and around me; and the low mu'
sic went on without ceasing until my
brain recled, and fear, for the first time'
come like shadow over me. The new
sensation gained upon me rapidly, and !
cold feel the cold sweat gushing from my
1 brow. | had no certainty OF danger IN
nv mind-no definite IDEAS of peril-all
} was vague and clouded like the nnaccoun-
!, table terrors of dream, and yet my limbs
{ shook, and iancied could feel the blood
suffering with cold as it passed along my
veins. | would have given worlds to nave
1 been able 10 tear myself from that spot--i
even attempted to do SO but the body O.
, le,ed not the impulse Of The mind-not a
, MUSCLE stirred; and stood still as II my
feet were grown TO the s'id rock, with me
internal music of the tempterin my ear ,and
the baletul coloring of his enchan'men'
before my eyes.
} "Suddenly new sound came to my ear
+ Iii was human voice--but 1t seemed
, strange and awful. Again--again- but
| / stirred not, and then white form plung.
ed before aud grasped my arm. The nor
5 rible spell was at once broken. Inc
! strange colors passed from before my Wis
ion. The ra,tlesnake was coilng at my
t feet, with glowing el es and upitted iangs
and nv wife was clingiag in terror upon
Z me. The next instant the serpent threw
: himself upon us. My wife was the victim
llThe fatal fangs pierced deeply into hel
( ANGLE, and her scream of agony as she
! sfsgqeied back from me, told me the tata
truth.
: "Then.it was that feeling of madness
: came upon me; and when slw the lou
9 serpent stealing away from his work, reck
: sess Of danger, ] sprang upon hun ant
8 crushed him under my feet grinding nm
e upon the ragged rock. The groans OF m,
I wife now recalled me TO her side, and TO iht
B horrible reality OF her situation. There wa
t dark, Iivld spot on her ANGLE, and 1t deep
a ened INTO blackness as led her away
, we were at considerable distance iron
! anp dwelling, and after wandering Tor
. short lime, The pain of her wound becamf
5 linsunportable to M wife, and she swoone(
! awav II, nv arms. Weak aud exhausted
9 as / was, had yet strength enough re
e manning to CARR her to the nearest r'vule
d and baihed her browin cool water. She
nar,ially recovered, and SAT upon the hant
III while / supported her he4dswith my bssem
8 | Hour AFTER hour pissed away, and nog'
d lime near us--and there, alone In TN
1 6reot wilderness. wa'chednyer and pray
: ed ed with bef--aud She diedln
q The Oman groaned audibly as he ut
4 tered ahese words, aud IS he elasped M
4 bony- hands oyer. his eyes, lcooId see N
/. eafs falling thickly through hi gaunt mn
/. oefs. Alter a momenttry. Struggling WI
!, 5is feelings, he lifted his head once n9re
q aud mere was a fierce iight in his eyes
d re spoke .-uBdt | haxe my revenge
al Fri M hat fatal momenl have felt.m SCI
I 6tts d and set apart, IN The terrible ortea
]. ofatfliciion 10 rid the place OF my abod
ID offs fullest curse. And have vel
!. nIeh succeeded. The fascinating demon
Z. are already lew aud powerless, Do nc
\. imagine, said he, earnestly regarding tn
Il somewhat equivocal expression OF m
'. cohnienance, shat Iconsider these cre'
re lures as serpents only--creePIng serpent
they are serpenls Of the fallen angel