Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-03-15
AN ADVENTURE WITH RATTLEsNAKEs.

AN ADVENTURE WITH RATTLEsNAKES.
NOTICED sketch in your paper, says cor
respondent of the Boston Courier, few days
since, entitled Taugkanuck Mountains, that
recalled to my mind an incident that occurred
to me on those mountains some twenty-five or
thirty years ago. [ was at that time resi-
den, of Sheffield At the time to which | re-
fer, formed one Of party of young meu who
made an excursion to the submits of those
mounts, to hunt patridges, ect. There are, or
were, at that time, places so invested with
rattlesnakes that it was dangerous to approach
them. To avoid these abodes, we relied on
the acquaintance Of one of our party of their
locality. After chasing over the hills six or
eight hours, we were tired enough to think of
returning to our homes We were proceeding
along in an Indian file,' through defle some
four rods wide, one side of which was noun
tain; the other some forty feet high, compos-
ed of loose lodges that were overgrown with
ives, when Il sharp rattle was heard that sent
a chill to our hearts. The foremost of our
line saw the reptile just ahead Of him, and
without thought raised his gun and fired
As the report of the gun echoed along the
crags most hideous rafting and Kissing arose
on all sides.
We were in the midst of the den Each
rock and bush seemed populous with rattle
snakes and we could sees them descending from
the higher crags. We stood still, not know
ing what to do. To go back would be as dan
gerous as to advance and to remain where
we were, as perilous as either, for several were
moving in the bushes near us. The slightest
touch Of a fang was certain death, as we were
too far from any habitation to enable us to
reach it before the deadly virus would have
taken effect. We feared to STIR least we
should attract their attention sooner than if
we remained quiet What passed in the minds
of my companions know not, but remem.
Der that my own thoughts we're of no very
agreeable nature.
AT this juncture one of us perceived large
fiat rock, some three rods from us, and pro.
posed in whisper that we should make for
that. Having ascertained that none of our
assailants were between us and it, we made a
rush for it, and gained it uuseathed. Our
last movements notified our creeping foes of
our whereabouts, as well as to irritate them
more, and they made for our position. Our
weapon of defence were four guns, two pis-
tolls, and an axe. We were then so situated
as to enable us to defend ourselves in some
measure. We cut couple of very slender
sprouts that grew close by the rock, stationed
ourselves in the centre, and as the snakes
came on the edge of our citadel we killed
thems Only five or six made the attempt,
and We pitched their mangled carcasses back
TO their comrads. Il was evident that SO long
as We remained on the rock we were safe; but
how to escape was more than we could pre-
dict. If we could have killed all the reptiles
on one side with our guns and cudgels, we
should have encountered more in sealing the
ledge.
We remained quietly on the rock, and in a
short time the rattlesnakcs ceased their at
lacks; bnt, on our making any movement,
they commenced Kissing again. These snakes
emit disagreeable oder when disturbed, and
the air was filled with,it. We noticed tall tree
growing close by us, and one of our party
proposed to cut it, sa as to cause it to fall
against the topof the ledge and thereby form,
if it did not break, a way by which we could
extricate ourselves. We instantly commenced
cutting it, keeping sharp lookout for the