Mariposa Democrat., 1857-07-16

possible, by taking hold where he was around
me-for he could not dodge that part you
know-and tried to turn him off But this
only made it worse. The fellow had now
drawn himselfup so high, and stretched SO,
that he whipped another turn about me. His
tail was now about my left thigh, and the rest
of him turned twice around my body-one Of
them being just at the pit of my stomach, and
the other one above it. All this had occupied
just about one half a minute from the time he
first got the turn around my leg.
The snake now had his head right around
in front of my face, and he tried to make his
way into my my mouth What his intention
was, | cannot surely tell, though | have always
believed that he knew he could strangle me in
that way. He struck me one blow in the
mouth that hurt me considerably; and after
that got him by the neck, and there meant
to hold him-at least so that he should not
strike me again. But about this time another
difficulty arose. The moment grasped the
snake by the neck, he commenced to tighten
his folds about my body 1t wasn't over few
seconds before | discovered that he'd soon
squeeze the breath out of me in that way, and
| determined to unwind him. He was in this
way: The turn around the thigh was from
left to right-thcn up between the legs to my
right side, and around the back to the left side
and so on with the second turn-thus bring
ing his head under my left arm. ! had the
snake now with the left hand and my idea
was TO pass his head around my back until
could reach it with my right, and so unwind
him. ! could press the fellows head down
under my arm, but to get it around so as to
reach it with my right hand, | could not
tried-I put all my power into that one arm,
but could not do it. could get the head
just about under my arm-pit; but here my
strength was applied to disadvantage, and
could do no more.
Until this moment had not been really
frightened. had believed that could un-
wind the serpent when tried. Inever dream
ed what power he had. Why-only think
as strong as was then-and could not put
that snakes head around my back tried it
until knew that could not do it, and then
gave it up. My next thought was Of my jack
knife; but the lower coil Of the snake was di-
rectly over my pocket, and | could not get in.
now for the first time, called out for help.
yelled with nll my might; and yet knew
the trial was next to useless, for no one could
easily gain the place where | was without
boat Yet called out hoping against hope.
grasped the snake by the body and pulled
I tried to break its neck. This plan presented
itself with glcam of promise; but it amounted
to nothing. | might as well have tried to
break rope by bending forward or back
ward.
full minute had now elapsed from the
time when first | tried to pass the snakes
head around my back. His body had become
as elongated by his gradual pressure around
my body, that he had room to carry his head
around in a free and symmetrical curve. He
had slipped from my grasp, and when next
caught him ] found that | was weaker than
before. | could not hold himl The excite
ment had prevented me from noticing this
until now For few minutes was in a per-
feet frenzy leaped up and down-cried out
as loud as | could-and grasped the snake
with all my might. But itavailed me nothing.
He slipped his head from my weakened hand,
and made a blow at my face, striking me fair
ly upon my closed lips This made me mad,
and gave the Internal thing another grasp
with both hands, trying once more to twist his
neck. The only result was that got anoth-
er blow upon the mouth.
But the moment of need was at hand |
felt the coils growing tighter and tighter around
my body, and my breuth was getting weak. A
severe pain was beginning to result from the
the pressure and | saw that the snake would
soon have length enough for another turn. He
was drawn so tightly that the center of his
body was no bigger than his head The black
skin was drawn to tension that seemed its
utmost and yet could tell by the working Of
the large scales upon the belly that he was
drawing himself tighter still
"For Gods sake!" gasped, stricken with
absolute terror, "what shall dol What
could | do9 The enemy 70: whom had at
first held so little thought, was killing me-
killing me slowly, openly, surely-and had
no help! /, a stout, strong man, was being
actually held at the deadly will of black
snake My breath was now short, faint and
quick, and knew that was growing purple
in the face. My hands and arms were swollen
and my fingers were numbed.
had let go of the snakes neck, and he now
carried the upper part of his body in grace
ful curve, his head vibrating from side to side,
with an undulating motion Of extreme grace
fulness.
At length | staggered was losing my
strength rapidly, and the pain of my body had
become excruciating. The snakes skin where
it was coiled about me was so tight that it
seemed almost transparent He had found