Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-06-30
Encounter With a ser,,an+

the European soldiers in India, there is usual. ly number of little solitary cells where th. dlsorderly members of the corps are confined for longer or shorter terms, by order of the commanding officer In one of these at Ma dras, on certain occasion, was locked m poor Jack Hall, Scotchman, belonging to Edlnburg or Leith. Jack had got intoxicated and being found in that condition at the hour of dril was sentenced to eight days solitary confinement. Soldiers in India have their bedding partly furnished by the honorable com pany, and find the remainder themselves. About thls part of the house furnishing, how ever, Hall troubled himself very little, being one of those hardy, reckless beings on whom prlvatlon and suffering seemed to make no i'm presslon. hard floor was as good as down bed to Jack and therefore, as he never scru. pied to sell what he got, it may be supposed that his sleeping furniture was none of the most abundant or select
 such as It was, he was stretched upon and under Il one night in his cell during his term or penance, and was retlecting on the impro- prlety of In future "puttng an enemy into hls mouth to steal away his brains," when lo! he thought he heard a rustng in the cell close oy nm. At this moment he recollected that he had not, as he ought to have done stopped
 
 with its floor, and also with rock externally. on which the building was placed
 strong suspicion of what had happened. or what was about to happen, came over Halls mind, but he knew it was probably too late to do any good, could he even find the hole in the darkness and get it closed He therefore lay still, and in minute or two heard another rustic close to him, which was followed by the cold sllmy touch of a snake upon his bare feet.
 Who, in such situaton would not have started and cried for help?
 Jack dld neither; he lay stone still, and held hls peace, knowing that his cries would most probably have been unheard by the distant guard. Had his bed clothes been more plen- tliul, he might have endeavored to protect himself by wrapping them closely around him. put thls thelr scantlnesS forbade.
 Accordingly, being aware that, although a motion or touch will provoke snake to bite, they will not generally do it without such ex- cltement, Jack held himself as still as if he had been log. Meanwhile his horrible bed. fellow, which he at once felt to be of great slze, crept over his feet, legs, and body; and lastly over his very face. Nothing but the most astonishing frmness of nerve and the concousnoss that the moving of muscle would have signed his death warrant, could have enabled the poor fellow to undergo this dreadful trial
 For whole hour did the reptile crawl back wards and forwards over Jacks body and face as if satisfying itself seemingly, that it had nothing to fear from the recumbeut object on Its own part At length it took up position somewhere about his head, and went to rest in apparent security. The poor soldiers trial, how. ever, was not over. Till daylight he remained III the same posture, flat on his back, without daring to move limb, for fear of disturbing hls dangerous companion.
 Never, perhaps, Was dawn so anxiously looked for by mortal man. When it did come, Jack looked cautiously about him. arose noise- lessly, and moved over to a corner of his eel. where there lay pretty large stone. This he seized and looked for the intruder Not sec lug the snake, he became assured that it was under hS pillow. He raised the end of this just sufficient to get peep at the creature's crest. Jack then placed his knee firmly upon the pillow, but allowed the snake to wrigsle out hls head, which he battered to pieces with the stone. This done, the courageous fellow for the first time breathed freely.
 When the hour for breakfast came Jack. who thought little abodt the matter after it
 
 lug the door to throw the snake out When the ticer whose duty it was to visit the cell for the day, was going tue rounds, he perceived a crowd around the cell door examining the reptile which was described bv the natives as of the most yenomous character, it's bite being invariably and rapidly mortal The officer on being told that it had been killed by man in the adjoining cell, went and inquired into the matter.
 When did you first know that there was snake Tn the cell with you?" said he.
 :" About nine o'clock last night, sir" was Jacks reply.
 "Why didn't you call the guard?" asked the officer
 :" thought the guard wadna hear me, and l feared might tramp ont, 50 just lav still"
 But you might have been bit; did you know that you would have died instantly?'
 l ken that very we'll" said Hall; "but they say that snakes winna meddle with you If you diana medde with them; sac just let 1t go as it Iike't'
 "Well, my lad, believe you did what was best alter alI but It was what but one man in a thousand could have done"
 When the story was told and the snake shown to the commanding officer, he thought the same, and Jack, for his extraordinary nerve and courage, got a remission of his punish ment For some time at least he took care how he got into such a situation as to expose himself to the chance of passing another night with such bedfellow-C Cha8sbers Etin- bt"yh Journni.