Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-10-29
OLD SERIES, VOL. ID, NO. G,
TIE RATTLE SNAKE MIR.

] a iue morning, was accompanied by my
vile. | left my companion 'or short time,
In pursuit Of game, and in climbing rugged
ledge Of rocks, iuterspersed with shrubs aud
dwarfish trees. | was startled BY quleky
grating rattle. looked forward. On the
edge Of a loosened rock lay rattle snake,
coilmg himself oP as if for deadly spring,
He was within a few feet OF me, and paus-
ed for an instant 10 survey him. know not
why, but stood still and looked al The dead
ly serpent with strange feeling OF curiosity.
Suddenly he unwound his coil, as if relenting
from his purpose Of hostility, and raising his
head he fixed his bright fiery eyes directly
upon my own. A chilling and ndescrbable
sensation, totally different from anything 7
had ever before experienced, followed the
movement of the serpent; but stood still !
aud gazed steadily and earnestly, for at that
moment there was visible change in the
reptile. His form seemed 10 grow larger and
his color brighter. His body moved with a
slow, almost imperceptible motion towards
me, md low hum of music came from him
--or at least it sounded so in my cara
strange, sweet melody, faint as that which
melis from the throat of a humming bird.--s'
Then the tint of his body deepened ..snd
changed 10 beautiful kaleidoscope eEgreen,
purple, and gold until lost sight OF lhe.
serpent entirely, and only saw wild, Curl
ously-woven circles of strange colors, quiv-
erng around me like an atmosphere of rain
bows. | seemed in the centre Of great
prism-a world Of mysterious colors--and
the tinls varied and darkened and lighted up
again around me and the low, sweet mu~
sic went on, without ceasing, until my brain
reeled, and fear, for The frs, time, came like
a shadow over mo. The new sensation
gained rapidly, and | could feel the cold
sweat gushing from my brow. | had no
certainty Of danger in my mnd-all definite
IDEAS of peril were vague and couded, like
the unaccountable errors of dream and
ye. my limbs shook, and | fancied could
feel the blood sifiening with cold as it pas
sed along my veins would have given
worlds 10 have been able 10 bear myself fronK
the spot even attempted TO do so, but the
body Ubeyed not the impulse Of the mind
not muscle stirred and stood still as if my
/ feet had grown TO the solid rock, with the
internal music Of The tempter in my ear, and
The banelul coloring Of his enchan,menl be-
fore me.
Suddenly new sound came upon my ear
it was human voice; but il seemed
strange and awful. Again-again-bu
stirred no, and then white form plunged
before, and grasped my arm. The horid
spell was an once broken The strange COLI
ors passed from before my vision, The rat
tie snake was coiliug at my feet, with glow
ing eyes. upifIed fangs, and my wife cling
ing with terror upon me. The next instant
the serpent threw himself upon US. My
wife was the victim. The fatal (angs pier
ced deeply in her hand, and screams of ago
ny as she staggered backwards from me, told
! the dreadful truth.
Then ii was that feeling OF madness
came upon me; and when saw the fouy
serpent stealing away from his work of death,
reckless of danger / sprang forward aud
crushed him under my feet, grinding him to-
pieces OIL the ragged rock. The groans of
my wife now recalled 10 her side, and 10 he
horrid reality of her situation. There was
a dark, livd spot on her hand, and it deep
ened into blackness as lead her away. We
were at considerable distance from any
dwelling; and after wandering for short
time, the pain Of the wound became insup-
portable 10 nay wife, and she swooned away
in my arms. Weak and exhausted as was,
| ye, had strength remaining TO carry her 10
The nearest rivule, and bathe her brow in the
cold water. She partially recovered auJ sa-
Gown upon the bank, while supported her
head upou my bosom. Hour after hour rast
sed away, and none came near us-and
there, in the great wilderness, she died.