Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-09-22
INTERESTING MISCELLANY.
IN BED WITH A SERPENT.


GFnoN cAMPBBLL's ROUGH RBcoLLEcTIoSs
] might have slept some four or five hours, and
dreamless and satisfying sleep it was; but certain
1t s-let scioists say what they will, and sceptics
throw doubt BIZ handuls on the assertions OF meta
physicians-that before awoke, and in my dream
less sIumber had visible perception OF peril, a
consciousness OF the lowering presence of death!
How to describe my feelings know not; but, as
we have all read and heard that, if the eyes of a
watcher are steadily fixed on the eountenance of a
sleeper for a certain length of time the slumberer
will be sure to start up, wakened by the mysterious
magnetism OF a reconcile principle OF clalrVoyance,
SO it was that with shut eyes and drowsed-up SEN
SEES an inward ability conferred upon me to de-
tect the living presence OF danger me- 10 see.
though sleepblnd, the forness shape OF a mystic
rous horror crouching beside me; and, as II the
peril that my night mate was OF a nature to be
quickened into lata. activity by any motion on my
part. felt IN my very stupor the critical necessity
Of lying quite STILL so that, when at last awole
and felt that, as | lay with my face towards the
root, there a thick, heavy cold creeping thing
my chest, stirred not uttered a word of
panic.
Danger and fear may occasionally dull the senses
and paralyze the faculties but they more frequently
sharpen both; and ere ] could twice wink my eyes,
! was broad awake and aware that coing and coil
ing itself up into a circle of twists, enormous
serpent was on my breast When | tell you that
the whole of nay chest and even the pit OF my sto-
mach, were covered with the cold, scaly proper
tons Of the reptile you will own that it must have
been one OF considerable size. What my thoughts
were, SO made up OF adherence, dread, and the eX
pectaton, nay assurance OF speedy death that must
follow any movement on my part can never hope
to tell in language sufficiently distinct and vivid TO
convey their toll force 1t was evident the loath-
creature had at length settled itself to sleep
and felt thankful that attracted by my breath, 1t
had not approached the UPPER part OF my throat
1t became quite still, and It's weighty pressure-its
first cammy chillness becoming gradually $50 it
seemed to me) OF a burning heat-and the odious
Undesirable odor which exhaled from It's body and
pervaded the whole air SO overwhelmed me that K
was only by a severe struggle preserved myself
from shrlekng.
As it was, a cold sweat burst from every pore:
could hear the beating OF my heart; and | elt TO
my increased dismay, that the palsy OF terror had
begun to agitate my limbs. twill awake thought
l. and then all is over! At that juncture, some.
thing-t might have been a Wall-lizard, or a large
beetlc-lclI from the ceiling upon my lett arm
which lay stretched at my side. The snake, I'M
collmg It's head raised itself with a low hiss and
then, Tor the FIRST time | saw IT, saw the hood, the
terrible crest gItcUng in the moonshine 1t was |
a Cobra di CdpciIo! Shading my eyes to exclude
the dreadful spectacle, ] lay almost lantng until |
again all was quiet. Had its fiery glance eneoun.
tered miue all would have been over; bat, appa- !
reuty, it was once more asleep; and presently ! |
heard The Lascar moving about, undong the iasten
ings OF the tent and striking hight. a thought |
suddenly struck me- and with an impulse could |
ascrLe to nothing short OF desperation though It's
effects we've so proyidrntal, uttered in loud but
sepuirhrql tone hb'ass,t Lascar! "Sahib!
was the instantaneous response. and my heart beat
quicker at the success OF my attempt