Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-09-09

he must still atlast'fall asprey tos the as
saults Of hunger &c sas as.T1 sasig q :.
Ny frowning looks easily made the ole
man aware Of the imprudence, which he
had Just committed: But the mischief was
irreparble 4 Everything which his inag.
ination could suggest to soften the effect
produced by his il.judged confession, was
unable TO blunt the arrow, which had car.
ried with it into the heart Of his mistress
tile poison Of despair. 21"-' .'7'A'.'' S'-
ads'But after all !" said ], ,."why are we to
take it for granted that Our friend is actu.
ally exposed TO this urgent danger? : By
your account, Zadi, above an hour bad
elapsed between your leaving your master
in the pavilion, and your discovery Of the
Anaconda and what then canbe more like
ly than that the day being SO delightful,
he should have gone out to walk, and have
quilted the pavilion before the snakes ap-
proach?''- O' g. ''-'''''.' ''..-1 -
2."Angel ofcomfort!" exclaimed Louisa,
while she seized my hand, and pressed it
to her lips; "blessed,, ever blessed, he you
for that suggestion!-Why should not his
absence nave rescued nlm!
E'"Ah, dear heavens' sighed the old man,
and shook his head -s'the doors closed
the windows all ll2fastened---"g9 anrg a=
! ss'Proye nothing, L interrupted him
''when did Seafield ever leave his favorite
retreat without taking those precautions?
Perhaps ut this very moment that We ,re
trembling for his safety, he is at the dis
tance of miles from the scene, of danger.
Perhaps nothing more is requisite for his
full security, than that we should take the
precaution Of warning him in time, lest he
should return to the dangerous pavilion,
instead of1coming straight to the house.
Come, come, Zadi,, let US hasten to find
him. Summon together all the male do.
mestics, as well as our palanqnin hearers;
let US divide them into every path il is pos
sible for Seaield 10 regain the hill I" ''
Her eagerness would not suffer US TO
remain moment. We consigned her'to
the care of her female attendants. We
then collected the male inhabitants Of the
house together with ali speed and having
armed them in the best manner that time
would permit, we approached in different
quarters as near the fatal hill, rs the pro
tecting shelter of trees and branches would
allow. US, without running any risk of be-
ing discovered by the Anaconda. Zadi re-
mained with me. ~ zr-oz r5'.5'a e.. u ~
On our way, Il erdoavoreda to compose
my thoughts, and to make myself master
Of every particular, respecting the danger
to which the friend Of my heart was ex-
posed. My own alarm and Louisa pre-
sence, had hitherto prevented my obtain
ing thorough knowledge of the nature
of Seafeld's situation, and what he had
to apprehend: but now that was alone
with him. lost no time before | questioned
'tYou see old man," said +, show your
fatal outcry, can Anaconda" has palsied
every soul through excess Of terror. Now
your imprudence will have been most un-
pardonable, should it turn out, that you
spoke without you being quite certain oil
the fact, or if you should have been found
through your own natural timidity TO have
exaggerated the danger. Recollect your
seiftherefore and answer me calmly and
frankly, Are you positive, that what you
saw was really an Anaconda; and in the
dreadful account which you have just given
of her, have you not in some degree over
stepped the limits Of ftruth?" . 7~..'..
3 tSir," answered the good old man,
'sthough it were the last words Ihave to
utter in this world, | should still repeat
my former assertion. Why the very
name or this creature is enough TO make
every native of this Island feel the blood
freeze in his veins!-and that have not
deceived myself is, alas! but 10 certain
have already seen the Anaconda twice at
no greater distance than now !; though
never one of such monsterous length and
thickness, as that which is at present be,
fore us. The country would speedily be-
come wilderness, if fortunately these
reptiles were not very rarely mot with;
for in general they remain concealed with
in the recesses of the deepest woods there
clinging round the branches of some gigan-
tic tree, they remain. with inexorable pa
tience for an opportunity Of darting down
upon their prey, the first man or animal
who is uniucky enough to pass beneath
them. How it happens, that this snake
should have advanced so far into the open
country, is what can least comprehend:
But as the rainy season is but just over, it
is most probable, that she has been swept
away by the Irresistible violence of some
Of the mountain.torrents." ""-+ ="
During this conversation we had contin.
ued to advance under the favor Of the
thick woven underwood, till we were
scarcely more than a hundred PAGES dis
tant from the monster. We could now
examine it with the utmost dlstinctness,
and the eye was able to take in at once
the whole extent Of its gigantic. structure.
It,was sight calculated to excite in equal
degree our horror and admiration : il
united the most singular and brilliant
beauty with every thing that could impress
the beholder, with apprehension and
thoughewhile gazing upon it l. felt thai
every limb shnddered inyolintarily, | was
still compelled TO own, that never hae
!. witnessed an exhibition more fascinating
or more gratifying to the eye. '',L'o
> The, Anaconda was still employed ir
twisting itself in thousand coils among
.L 4. IL