Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1854-01-26
LIFE Az THE jDIGGINs--A 5 NAKE
STORY.

E
10y communicated 10 a letter from gold dipge,
companlons afu .oiiie
II "Iiaes have improved very auch sine,
you left rs In one way, but thew have f,lle,
on very much in alassher Food is cheaper
and true 10 the cid rule. when feed is pieu.
fui laborIis cheap Geld is mora sca,oa
think tae dikgers would dc better If thew
would emily stick 40 one spot. and explore 4
thoroughly befsrc. giving il Up. Instead 4, !,
many do, Ainktwo 81 three hsles Il : rnl,v
ge'tlng saiy moderate finds. then give il up
70 place ofexplsring fuEsAer, snd try else.
where running uR expense on expense. les
ing their time, aud doing no good and why
because II takes leng time to get into the
run OF Ia, aud every time they shift thew
have, as twere, TO e. through . fresh az.
premiership TO fresh gully
!. \ GU remember Dead ii orsel Gully, Tho
scene Of our sporting adventures. Well. I
lately sank hole there 10 the deep sinking
MIAe ran about seyaateea feet. and a. NJ
turned out pretty good | dreve IN .bept
forty teet towards the side Of the hill One
day had been pore'than usually lucky, So
next morning betimesI was stirring made
fast my rope to tree and down went by
i hand under hand, slit my slush lamp. ana
proceeded along the drive on nv hands ana
Knees. eager 70 bdgia work, AMI thinking 81
the big nuggets. Yen remem Der | was Il. .
Ways celebrated for making small drives
Shading the light with my hand A crawled
~ Near the far end stopped to avoid
crawling thr ugh ia snail pool Of water =
Casting the light before me to see how the
land lay horrsr Of harrorsl- the other
side Of the pool 4 perceived pair Of glitter.
tuat " wxs r4,s-v,:'- - -.
Arching i'll n cx wiin kissing noise il CT
leeted itself for the fatal spring starting
back. my head cane I, contact with the rscf
of the tunnel and I'll back STAINED and
senseless How long ] lay in this state
know net. but when ! came to Consciousness
| first thought thai / was at home in the
big smoke; but gradaAlly the truth forced
;tseIf upon6ms Waers was the snake -
Nas bittenl TO the last mental query |
sheerfully answered 10 7 for the most Of
these snakes are very eeadly and the bitten
bart sWells up i'm nfedik.ely On considsra-
lion. rene that the snake had reared
for the spring. so il wss clear | had fallen
III the nick ftime. and the reptile had passed
a
over me; but where was it now A cold
shudder passed over NE. when | considered
chat the snake must stlll be in the hole, per,
haps even within few feet watching me
VII it's CLASSY eyes, q preparing for 81
other spriag !,
II am not easily frightened, As you we'll
know. but for all thu gold in Bendigs !
would not he Ia that situation again. How
was TO procsedl My only weapon was 9
driving PICK graspins it, and creeping eau
tieusIy along, 1 heard noise in front Wa,
Il the suake9 l heId3my breath in fearful
suspense. with tho sweat Of agony moistsn
ine N brow NJ. il PAS only SEINE leest
stepss falling from TIE roof | breathed
aoain. and WITH forced courage crept steal
thiIy along Arrived aear the mouth q ~
tunnel l was again startled At seelsg iarg'
carpet snake Thy late termeasor) clrclinl
round the bottpm Of tie hole, and glidiHt
| half his lengthIou its slippery rides, dsftinl
la and out his forked; tongue. and slowl.
moving his. head as If searching for an epen
ling to hide Itself Being concealed IN th
dark tunael. II bad ample time fer dsliber'
lEtien. Evidently. should be able to strlk
IItbe first slow II coula succeed IL reacAin
the mouth without making noise l mad
linn NV mind At enc6. perhaps rashly
-ilmiebt have done better II | had waited VI
Ill II was asleep, Mditering prayer,
srept cautiously forward, but the head Of N
, uiSk caught against fsoss projecting ston
and de1a cane lot Of earth. Cursing n
had luck | looked 10 see what eject it weul
have On the suzke Ii vas evidently arouse