Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-09-05

The snake had now his head 10 front ofmy
face, and he tried to make his way into my
mouth. What his intention was, cannot
surely tell, though l have always believed
that he knew he could strangle me in that
way. He struck me one blow in the mouth
that hurt me considerable and after l had
got him by the ne ck, and there ] meant to
hold him-at least SO that he could not strike
again. But 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 de-
termned to unwind him. He was in this
way the turn around the thigh was from
left to right then up between the legs to
my right side, around the back 10 my left
side, and so on with the second turn bring
ing his head up under my left arm. l had
the snake now with my 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 put all my power in that one
arm, but could not do it. / could get the
head just under my armpit; but here my
strength was applied to disadvantage.
Until this moment | had not been really
frightened. had believed that i could un-
wind the serpent when l tried. l never
dreamed of what power they had. Why,
only think, as strong as was then, and could
not put that snakes head around my back.
l tried it until ] knew could not do il, and
then gave it up. My next thought was of
my jack-k but the lower coil of the snake
was directly over my pocket, and l could not
get it.
l now, for the first time, called out for
help. yelled with oil my might, and yet l
knew the trial was next to useless, for no one
could easily gain the place where | was ex-
cept with boat. Yet l called out, hoping
against hope. I grasped the snake by the
body and pulled-I tried TO break. This
plan presented itself with CLEAN of promise
but it amounted to nothing. l might as well
have tried to break u rope by bending it
backward and forward.
A few minutes had now passed from the
time when l first tried to pass tho snakes
head around my back
His body had become so elongated by his
gradual prassure around my body, that he
had room to carry his head around liz free
and symmetrical curve. lie hud slipped from
my grasp, and when | next caught him, |
found that was weaker than before could
not hold him The excitement had kept me
from noticing this until now. For a few
moments | was in o perfect frenzy. ! had
eaped up and down, cried out as loud as
could, and grasped the snake with all my
might But it availed me nothing. lie
slipped his head from my weakened hard,
and made blow ut my face, striking me
fairly upon the closed lips.
But the moment of need was OF hand. /
felt the coils growing tighter and tighter
around my body, and my breath was getting
weak. A severe pair was beginning to result
from the pressure, and saw that the snake
would soon Lave 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 a tension
that seemed its utmost and yet could tell
by the working of the large hard scales upon
the belly, that he was drawing himselrt tighter
still.
For Gods sake ~ gasped, stricken with
absolute terror, "what shall dor What
could do The enemy for whom had at
first held so little thought, was killing me;
killing me slowly openly, and had no help
I, stout, strong man, was actually held at
the deadly will of a black snake. My breath
was now short faint and quick, md | knew
| L
hands and arms swollen and my fingers
numbed l had let go of the snakes neck,
and be now carried the upper part of his
body in graceful curve, his head vibrating
from side to side with an uhdulating motion
of extreme gracefulness.
At length | staggered / was losing my
strength rapidly, and the pain of my body
was excruciatiug. The snakes skin, where
it was coiled about me, was SO tight that II
seemed almost transparent. He had found
me, or had found him, in state OF hunger
his stomach free from food, and his muscular
force unimpared. A second time staggered
and objects began to swim before me.
A dizzy sensation was in my head, faint
ness at my heart The snake now had three
feet of body free. He had drawn himsel
certainly three feet longer than before. liz
darted his head under my right arm, ant
brought it up over my shoulder, and pressin!
his under jaw firmly down there, he made
sudden wind that made me groan with pain
Each moment was an agony! each second
step nearer TO death.
, My knife Oh, if / could but reach it
Why not? Why not tear it out? My arm
were free Mercy! Why had ! not though
of this before, when my hands had som
, strength in themG Yet l would try it.
!, effort, and made the attempt. My trowser
were OF blue cotton stuff, and very strong;
could not tear it. thought of the stitches
r They might not be so tenacious. l graspe
: the cloth upon the inside of my thigh, an
gave my last atom of strength to the eiior
q The stitches started they gave way Tn
4 result gave me hope, and hope gave m
: power. Another pull with both hands, an
a the pocket laid bare. With all the remainin
7 force could command, with hope of life,
! home, of everything loved on earth in II
v effort, | caught the pocket upon the insid
4 and bore down upon it. There was cracl
a ing of the threads, sound Of tearing clotl
. and my knife was in my hands.
Y had yet sense enough TO know that II
Q smallest blade was the sharpest, and opene
;. it. With one quick, nervous movement
d pressed the keen edge upon the tense ski
r, and drew it across. With q dull, tearin
d snap the body parted, and the snake fell
Q the ground in two pieces. staggered to II
t boat-I reached it, and there sank down.
Q knew nothing more until l heard voiC
calling my name. l opened my eyes on
D. looked up. My father stood over me wit
| | ~, h;o nnuntananca I 10