Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-02-16
EEe Gold szau.cr nad the Snake.
AN ADVENTURE Ar THE pIoGrSes.

ter of gold digger in Australia TO an old
associate, which we find in our late Ea.
glish papers, is detailed the Uery latest
snake story we have seen. The writer
whose epis'le is dated on the third ol
September last, says;
"lou remember Dead Horse Gully,
the scene oi our sporting adventures. -
Well, | laleIy sank hole there IN the
deep sinking. One day had been more
Ihan usually lucky, SO next morning be-
times | was s,lrrIng, made fast my rope
to tree, and down | went by II hand
under hand, In my slush lamp, aud pro
ceeded on Tie DIVE on my hands and
knees, eager to begin work, and thinking
of the big nuggets. You remember
was always celebrated for maklug small
drives. Shading the ,igh. with my haGd
| crawled. ia. Near HE lar end | stop.
ped to avoid crawling through a small
pool o! water. CdsIIng the light before
me 10 see how The land lay-horror OF
horrors.-on the other side of the pool
| pIceised a pair of small glllteriug
grey eyes intenlly fixed ON me. the cold,
malignant expression of which forced
The warm blood back 10 my heart with a
bound which nearly suHocated me |
knew a. once that II was a snake, sad a
deadly one, too. Arching its neck with
a Kissing noise, il collected itself for the
fatal spring. Starting back, my head
game IN contact win the roof of the tun-
nul, and | iell back stunned and sense
less.
How long lay ia this state know
not: but when came TO consciousness
at first thought that was at home in
The 'big smoke;' 5ut gradually the truth
forced itself upon mr. Where was the
snake! Was bitten! To the last mental
query cheerfuIIy answered MOI for
most OF these snakes are very deadly,
ani The bitten part swells up immediate
Is. On consideration, | remembered
that The snake had reared for the spring,
so /! was clear had fallen in tie nick of
time, and the reptile had passed over;
but where was 1t now? A cold shudder
came over me when considered that the
suake must sill be in the whole, per-
haps even within a few feet, watching
me with lis glossy eyes; or preparing for
another spring. am not easily fright.
ened. as you well know: bu, for all The
gold in Bendgo, would not be in that
situation again. How was to proceed!
Ny only weapon was driving pick !;
grasping it, and creeping cautiously a,
long. heard a noise III trout. Was it
the snake! held my breath in fearful
suspense, with the weat OF agony moist
enIng my brow. No. ii was only some
Loose stones falling from The roof.
breashcd again, and with forced cour-
aye crept slea''hlly along. Arrived near
startled at seeing large carpe. snake
tiny late lormentor) circ,ing round the
bottom of the hole, and gliding half his
length up lis slippery sides, darling in
and out his forked tongue, and slowly
moving his head as il searching Tor an
opening TO hide itself. Being concealed
in The dark tunnel, had aaple time for
drlibera,ion.
EvidentIy should be able TO strike
the first blow if could succeed in reach
ing The mouth without making a noise.
| made up my mind at once, perhaps
rashly. as might have done better If
had waited until il was asleep Mutter-
ing prayer, crept cautiously forward;
but the head Of my pick caught agains,
| loose projecting stone, and down came
a LOT OF earth. Cursing my bad luck,
| looked TO see what effect il would have
on the snake. 1t was evidently aroused
twisting and comforting its body into all
sorts of knots and circles. at The same
time keeping It's piercing glance liked on
the mouth OF the tunnel. Darling quick
ly from my concealmen,. nailed the
snake 10 The ground through the neck
with my pick. With a hiss of pain il
suddenly threw It's folds round my leg
and partly drew it towards It's head. -
Recovering. ! planted my leg firmly
pulled out my bowie-kniie with my lei!
hand, and cut The snake in two abou, ,we
feet from lis head; bu, still the Shiny
body was contracted ronnd my leg. ant
still the forked tongue was playing il
and out, Notwithstanding the body was
severed in two. | clambered up the side
OF the hole with the snakes body cling
ing 10 my leg. When go. to the gras.
| again cut the snake in two aud un
wound il, thanking God for my narrow
escape. The snake measured eight fee
] SIX inches.