Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-08-20
Rugged by a Snake

!
! / was brought up near the Canada
line in Vermont, where my father
owned large farm. Not far from
his farm was quiet lake where VIC
used to enjoy ourselves fishing and
sailing. One afternoon saw flock
of black ducks fly over the house
land | was sure they lighted on the
lake; SO | seized my double barrelled
shot gun and ammunition, and start
ed off. When / reached the landing
I saw the ducks away off by the op-
posite shore. at once cut some
| green boughs with my knife, and
having rugged up the bow of a small
Cat bottomed scull We kept on pur-
pose for such work, ! jumped in and
started of. | had got near enoug b
for shot, and had drawn in the
scull. aud was in the act OF taking
up my gun when the ducks started
up. As quickly as possible ! drew
one hammer and let drive. i hit
two of them, but they didn't fall in.
to the water. They lluttered along
until they fell 10 the tall grass up ln
the cove. The water was low and
the place was dry where they we're
l pulled up as far as ! could, and then
got out and walked up. | knew
very near where one Of the ducks
had fallen, and very soon had my
eye on it. AS ran to take it, |
saw the head of black snake pop
out and catch it by the wing. |
saw only the head AMI neck OF the
reptile, and had no idea how large it
was.or if I had, probably ! would have
done just as l did, for had no idea
of fearing such a tbing-so | just
ran up and snatched the bird away.
| had left my gun in the boat, and
had nothing to kill the chap with;
but as | took the duck, just put
my foot on the thief's neck.
The ground was moist and Shiny,
and as 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 ! would
run back to my boat and try to kill
this fellow ,and | had just turned Tor
that purpose, when ! felt something
strike my leg as though somebody had
thrown a, rope around it. / looked
down aud found that the snake had
taken turn around my lett leg with
bis tail, and was in the act of clear
ing his body from the grass. ! drop
ped the duck and gave II smart kick
but that didn't loosen him; SO | tried
to put my right foot on him, and
thus draw my leg away, but | might
as we'll have tried to put my foot on
a streak oflightning.
| had forgotten the proportionate
size of the head Of this species Of
black snake. ] had expected to see
a snake four or five feet long,but in
stead of that he was nearly eight feet
aud half. Still hadn't any great
fear, for supposed that when | came
to put my hands on him, / could
easily take him of, for / was pretty
strong in the arms. In few Sec
onds he had his body all clear. and
it was then that the first real thrill
sho, through me. There he held
himself by the simple turnaround my
leg. and with his back arched In and
out, he brought his head on a level
with mine. / made grab for him
but missed him, and then, as quick
as you can snap your finger, he
swept bis head clear around my
BODY, and then Strengthened up and
looked me in the face again. | made
another grab at him, and another as
quick as ! could, but he lodged me 10
spite of all / could do.
/ next felt the snakes body wsrk-
ing iA way up. The turn Of the
tail was changed to my thigh, and
the coil around my stomach began
to tighten. By this time | began
to think there might be some Sc
rious work, and the quicker TOOK
the snake off the better. So lust
grasped him as near the head as pos
sible, by taking hold where ne was
around me-for he couldn codge
that part you know-and tried to (,
turn him Off But this Only made I
worse. The fellow had now drawn
himself up SO high and stretched
himself SO that be whipped another
turn around me. His tail was now
. II