Butte record., 1854-03-11
The Gold-Hunter and the Snake.
ADVENTURE AT rHK pleslses.

tel OF gold digger IN Australia to an
old associate, which we find in our late
English papers, is detailed the .very
latest snake story we have seen. The
writer. whose epistle is dated on the
Sd of December last, says:-You re-
member Dead Horse Gully, the scene
of our sporting adventure. One day |
had been more than usual lucky, so next
morning betimes l was stirring, made
last my rope 10 tree, and down | went
hand under hand, lit my slush lamp, and
proceeded on the drive on my hands and
knees, eager to begin work, and think
ing of the big nuggets. You remember
[ was always celebrated for making
small drives. Shading the light with
nv hand | crawled in. Near the far
end | stopped to avoid crawling through
a small pool of water. Casting the
light before me to see how the land Law
horror of horrors ON the other side
of the pool l perceived pair OF small
glltterlng grey eyes intentively fixed on
me, the cold malignant expression of
which forced the warm blood back to nv
heart with a bound which pearly suffo.
Gated me. | knew at once it was
snake, and deadly one, too. Arching
lis neck with a Kissing noise, it collec-
ted Itself for The fatal spring Starting
back, my head came in contact with the
roof Of The tunnel, aud | fell back stunn-
ed and senseless. How long | lay in
that state l know not but when l came
to consciousness, l at first thought | was
at home in the big smoke but gradu-
ally forced itself upon me Where was
the snake : Was | bitten: To the
last mental querv | cheerfully answered
No y for most of these snakes are very
deadly, and the bitten part swells up
Immediately. On consideration, | re-
membered that the snake had reared for
the spring, so it was clear | had fallen
IN the Mich of time, and the reptile had
passed over; but where was it now; A
cold shudder came over me when [ con.
sldered that the snake must still be in
the hole, perhaps even within a few feet,
watching me with Its glossy eyes, or pre-
ptring for another spring. l am not
easily frightened, as you well know but
for all the gold in Bendigo, l would not
be in that situation again. How was |
to proceed; Ny only weapon was a
driving pick; grasping 1t, and creeping
cautiously along, heard noise in front.
Was it the snake l held my breath in
fearful suspense, with the sweat of ago
ny moistening my brow. No, it was on
y some loose stones falling from the roof.
| breathed again, and with forced cour-
age cTept stealthily along. Arrived near
the mouth Of the tunnel, l was again
startled at seeing large carpet-snake
lmy late tormentor) circling around the
bottom of the hole, and gliding half his
lenth up its slippery sides, dariing in
and out his forked tongue and slowly
moving his head as if searching for an
opening to hide itself. Being concealed
IN the dark tunnel, l had ample time for
deliberation- Evidently | should be
able to strike the first blow if | could
succeed in reaching the mouth without
making noise. | made up my mind at
once, perhaps rashiy; as | might have
done better if | had waited until it was
asleep Muttering prayer, | crept
cautiously forward but the head of nv
pick caught against loose projecting
stone, and down came lot Of earth
Cursing my bad luck, | looked to see
what effect it would have on the snake.
1t was evidently aroused, twisting and
entorturing its body into all sorts of knots
and circles, at the same time keeping
its piercing glance fixed on the mouth
of the tunnel. Darling quickly from my
concealment, [ nailed the snake to the
ground through the neck with my pick.
With hiss of pain it suddenly threw its
folds around my leg, and partly drew it
towards its head Recovering, l plant
ed my leg firmly, pulled out my Bowie
knit with my left hand, and cut the
snake in two about foot from his head !
but still the Shiny body was contracted
around my leg. and still the forked
tongue was playing in and out, notwith-
standing the body was severed in two.
| clambered up the side of the hole with
the snakes body clinging to my leg
When | got to the grass, | again cut the
snake in two and unwound it, thanking
God for my narrow escape. The snake
II.