Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-04-24
[PROPRIETORS.
Encounter with n snake.

where the disordorly member of the corps
are confined for longer or shorter terms, BY
order of the commanding officer In one
of these at Madras, on certain occasion.
was locked up poor Jack Hall, Scotch
man, belonging TO Edinburgh or Leith.--
Jack had got intoxicated and being found
in that condition at the hour Of drill, was
sentenced to eight DAYS solitary conine-
ment. Soldiers in India have their bed
ding partly furnished by the honorable
company, and find the reminder for them
selves. About this part ofthe house fur
nishing, however, Hall troubled himself
very little, being one Of those hardy. reck-
less beings on whom privaton ard suffer-
ing seem 10 make no impression. A hard
floor was as good as down bed to Jack,
and therefore, as he never scrupled to sell
what he got, it may be supposed that his
sleeping furniture was ncne Of the most
abundant or select.
Such as it was, he was stretched upon
and under it one night in his cell, during
this term ofpenance, and was rejecting on
the impropriety Of in future puitinga an enc
my into his mouth TO steal away his brains
when lo he thought he heard rustling in
the cell close By him. AT this moment he
recollec;ed that he had not. as he ought TO
have done, stopped up an air hole which
entered the cell on level with its floor,
and also with a rock externally on which
the building was placed. A strong suspi-
cion Of what had happened, or what was
about to happen, came over Halls mind,
but he knew i was probably too late to do
any good, could lie even find the holein the
darkness, and get il closed He therefore
lay still, and IN minute ortwo heard anoth-
cr close TO him, which was followed by the
cold Shiny touch of snake upon his bare
feet! Who, in such a situation, would no,
have started and cried for help. Jack did
neither; be lay stone stilland held his peace
knowing that his cries would most proba.
bly, have beenunheardby the distant guard.
Had his bed clothes been more plentiful
he might have endeavored 10 protect him
self by wrapping them closely around him,
but their scantiness forbade. Accordingly
being aware that, although motion o. a
touch will provoke snakes to bite they win
not generally do it without such excite
ment, Jack held himself as still as a log
Meanwhile, his horrible bedfellow which
he at once felt to be Of great size, crcpt
over his feet, legs and body, and lastly lis
face. Nothing but the most astonishing
hrmncss of nerve and the consciousness
that the moving ofa muscle would have
signed his death warrant, could have ena-
bled the poor fellow to undergo this dread
tul trial. For whole hour did the reptile
crawl backwards and forwards overJack's S
body and face, as if satisfying itself seem
ngly, that it had nothing to fear from the
recumbent object on its own part. AT
engthntook up a position somewhere about
his head, and Went TO rest IN apparent Sc
cullty. The poor soldiers trial, however
was not yet over. Till daylight he re-
mained in the sameposturc, Hat ON his back
without daring to move limb, for fear of
disturbing his dangerous companion. New
er, perhaps, was dawn more anxiously
looked for by mortal man. When it did
come, Jack looked cautiously about him,
arose noiselessly, and moved over to a cor
nor Of his cell, where there lay pretty
large store. This he seized and looked
for the intruder. Not seeing the snake,
he became assured that it was under his
pillow. He raised the end of this Just suf-
ficiently toget pccpat the creatures crest
Jack then placed his knee firmly on his pill
low, but allowed the snake to wriggle his
head which he battered to pieces with the
stone. This done, the courageous fellow
for the first time breathcd freely When
the hour Of breakfast came, Jack who
thought little about the matter after it was
fairly over took the opportunity Of opening
the door to throw the snake out. When
the officer, whose duty it was to visit the
cells for the day, was going the rounds he
perceived a crowd around the coll door
examining the reptile which was described
by the natives as Of tie most vencmous
character, its bite being invariably and
rapidly mortal. Theolicer, on being told
that it was killed by a man in the nd dioining
cell, went in and inquired into the matter.
when did you first know that there
was snake in the cell with youl, said he.
About nine o'clock last night. SIR was
Jacks reply.
Why did't you call the guard asked
the ofFfer.
4 thought the guard would na hear me,
and feared | might tramp ont; SO just
lay still
But you might have been bit; did you
know that you would have died instantlyP
j kent that vera WELL said Hall; but
they say that snakes Wilma meddlc with
you II you dinna meddle with them; sac
just let it 90 as it liket.'
Wei, my lad, believe YOU did what
was best after ALL but it was what not one
man in thousand could have done
When the story was told and the snake
showntot the commanding officer, he thought
the same, and Jack, for his extraordinary
nerve and courage got remission Of his
punishment. For some time, ut least, he
took care how he got into such situation
as to expose himselfto the chance Of pass
ing another night with such bodlelow.
Insured s,nd Dois'f Care a Darn.
A chap came into the drug store Of
Strcator and Thrall yesterday, and with
free and easy manner, and broad grin on
his face, took scat. Aliera remark about
the weather, he inquired if they kept an
article for killing flies. The answer was
affirmative. win you have someg We'll
| reckon not, Mat darned stuff hurts me
some, and | don't know but | mought as
wall take something Inquiry being made
toching the nature Of his complaint, be said
he was in at the City Hotel and being
pooty considerable dry, he spied bottle
Of liquor standing on the counter, and he
thought he would take little tif.' He
put the bottleto his mouth, and it rundown
his throat jest as easy. At this moment
the landlord entered and informed him
that he had swallowed couple Of ounces
of preparation Of corrosive sublinate for