Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-07-03
1flisteIlanrous Artlflrs.
TWO THRILLING R ATTLE
SNAKE STORIES.


the island, whose lands were so overrun
with these venomous reptiles that the
greater part of his slaves deserted him
and sought refuge in the vast forests that
cover the island. The only slaves that
remained were few that were in irons
at the time of the flight Of their COM
panions, and were awaiting punishment
for some misdemeanor, and those slaves
who hoped TO escape chastisement by |
promising to devote themselves to the
determination of the snakes. Among |
she negroes in captivity was one named
Pegu, who was condemned to receive
three hundred strokes of the RATTAN
The hour for his punishment arrived.
His master came forth to witness the
bloody scene. Pegu was standing near
the whipping block awaiting the moment
when his hands and feet should be fast
ened to it, when he perceived a rattle
snake gliding towards him through the
grass. He did not stir.
The rapid death following the SER
penis bite was preferable to the linger-
ing one which he felt awaited him under
the overseer's cane. The serpent coiled
itself ready to strike, when at this mo-
ment the planter caught the peculiar
sound of the rattle, and leaped terror
stricken on one side. The snake, at
tracted by the motion, changed his inten-
ton, and, fancying that the planter was
about to attack him, glided rapidly to-
ward the unhappy man, who, paralyzed
with fear, remained rooted to the ground
Pegu, seeing his masters peril, leaped
forward, and catching the snakes stat
with one hand, caught him by the other
and, after a quarter of an hours COM
preston succeeded in choking him. An
hour afterwards, Pegu received his three
hundred lashes, and died that night un,
der the punishment. Such is gratitude
in Martinique
A most affecting incident happened il
this same island while / was stayin,
there, passing most of my time in tn
forest, or with that wild race OF cattle
hunters, known as Buccaneers. A fin
athletic negro, named Colo, belonging +
wealthy planter who lived about thirt.
miles from st. Pierre, was desperatel
enamored of pretty mulatto lass name
Juanita, living on the next plantation
But Juanita was coquette, and cruel q
coquettes generally are.
Having slight tinge of white bloc
in her, she looked down from an exalte
height on poor Colo, who was as blac
-blacker, in fact, than the ink wit
which L am writing. She treated BIZ
shamefully, giving him an ounce of hoE
and ton of bad treatment. Still Go
did not despair, but presented his suit {
every opportunity.
AT last Juanita finding her lover
pertinacious that he must either be fna
ly rejected or accepted, told him one d
that she had passion for rattlesnak,
tails. That she valued them in propC
ton to their length; but that as yet S
had not been able TO get a tail viii
contained twelve rings. Now, if
bought her tail with twelve rings, s
would be his. Golo's heart sank,
still he determined to undertake
dangerous task. What was there t
he would not peril TO gain Juanita? L
after day, Colo, with burning brand
pine wood in one hand, and sort o
sabre in the other, traversed the fore
listening for the ominous rafting of
snakes. In point of numbers his S
cess was prodigious, for there is no |
ter method Of killing the rattlesni
than the one Colo had adopted-thrr
ing the burning torch into his face, q
as he detests fire he is easily decapits
in the moment Of his confusion.
Nevertheless, Colo could not fiji
single tail with twelve rings on it.
had some with eight, nine, and even
ed one which had eleven; but wheI
laid this last before Juanita she was
exorable, and declared that eleven al
half would not content her. AT last,
day, when almost despairing of succ
Colo was crossing an open space
ear was caught by particular loud
sonorous rattle. lie stopped and
ceived an enormous rattlesnake eli
towards him. Its eyes were glo'
with fire; its bifurcated tongue was
ated with an inconceivable rapidi
motion. The gray and yellow scale
its head and back glistened with a cha
full lustre, like some silken surfaC
which light was playing. Colo felt
the hour had come when he should G
tviu Iuapft, -.