The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-05-14

'.'e"ee h"S oeen ftsue. Following along
It's low shore some half mile, nv nerves
were gradually schooed 10 the test which
they were to be subjected by frequently
meeting with his snskeship, that literally
swarm IN some parts N these morasses. /,
is not the ordinary water snake, but a law.
sluggish and arrow mouthed, poisonous rep.
Tile, called 10y the swampers the "noccasir,.
mouthed snake" He executes his bi,e bn,
clumsi'y, which greatly lessons the danger
OF his presence, and he seldom leaves the
shores OF these unsighily marshes bur few
yards; another most fortunate circumstance.
and, IN the season of the year already refer
red 10, they seem to be congregatinr for
winter quarters, which may account some.
what Tor what we shalt in = moment detail.
lhe bite OF tins reptile is deadly, quite as
much so as that of the ratlesnake or con-
perhead. | was informed that swine yerv
readily devour them, which item Of infor.
nation | should have felt quite as well NOT
10 nave received, as had been enjoying at
hrother S.s the luxury of some wel-smok
ell side bacon, along with some kraut and
corn dodger. At the next meal I felt nv
preference tor venson very much TO pre
dominate. We soon arrived at Biilv's
canoe, and in the centre of the rocking
thing was seated, with Uncle Billy and
Massa Tom in either end. Two paddles
soon sent us some distance out into the
muddy and shallow waters, and amid the
huge trunks of fallen trees and conical FMS
socks which constitute the musk rats home
Snake after snake soon began to make It's
| appearance, coled upon almost every souare
inch OF surace. On single log counted
! ten. ourselves not more than ten feet from
them. shudJered. and armed with n bio
club, was constantly assuming attitudes of
defence, while Uncle Billy shook his burly
sides IN impairment laughter, aud Massa
Tom amused himself by seeing how many
decapitations he could make by a given
number of shots. On we padded, and
more numerous became the snakes Occ,.
sionaIIy they spashed about the sides of
our hohbng nautilus; and now, ms we pass
ed under the low limb of tree, Billy would
knock them OF with his paddle almost into
the canoe. demonstrated, pleaded, hal.
loed, but could procure no retreat. Tom
went on with his snake shooting; Uncle
Billy padded us further and luther into
auedemonium, when the horrible idea took
possession of my mind that should we tin
over, ian event by 40 means improbablel
what position could be conceived OF more
horrible than thus be lumhlcd into the ye,y
tolls of u thousand deseslable reptiles. am;J
mud and qucksands From entreaiing
became pciempIoty, and Uncle Billy paus-
ed. When at n safe distance from The de
testabIe "varmnts," we counted all lba,
were visible. | counted one hundred and
h'ty snakes, the iUrthest OF which WAS moi
tfty feet from me. When thorough;v sat.
'sied that what Uncle Billy had said abou,
"de way he woald show me snakes WAS a
caution, dat sartln," WAS no exaureration.
We returned 10 the shore and TO our home
With Tom and Uncle Billy the sirht was
commonplace. Upon my mind it had
far different effect. 1t was The reality Of
more than | had ever read or dreamed
about horrible dens of serpents, whole re.
gions now and then slrewed with rattle.
snakes, elc. ! said ljttle more than to re
mark that IT was a mighty suaky country
there, at which Uncle Billy laughed. |
spent the rest Of the day in reading my
Bible But with me, as with Aunt Susan !
The sHbJec, Of "sarpinls" became rather oh
trnsWe, But II my waking thoughts were
OF snakes, my dreaming ones that night
greatly exaggerated the whole matter. Nv
sleep was as much interrupted As if had |
been the doomed Medu>a The wan, of
sleep sieHdcd my nerves toward morning
so that sweet sleep, obivious, trumphed 70,
refreshing season. | awoke ~ an hour
rather late, and If my first thoughts were
not OF "SarPirts,' my earliest ones, nolrns
rofene, certainly were. Opening my eyes.
what should see directly over my bed. pro
ding from n knot-hole in one of the rouuL
logs, but the head Of de,e>table snake. Al
hrs; thought dreamed, and ii could not
oe reality, when, watching my loalhsome
visitor for an instant, | saw the head turn
aud the forked tongue protrudc, hut saw
no more. In an instant was on the floor.
aud seizing the most indispensable of my
wardrobe, J relreated t. tie hall, with u
scream that secured the snxiou, presence or
Susan in tuce. told her What | had
witnessed, and pointed to the knot hole
over my bed, not doubling but there were
one or two others in my bed, If She would
but look. At that moment the head Of a
htIle harmless reptile, with Il white ing
about lis neck, again made free 10 take oh. /
servailon from tho knot.hple As we were
joined 5y one and another Of the members
OF the family, old Aunt Susa's laugh. which .
had commenced with the first sigh, of the /.
cn"se Of my fears, became perfectly obstrc- .
porous.
why, massa, dat no morc'n little bi,
ob mix snake, an he no more bite dan F..
a worn. Dey come back oh de house mere
to de spring house to steal my milk, an | /
Kills one ebery now an den; an dey does |
climb up de corners ob DE house, ipr seed .
one dar toder day, an struck il wild my
broom. ! spose dat log hollow, an he
creep IN dar. But It it war full ob such |
snakes dar be no danger, dat sarliu."
Taking it thus coolly, and with such pro. .
goking sympathy for my fears, Aunt Susa /
retired To complete her breakfast, when. as .
she retired, | sent this rebuke after her;
..-.l a I a