Butte record., 1855-09-29

u OAu1t LiiG iVCA. vi CIV t4c AHA.S A-A "a .
his eyes upon enemy.
saw the latter wind himself around
one of the strongest Of the high limbs,
which would bring him very near Ii>
victim. and then my self possession re-
turned Ia fact, what I h i relate : had
P s~ed 50 rapidly before ny eyes that
scracely had ime for action Of any sGrt.
The serpent had ascrnded the tree $,
swiftly until concealed by its br ancl,es
that | had no time to fire, but low that
he had exposed himself, I dets rmi ned to
do 50, although the SHOT might cndanger
the na i've. The ghlful monster in his
revolutions around the limb paused
Whenever his h ad crane above it. aad
fixing his burning eyGs upon hi~ expected
prey made ano her 'u-n around the limb.
and each me came near-r 10 its ex-
iremity- As lead came fairly in Vi " I
fired, aiming at his neck. The report of
the riHs II. tits pent up place WAS tre-
m nd . ;, and instantly rum ng his head
towaF d tue tr e, the serpent twist
HI" self int large knot upon the limb.
! distinctly heard lis blood dropping upon
the leaves near my feet l thought |
had ne the business for him, but was
mistaken, for in mnmrnt, kissing in
anger, he urco'led himself and gain he
advanced along tn branch
Ny compa"i bad left his fawling-
piece near where I stood, and l seized it
and fred second time. but without ef,
feet. He reached the end of the limb,
which, though running horizontally was
Continuance of the main body of the
tree, and having been broken near TIE
shelf, was strong enough to bear bis
weight bending very lttl-. Here with
his head hst'enod and his arched and
swo len crest glowing ike fir, h. pre-
par-d to spring upon his prize. The
blood streamed from the W und in his
neck, and flowing down crimsoned the
bright seal :, but be seemed to be hut
little injured His burning aud diliing
eyes were fixed intent ' upon the native,
aad his red FL i tongue dartrd Ike an
iucessant fame from hi mouth. The
man was pr pared for hi.n-the keen
knife 2l'tt red in bis tand-but his situa-
tlon was terrible On.
Al this moment a da, k shad FIJI
opoa bin. He 10 ked up and III amaze
ment bch. "a lion Of great size stan in
upon the bri. k Of 'he opening, some ten
feet above jim, with h.s ey. $ fix d on
the o.hrr side, aad evidently intending to
cross. A hiss from below caught hi
ear. and dropping his head quickly be
tween lis ?. LIE lifted bis name, and
with load roar sp'ang ferc ly at the
native, "ho avoided lin by shrinking
close to the ock, and as he me within
reach f the shelf, be pnug d the kaifr
into his side. A the lion recorered bis
leap and turned upon lls foe, saw two
or three coils hy fon the limb ike rings
Of fire, and in an instant one of them
was around the shaggy neck Of the lordly
beast, and The f ngs of the serpent were
fastened above bis eyes. He vas dragged
struaeli g from shelf, and the ser.
Pent retaining his hold upan the limb.
they swung heavily against the body Of
the tree. The joints of the serncar
stretched to is utmrst tension, and .,
limb bent and craeked !, ith the weigh
1t sn~t"in i, bet he f mly kept hold and
drew the cord about tie neck Of tie
struggling lion as tight as the hangman's
knot But The mighty bast Was not
thus to be ovrrcome With ne If his
strong paws he g'asaed th snake above
the heal, md turni z led that part
in is mouth, crushing bones and flesh.
and grin ing hi teeth in fury " hen the,
met. The cards upon the limb relaxed
a d thy FIJI b. av,ly to the ground,
fighting in heap, and ~hirling rhr d
leaves up in cloud vi h their fer,
energy,
ran up the path which the nativ.
h selected before, and was SION j,ined
by him. With little diff culty we T, ach-
the top Of The opsn'ng, and tarned
to lnok at the strange bttllr below But
it was over. The uge serpent lay bio -dy
and motionless at the foot Of the tree.
ard the victor Gus lion sapp ared
amoug the bushes in the direction of the
issure He had received so,oe severe
wounds, and I doubt not bis bon ached
from the great stress Of the serpent's
folds.