The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-11-25

'h"t HunS tneir garlanuS over The water
and chalned The tree tops into one sea Of
blossoming vegetation. A short distance
up the high bank curved inv ard, and a
little cove lay glit:ering in the sunlight,
hedged in by sloping hill, which was
covered with rich herbage and crowned
by thick grove, heavy with the ripe ba-
nanas, and other eastern fruits. On the
lower swell of the bank, two lofty palm
trees shot up into the air. branching out
at the top in cloud Of thick green 70
Eage, impervious almost to the hot sun.
shine, which fell broadly on that side Of
the river.
The old Rajah fixed his eyes on the
stately palms, as the boat gradually near
ed them while he gazal, the glltering
branches which had hitherto remained
motronless, logan to trembIe, and wave
to and fro. The leaves shivered a low
rustling sound was heard, as if a current
OF wind had suddenly hurs, over them :;
and :hen the head and haif the BODY of
a huge serpent shot up from the mass Of
leaves, swayed itself back and forth in the
sunshine for moment and then darted
pack with The same rustling sound into its
huge nest OF leaves. The old Raiah's
eyes klndled with "A subtle fire; and he
commanded his attendants to enter bag
gage boat, and proceed to the banana
grove for a supply of fresh fruit. Moor
the boat IN the inlet beneath the two
palms, and let Taje remain with her. he
commanded, pointing to the handsome
slave who stood behind his daughter.-
The slave made his saIaam. and was
about to step into the boat, when the
princess called him ; Thou shalt not re
main id!e,' she SAID with smile; 'let
Thy task be to gather some of those lilies
which spring up from that bed of white
sand just within the cove, and scatter
them over my cushions; should be
asleep when the boat returns, their Der
tune will bring me pleasant dreams
The slave bent his turbaned head, and
Sprang into the boat. The princess half
rose from her cushions and watched the
patty AS they drew towards the Shore
The slave, Tajc, moor ell the boat, and
brought an armfuI of the beautiful white
lilies she had desired, and laid them
carefully IN the Prov, - here he seated
himself to wait for his companions. He.
eyes were fixed with kind OF dreamy
abStractedness on the cove, when she saw
tile tops OF the palm trees IN commotion:
the heavy leaves began to shi.er again,
and the slender branches crashed, AS with
the force Of hurricane. As she looked
that huge serpent began TO coil itself like
the stem OF great vine, downwards a. .
round the palm ; his eek gistening, his
head thrust out little from the trunk.
aud bis hungry eyes fixed on the slave
who had dropped asleep in the boat
lhe princess sprang to her feet with n cry
OF horror, and then stood molionless aud
white as death &; her fingers locked, and
her pale lips moving but speechless. She
was STRIVING 10 cry out, but her voice vas
choked in her throat. She saw the mon
ster thrust his head far ont from the trunk
Of the palm, and then the horrld glitter
Of his back as he untoIded coil after coil
and flung half his length into the boat,
cleaned before his distended eyes. With
a cry that rang over the waters like the
shrek OF maniac, she fell upon the deck
and with her face buried in her hands.
lay quivering in every limb, like dl ine
creature.
Peace ! thundercd the old Rajah, lift.
ing her form from the deck and tlinpnr
1t on the cushion, Peace, migrate ! Look
up and witness his just punishment =
AS If nothing could appease his thirst
Tor vengeance, he tore the hands from the
shudderlng creatures face, and again half
lifting her from the pile Of cushions for
ced her to look upon the appalling scene
The serpent had coiled itself around its
vIctlm,while yet one part Of its huge length
was twisted about the palms. She gazed
with dizzy brain on the motlled folds
as they wnthed giisteniug and swelling
eagerly around their struggling victim
She saw the glossy neck flung upward
with a curve that brought the head, with
It's fierce gloatng eyes, and its forked
tongue quivering like fiery arrow from
the open jaws over the crouching slave.
A low smothered cry Of Of mortal agony
arose from the 5oat-then : shout and q
rush of men from the grove. She saw
the CLEAN Of their matches and pixies AZ
they fell upon the monster. She saw the
horrid folds that begirt her lover relax,
and then with faint gasp she fell back
in her fathers arms sick and entirely
senseIess.
'Dog| cried the fer,e old man, Selling
the rescued slave as he ascended the side
Of the barge, pale and hsggard as a
corpse, yet bearing the lilies which his
mistress had ordered, 10 his arms. Dog!
crocodile Thou has escaped the ser
peni, but who shall save thee from the
vengeance OF disgraced father =
The old man's scimitar flashed upward
as he spoke. The slave drew his fine
form proudly to its height, and fixed his
stern, calm eyes full on the old Rajah's.
Rash old man, he said, what would
you Of mei True have won the love
OF your daughter ; but il you seek ven.
geance for the wrong, claim II not of Taie,
the slave, but the prince Arungzebe, her
atiiaOced husband, for BY the holy stream
which bears us, | am that man.
The Rajah's eve quailed beneath that
stern Clanca anil tho scip,it.. f,II a. al