Mountain Democrat., 1857-07-25

IOuuu ludI L WAS WCdhcT DctOTC
could not hold him! The excitement
had prevented Inc from noticing this un-
til now. For few moments | was in
perfect phrcnzy, eapcd up and down
cried as loud as could-and grasped
the snake with all my might But it
availcd me nothing. lie slipped his head
from my weakened hands, and made
blow at my face, striking INC fairly on the
closed lips. This made inc mad and !
gave the Internal thing another grasp,
trying once more to twist his neck. The
result was that got another blow on the
mouth.
But the moment Of need was at hand.
felt the coils growing tighter and tighter
around my body, and my breath was
getting weak. y severe pain was begin
ming to result from the pressure, and
saw that the snake would soon have
length enough for another turn. He was
drawn so tightly that the centre of his
body was no bigger than his head! The
black skin was drawn to tension that
seemed its utmost, and yet could tellby
the working of the large hard scales upon
his belly that he was drawing himself
tighter still
Stricken with absolute terror, gasped
-"What shall do?" What could do?
The enemy for whom had at first held
so little thought, was killing me slowly,
surely-and had no hope!-I, strong
man, was being actually held at the dead
ly will Of a black snake! My brt ath was
now short, faint and quick. and knew /
was growing purple in the face! My
hands and arms were swollen, and my
fingers were numbcd tt had let 60 Of
the snakes neck, and he now carried the
upper part Of his body in graceful curve,
his head vibrating from side to side with
an undulating motion Of extreme grace
fulncss and fascination.
At length l staggered! l was losing
my strength rapidly, and the pain of my
body had become cxcruciating. The
snakes skin, where it was coiled about
me, was SO tight that it seemed al
most transparent. lie had found me, or
! had found him, in a state of hunger, his
stomach free from food, and life's muscu-
lar force unimpaircd. A second time l
staggered, and objects began to swim be-
fore inc. y dizzy sensation was in my
head, faintncss in my heart, and pain
the most agonizing in my body. The
snake had now three feet of his body
free. lie had drawn himself certainly
three feet longer than before. He dartcd
his head under my right arm, and bro't
it over my right shoulder, and pressing
his under jaw firmly down, there he gave
sudden wind that made me groan with
pain. Each moment was an age Ofagony
each second step nearer to death.
My knife! o, if could reach it! Why
notY Why not tear it outP My arms
were free. Mercy! why had I not
thought of that before, when my hands
had some strength in them? Yeti would
try it. collected all my remaining pow
or for that effort, and made the attempt.
My trowsers were Of blue cotton stuff, and
very Strong-I could not tear it'll
thought of the stitches. They might not
be SO tenacious. l graspcd the cloth up.
on the inside Of my thigh, and gave my
last atom of strength to the effort. The
stitches startcd-thcy gave way! This
result gave he hope, and hope gave me
power. Another pull, with both hands,
and the pocket was laid bare! With all
the force could command-with hope of
litc--of homc-Ot everything l loved on
earth, in the cltort-I caught the pocket
on the inside and bore down upon it.
There was a cracking of thrcads-a sound
of tearing cloth-and-my knife was in
my hands
had yet sense enough to know that
the smallest blade was the sharpest, and
| opened it. With ono quick, nervous
motion, pressed the keen edge upon the
tense skin, and drew it across. With a
dull, tearing snap, the body parted, and
the make fell to the ground in two pic
ces staggered to the boat reached
it, and there sank down. knew nothing
more until heard voice calling me by
name. Iopencd my eyes and looked up.
My father stood over me with horror de-
pictcd in his countenancc. / told him
my story as best could. He went up
and got the duck had taken from the
snake-the other one he could not find,
and also brought along the two pieces l
had made of my enemy. He told me he
had heard me cry out, and at once started
off in the large boat after me, though it
was long while ere he saw my boat. ]
had lain there over half an hour when he
found me.
When VIC reached home, the snake was
found TO bc eight feet fourinches in length.
1t was month before I fully recovered
from the effects of that hugging; and to
this day there is something in the very
name Of snake that sends thrill of terror
to my heart.