Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-06-20
Rugged by q Snake.

was brough up near the Canada line
IN Vermont, where my father owned a
large farm. Not far from his farm was a
quiet lake, where we used to enjoy our.
selves fishing and sailing. One afternoon
saw flock of black ducks fly over. the
house, and | was sure they lighted on the
lake; so seized my double barrel shot
gun and ammunition and started of. When
reached the landing, saw the ducks
away off by the opposite shore. at once
cut some green boughs with my knife;
and, having rugged up the bows of a
small flat~bottomed scull we kept on pur-
pose for such work, jumped in and star
ted off. | had got near enough for shot
and had drawn in the scuIl, and was in
the act of taking up my gun when the
ducks started up. As quickly as possible
| drew one hammer and let drive. hit
two Of them, but they didn't fall into the
water. They futtered along until they
fell into the tall grass up in the cove
The water was low and the place was
dry where they were. 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 Iran to take it, saw the
head of black snake pop out and catch
it by the wing. | saw only the head and
neck of the reptile, and had no idea how
large it was, or if | had, probably | should
have done just as did, for had no idea
of fearing such thing-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
l 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.
l thought I'd run back to my boat and
get my gun aud try to kill this fellow, and
had just turned for that purpose when
| felt something strike my leg as though
somebody had thrown rope around il.
looked down and found that the snake
had taken turn around my left leg with
his tail, and was in the act of clearing
his body from the grass, | dropped the
duck and gave a smart kick, but that
didn't loosen him; SO / tried TO put my
right foot on him. and thus draw my leg
away; but I might as well have tried to
put my foot on streak ofIlghtnirg.
/ had forgotten the proportionate size
of the head Of this species of black snake.
| had expected to see snake four ortiVe
feet long, but instead Of that he was near
ly eight feet and half. Still I hadn't
any great fear, for ! supposed that when
came to put my hands on him | could
easily take him off. for | was pretty strong
in the arms. In few seconds he had
his body all clear, and it was then that
the first real thrill shot through me. There
he held himself by the simple turn around
my leg, aud with his back arched in and
out, he brought his head on level with
mine. l made grab for him but missed
him; and then, as quick as you can snap
your finger, he swept his head clear
around my body, and then Strengthening
up and looked me in the face again. ]
made another grab at him, and another
as quick as could; but he lodged me
in spite of all l could do.
next felt the snakes body working
its 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 hesome
serious work, and the quicker took the
snake offthe better. So just grasped
him as near the head as possible by ta-
king hold where he was around me-for
he couldn't dodge that part you know
and tried to turn him off. But this only
made it worse. The fellow had now
drawn himself up so high and stretched
himself SO that he whipped another turn
around me. His tail was now under my
left thigh, and the rest of him turned
twice around my body-one of them be-
ing lust at the pit of my stomach and the
other above it. All this had occupied
lust about bali minute from the time he
first got the turn around my leg
His head was now right around in front
of nv face, and he tried to make his way
to nv mouth What his intention was |
cannot surely tell, though have always
believed that he thought he could stran-
Gle me in that way. He struck me one
BLOW in the mouth that hurt me consider
ably, and after that l got him by the neck
and there meant to hold him--at least
30 that he should not strike again. The
moment grasped the neck he commen-
A:.I,tn., Lis folds ohotf nv hndvi