Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-07-29

| lest US. The beasts of the forest and noun
tains were ferocious, but wc suffered little
from them. The only immediate danger
TO which we were exposed resulted from
the raltlesnakes which infested our neigh.
borhood. Three or four Of our settlers
were bitten by them and died in terrible
agonies. The Indians often told US fright
full stories of this snake, and its powers Of
| fascination, and although they were gener-
ally believed, yet for myself, ! confess
was rather amused than convinced BY their
marvellous legends.
In one of my hunting excursions abroad,
on fine morning, it was just at this time
OF the yeur was accompanied by my wife.
Twas beautiful morning. The sunshine
was warm. but the atmosphere was per
fec.ly clear-ond fine breeze from Inc
northwest shook the bright green leaves,
which clothed to protusion the wreathing
branches overus. | had left my compan.
ion for short time in the pursuit Of game;
and in climbing a rugged ledge of rocks,
interspersed with shrubs and dwarfish trees,
was startled by quick, grating rattle
looked forward On the edge Of oos.
ened rock lay large raltlesnake, coiling
himself us if for a deadly spring. He
was within few fee, of me, and paused
for an instant to survey him. know not
why, but stood and looked at the deadly
serpen. with strange feeling Of curiosity
Suddenly he unwound his coil, as if re|ent.
ing from his purpose Of hostility land raising
his head, he fixed his eye directly on my
own. A chilling and indescribable SEN
salon, totally different from anything had
ever before experienced, followed this
movement, of the serpent; but | stood still
and gazed steadily and earnestly, for nj
that moment there was visible change in
the reptile. His form seemed TO grow
larger and his colors brighter. His body
moved with slow, almost imperceptibls
motion towards me, and low hum of mu-
sic came from him-or at least, it sounded
in my ear strange sweet melody, fain, Us
tha, which rnelts from the throat of u hum
ming bird Then the lints of his body
deepened, and changed, and gowed, like
the changes Of beautiful kaleidoscope,
green, purple, and gold, until lost sight
Of the serpent entirely, and saw onl y
wild and curiously woven circle Of strange
colors quiverng around me like IN a,mos-
,,here of rainbows. | seemed in the center
Of a great prism, world Of mysterious
coIors, and linis varied and darkened and
lighted up again around me, and the low
music wen: on without until my brain reel
ed-and fear, for the first time, came over
me. The new sensation gained upon me
rapidly, and could feel the cold sweat
gushing from my brow. | had no certain.
ly Of danger in my mind, no definite ideas
of peril, all was vague and clouded, like
The unaccoun,able lerrors of dream, and
ye, my limbs shook, and lancied | could
feel the blood slifanng with cold as it pass
ed along my viens.
would have given worlds to have been
able 10 tear myself from the spot--l even
attempted TO do SO, but the body obeyed not
The impulse Of the mind, not muscle stir.
red-and stood still as my fee. hac grown
fast TO The solid rock, with The Internal mu-
sic of the te'nper in my ear, and the bane-
iul colorings Of his enchantment before
mo.
Suddenly new sound came on my ear.
1t was n human voice, but i, seemed strange
and awful. Again, again, but stirred no,
and then white iorm plunged before
ME, and grasped my arm. Tho horrible
spell was at once broken. The strange
colors passed from belore my vision. The
ratllesnake was coiling at my very feet,
with glowing eyes and uplilied fangs-and
my wife was cliugng in terror upon me.
The next instant The serpant threw ITSELF
upon US. My wife was the victim! The
fings Of the reptile pierced deeply in her
hand -and her scream OF agony, as she
staggered backwards from me, told me the
dreadful truth.
Then it was that feeling Of madness
came upon me; and when | saw the foul
serpent stealing away from his work, reck.
less OF dangers sprang forward and crush.
ed him under my feet, grinding him upon
h,ragged rock. The groans of my wife
now recalled Inc 10 her side, and the hor-
rble reality Of her situation There was
a dark, livid spot on her hand, and it deep
ened into blackness as led her away
We were ct considerable distance from
any dwelling-and afier wandering for
short time, The pain Of her wound became
insupportable to my wife, and she swooned
away in my arms. Weakened and ex-
.hausled as | was, yet had strength o.
nough left to carry her 10 the nearest riy-
ulet, and ba,hed her brow in the cool wat
err She partially recovered and sa. down
upon the bank, while | supported her head
by my bosom. Hour after hour passed
away, and no one came near US, and there,
alone, in the great wilderness watched
over her, and she died!
The old man gronned audibly as he Ut
tered these words, and as he closed his long
bony hands over his eyes, ! could sec the
tears falling thickly through his gaunt fin.
gers. Alter a momentary struggle with
his feelings, he lifted his head once more,
and there was fierce light in his eyes as
he spoke
e But | have had my revenge. From
that fatal moment have felt myself fitted
and set apart by the terrible ordeal of at