Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-05-15
miscellaneous Artlflrs.
HUGGED BY A SERPENT.
BY A CANADIAN SETTLER.

was brought up near the Canadian
line in Vermont My father owned a
large farm, though he was an iron work t
er by trade. / think he made some of l
the best rifles ever used. Not far from t
bis farm was quite a lake; we used to {
enjoy ourselves at fishing and sailing I
for we had one of the best sail boats ever
mt into fresh water. We knew there
were plenty of snakes about the lake
especially one part of it-a wide piece
If fats, where the water lay most of the
year, and where the tall grass and reeds
crew thickly. 1t was a sort of bay, ma
king up into a cove on the opposite side
from the farm. We had seen some large
snakes in the water there, and / had tried
IN shoot them as they swan with their
heads up, though I never happened to get
one Of them in that way. am sure l
hit some of them, but they managed to
get away into the grass; and I had no
dgsrb6now them, especially into such
place. Most of those that I saw were
the common black water snake, but they
we're not all alike. Some of the largest
ones had a light colored ring around the
neck; and was told by those who knew,
that these latter were by far the strongest
and most dangerous.
However, was destined soon to have
my eyes opened. One afternoon, I saw
flock of black ducks fly over the house,
and was sure they lighted on the lake;
50 / seized my double barreled gun and
ammunition, and started off. When /
reached the landing, l saw the ducks
away off by the opposite shore. I at
once cut some green boughs with my
knife; and having rigged up the bows of
a fiat bottomed scull we kept on purpose
for such work, L jumped in and started
of There was hole in the stern thro'
which we could put the oar, and thus
scul the boat without sitting up in sight,
50 from where the ducks were my con-
trivance had the appearance Of only a
simple mass of boughs floating along up
on the water.
l had got near enough for a shot, and
had drawn in the scull, and was in the
act of taking up my gun, when the ducks
started up. As quickly as possible
drew one hammer and let drive. / hi
two of them, but they didn't fall into the
water. They futtered along until they
fell among the tall grass up in the cove
The water was low, and the place wa
dry where they were. I pulled up as fa
as L could, and then got out and wadec
up. knew very near where one of tn
ducks had fallen, and very soon had m,
eye on it. As ! ran up to take it, l say
the head of a black snake pop out an
catch it by the wing. 1 saw only tn
head and neck of the reptile, and had n
idea how large an one it was; or, if
had, probably should have done just a
did, for / had no idea of fearing such
thing So l just runs up and snatcht
the bird away. l had left my gun in ii
boat, and had nothing to kill the cha
With; but as took the duck, l just p,
my foot upon the thief's neck.
The ground was moist and Shiny, ar
as the snake had his body braced amor
the roots Of the stout reeds, he took /
head out from under my foot about
quick as a man could comfortably thin
Thought I'd run back to my boat al
get my gun, and try to kill the fello,
and just turned for that purpose, VIII
! felt something strike my leg, as thou
somebody had thrown rope around
L looked down and found that the sna
mad taken a turn around my left leg w
his tail, and was in the act of cleari
MS body from the grass. dropped t
duck and gave a smart kick, but that
not loosen him, so L tried to put my ri,
loot upon him, and thus draw my left
away; but / might as well have tried
put my foot on to streak Of lightnir
And hadn't l been deceived? ] /
lorgotten the proportionate size of
aead OF this species of black snake.
Haa expected to see a snake four or
ise' long; but instead of that, he ,
nearly eight and a half! l tell Y,
'oONed ten ways for Sunday about t
''ne' Still, | hadn't yet any great f
'Or l supposed that when / put my ha
On him, | could easily take him off, 70
was pretty strong in the arms. In
seconds he had his body all clear, an
was then that the first real thrill
'uiough me. There be held himself
40 s"npie turn around my leg, and ,
80 oaek arched in and out, he brou
us head just on a level with mine.
/ made a prah Co.. L.. l.. -, L