The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-21

den among the bromelias and vines that in huge
masses clustered around the trunk of the "a
mang, and the head was among the leaflets of
the mlmosa but what they saw was enough to
convince them that it was snake of the larg-
est slze-the great "pater bod"-the ana
| cOndd,
| That part of the body in sight was full as
| thick as mans thigh, and covered with black
| spots, or blotches, upon a ground of dingy yell
low. 1t was seen to glisten as the animal NOV
ed Tor the latter was In motion, crawling along
the branch OUTWARD! The next moment its
head appeared under the pendulous leaves
and Its long, forking tongue, protruding sever
| al inches from its mouth, seemed to feel the
air in front of it. This tongue kept playing
backwards and forwards, and its viscid cover,
ing glittered under the sunbeam, adding to the
hideous appearance of the monster
10 escape from passing within its reach
would be impossible. The balza was gliding
directly under it. 1t could launch itself aboard
at will 1t could seize upon any one of the par
| ty without coming from the branch it could
coil its body around them, and crush them with
| the constructing power of its muscles. 1t could
do all this; for it had crushed before now the
| tapir, the roebuck, perhaps even the jaguar
| himself.
| All on board the boat knew its dangerous
power too well and of course terror was visi-
| BILE III every countenance.
| Don Pablo seized the axe, and Guapo laid
hold of his macbeth. Dona Isidora, Leon, and
the little Leona, were standing fortunately
they were-by the door of the toldo and, in
obedience to the cries and hurried gestures OF
Don Pablo and the Indian, they rushed in and
| flung themselves down. They had scarcely dis
appeared inside, when the forward part of the
| balza, upon which stood Don Pablo and Guapo.
came close to the branch aud the head of the
serpent was on level with their own. Both
| aimed their blows almost at the same instant
but their footing was unsteady; the boa drew
back at the moment, and both missed their
aim. The next moment the current had car
ried them out of reach and they had no oppor-
tunity of striking second blow.
The moment they had passed, the hideous
head again dropped down, and hung directly
over, as if waiting. 1t was a moment of in
tense anxiety to Don Pablo. His wife and
children! Would it select enc as its VICTIM and
leave the others, Or
He had but little time for reflection. Already
the head of the snake was within three feet OF
the toldo door. Its eyes were glaring it was
about to dart down.
80 God, have mercy!" exclaimed Don Pa
bio, falling upon his knees. 80 God!"
At that moment loud scream was heard.
1t came from the toldo and at the same in
slant the saimiri was seen leaping out from the
door. Along with the rest, it had taken shell
ter within; but, just as the head of the snake
came in sight, fresh panic seemed to seize
upon it, and, as if under the influence of fas.
cination, it leaped screaming in the direction
of the terrible object 1t was met half way.
The wide jaws closed upon it, its shrieks were
stified, and the next moment its silken body,
along with the head of the anaconda, disap-
peared among the leaves of the mimosa. An
other moment passed, and the balza swept
clear of the branch and foated triumphantly
into the open water.
Don Pablo sprang to his feet, ran into the
toldo, and, after embracing his wife and chill
dren, knelt down and offered thanks to God for
their almost miraculous deliverance