Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-09-24

Vermont My father owned large farm,
though he was an iron worker by trade
think he made some of the best rifles ever
used. Not far from his farm was quite lake
We used to enjoy ourselves at fishing and
shooting, for We had one of the best sailboats
ever put into fresh water We knew there
we're plenty of snakes about this lake, especi-
ally ou one part of it-a wide piece of fats,
where the water lay most Of the year, and
where the tall grass and reeds grew thickly.-
1t was sort of bay, making up into cove
on the opposite side from the farm. We had
seea some large snakes in the water there,
and had tried to shoot them as they swan
with thrir heads mp, though never happened
70 get one Of them in that way. | am sure |
hit some of them, but they managed to get
away into the grass and | had no desire to
follow them, especially into such a place
Most of those that | saw were the common
black water snake, bat they were not all alike.
Some of the largest ones had a light colored
ring round the neck aud was told, by those
Who knew, that these latter were by far the
strongest and most dangerous.
Howeya., ! was destined soon to have my
eyes opened. One afternoon / saw a flock Of
black ducks fly over the house, and / vas sure
they lighted Oh the lake, SO | seized my dou-
ble barreiled gun and ammunition, aud started
off When I reached the landing saw the
ducks away off by the opposite shore, at
once cut some green boughs with my knife
and having rugged up the bows of small fiat
bottotned scull We Kept On purpose for such
work, jumped in and started off. There was
hole ia the stern through which we could
put the oar, and thss scuH the boat without
sitting up in sight so from where the ducks
were my contrivance had the appearance only
Of simple mass of boaghs floating along upon
the water
had got near enough for shot, and had
drawn in the Scull, and was in the act of TAX
ing up my gun, when the ducks started up
As quick as possible l drew oRe hammer and
let drive / hit two of them but they didn't
fall into the water They futtered along IN
til they fell among the tail grass ap in the
core The water was low, and the place was
dry where they were pulled up as far as
could, and got out and waded up. knew
very near where one of the ducks had fallen,
and very soon had my eye on it. As ran up
TO take it saw the head of a black snake
pop out aud catch it by the wing. saw only
the head and neck of the reptile, and had no
idea how large a one it was or, if ] had,
probably | should have done just as did, for
had no idea of fearing such thing had left
my gun in the boat, and had nothing to kill the
chap with, but as | took the duck, | lust put
my foot upon the thieFs neck
The ground was moist and Shiny, and the
snake had his body braced among the roots of
the stout reeds; he took his head out from
under my foot about as quick as man could
comfortably think. | thought I'd run back
TO my boat and get my gun, and try to kill
this fellow and had just turned for that
purpose, when felt something strike my legs
as though somebody had thrown rope around
It. | looked down and found that the snake
mad taken turn around my leg with his tail,
and was in the act of clearing his body from
the grass. | dropped the duck and gave
smart kick, but that didn't loosen him, SO |
tried to put my right foot upon him, and thus
draw my leg away / might as well have put
my foot upon streak of lightning
And hadn't been deceived? had forgot
ten the proportionate size of the head of spe-
ces Of the black snake. ] had expected to
see snake four or five feet long, bnt instead
o. That he was nearly eight feet and half
eull, hadn't yet any fear, for supposed that
"len put my hands on him / could easily
lake him off, for was pretty strong in the
arms In few seconds he had his body all
clear, and it was then that the first real thrill
snot sit through me There he held himself by
inc simple turn around my leg, and with his
PACK arched in aud out he brought his head
Just On level with mine made grab for
MIN, but missed him and then as quick as you
can snap your finger, he swept his head under
ny arm, clear around my body, and straighten-
Cd up and looked me in the face again. / gave
another grab at him, and another, as quick
as could, but he lodged me in spite of all
could do. f..
~ lelt the snakes body working its way up
dAe turn of the tail was turned to my thigh,
~ suu t l1e coil around my stomach commenced
~ W. ughten. About this time began to think
'1efe might be some serious work and the