Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-22
A Fifth at Whist.

we udA Dceu playing dl Lue evening dt
whist. Our stakes had been gold mohul
points, and twenty on the rubber Maxey
who is always lucky, had won five successive
bumpers, which lent a well-satisfied smile te
his countenance, and made US, the losers, look
anything but pleased, when he suddenly chang
ed countenance, and hesitated to play; this the
more surprised us, since he was one that seldom
%pondered, being SO perfectly master of the
game that he deemed long consideration super
fuous.
impatiently demanded Churchill, one of the most
impetuous youths that ever wore the uniform of
the body guard.
"Hush," responded Maxey, in a tone which
thrilled through US, at the same time turning
deadly pale.
"Are you unwell!" said another, about to
denly been taken i'll.
"For the love of peace sit quiet" rejoined the
other, in a tone denoting extreme fear or pain,
and he laid down his cards. "If you value my
life, move not"
"What can he mean! has he taken of his
senses" demanded Churchill, appealing to him.
self.
@Don't start! don't move, | tell you :" in a
sort of a whisper | never can forget, uttered
Maxey. If you make any sudden motion | an
a dead man,
We exchanged looks. He continued, Gre
main quiet, and all may yet be well. have a
Cobra Capella round my leg"
Our first impulse was to draw back our
chairs, but an appealing look from the victim
induced.ns to remain, although we were aware
should the reptile transfer but one fold, and
attach himself to any Of the party, that indivi-
dual might already be counted as a dead man,
so fatal is the bite of the deadly monster.
Poor Maxey was dressed as many old resi-
dents still dress in India-namely, in brooches
and silk stockings; he therefore the more plainly
felt every movement of the snake. His coun-
tenance assumed a livid hue; the words seemed
to leave his mouth without that feature altering
its position, so rigid was his look, so fearful was
he least the slightest movement should alarm
the serpent, and hasten the fatal bite. We
were in agony little less than his own during the
scene.
"He is coiling round" murmured Maxey; Il
feel him cold-cold to my limb; and now he
tightens,-for the love of Heaven call for some
milk!-I dare not speak loud; let it be placed
on the ground near me; let some be split on the
floor"
Churchill cautiously gave the order, and a
servant slipped cautiously out of the room.
"Don't stir; Northcote, you moved your head.
By everything sacred, | %conjure you do not SO
again! 1t cannot be long are my fate is deci-
ded. 1 have a wife and two children in Europe;
tell them that I die blessing them; that my last
were for them; the snake is winding it.
self round my calf; l leave them all l possess
| can also fancy | feel his breath-Great Hea-
die in such a manner" The milk
was brought and carefully put down; a few
drops were sprinkled on the floor, and the
affrighted servants drew back.
Again, Maxey spoke
"No-no. it has no effect! on the contrary, he
has clasped himself tighter-he has uncurled
his upper fold! | dare not look down, but l
am sure he is about to draw back, and give the
of death with more fatal precision. Again
he pauses. die firm; but this is past endur-
ance: ali! no-he has undone another fold, and
himself. Can he be goingto some one
We ~involuntarily started. "For the
love of Heaven, stir not! / am a dead man, but
bear with me. He still loosens-he is about
to dart! Move not, but beware! Churchill, he
falls off that way-Oh, this agony is too hard
to bear! Another pressure, and I am dead! No!
he ~relaxes! At that moment poor Maxey ven-
tured to look down; and the snake had un-
wound himself the last coil had fallen, and the
was making for the milk.
II am saved! saved" and Maxey bounded
from his chair, and fell senseless in the arms of
one of his servants.
In another instant, need it be added, we
were all dispersed, the snake was killed, and
our poor friend carried more dead than alive to
his room.
That scene l can never forget; it dwells on
memory still, strengthened by the fate of
poor Maxey, who from that hour pinned in
imbecility, and sunk into an early
yrave.-From Hours in Hindostan.