The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-05-07

breath out Of me in that way, and determin-
I'd to Unwind him. He was wound in this way;
the turn around the thigh was from left to right
then up between my legs TO my right side,
and around my back to my left side-and so on
With the second turn-thus bringing his head
up from under my arm. had the snake now
with my left hand, and my idea was to put his
head arotnd my back until could reach it with
my right hand, I,could not, tried-I put all
my powet into that one arm but could not do
it.
Until this moment / had not really been
frightened. | had believed could unwind the
serpent when tried. l never dreamed what
power he had. tried it until knew / could
not do it, and then gave it up. My next tho't
was of my jack knife; but the lower coil of the
snake was directly over my pocket, and | could
not get it. now for the first time called out
for help. Iyelled with all my might; and yet |
knew the trial was nextto useless for no one
could easily gain the place where was, except
with boat. Yet called out, hoping against
hope. ] grasped the snake by the body and pull
ed; tired to break its neck. This plan presen-
ted gleam of promise; but it amounted to no.
thing. | might as we'll have tried to break q
rope by bending forward or backward.
A full minute had now passed from the time
when tried to pass the snakes head around
my back. His body had become so elongated
by his gradual pressure around my body, that
he had room to carry his head around in free
symmetrical curve. He had slipped from my
grasp, and when next caught him found tina,
l was weaker than was before! could not
hold hinl The excitement had prevented me
from noticing this until now. For few mo-
ments was in perfect frenzy. leaped W
and down--cried as loud as could--and gras.
ped the snake with all my might. But it avail
ed me nothing. He slipped his head from my
N ~eakened hand, and made blow at my face,
striking me fairly upon the closed lips. Thi'
made ME mad and gave the internal thing an
other grasp with both hands, trying once more
to twist his neck. The result was, that | go
another blow ON the mouth. .s.
But the moment of need was at hand. fell
the coils growing tighter and tighter around
my body, and my breath was getting weak
A severe pain was beginning to result from the
.prcssurc, and saw that the snake would soon
have length enough for another turn. He was
drawn so tightly that the center Of his body was
no bigger than his head! The black skin wa
drawn to u tension that seemed its utmost, and
yet could tell by the working of the large hart
scales upon the belly that he was drawing him
self tighter still!
Stricken with absolute terror, gasped, 'wha
shall doH' What could / do? The enemy
for whom had at first so little thought was
killing me-killing me slowly, surely--and
stout, srtong man, was being actually held a
the deadly will of black snake. My breath
was now short, faint, and quick, and knew
was growing purple in the face Ny hands were
swollen, and my fingers were numbed! haG
lot go of the snakes neck, and he now carried
the upper part of his body in graceful curve
ucdu W oilC Will all
dulating motion of extreme gracelulness anC
| facnation.
| At length I staggered! l was losing m.
strength rapidly, and the pain Of my body hac
become excruciating. The snakes skin where
it was coiled about me was so tight that it seem
ed almost transparent. He had found me, or
| bad cn,,nd hin. in ctofn oT ham hic cfn
ach free from food, and his muscular force un
impaired. A second time l staggered and OBJ
jects began to swim before me. A dizzy sen
sation was in my head, faintness in my hear
and pain the most agonizing in my body. Th
snake had now three feet of his body free. Fl
had drawn himself certainly three feet longe
than before. He darted his head under m
right arm, and brought it up over my shoulder
and pressing his under jaw firmly down, ther
he gave sudden wind that made me groan wit
pain. Each moment was an age ofagony--eac
second step nearer to death.
My knife! o, if could reach it, Why not
Why not tear it out? My arms were free
Mercy!-why had not thought of it befor,
when my hands had some strength in them?-
Yet would try it. Icollected all my remain
ing power for the effort, and made the attemp
I My trousers were of blue cotton stuff, and yer
strong--I could not tear it! thought of tn
stitches. They might not be SO tenacious.
grasped the cloth upon the inside of my thigl
and gave my last atom of strength to the effor
The stitches started---then gave way! This rt
suit gave me hope and hope gave me power
Another pull--with both hands--and the pocl
ct was laid bare! With all the remaining forc
| could COMMUNICATIVE hope of life--of hon
lot everything loved on earth, in the effol
II caught the pocket upon the inside and bor
down upon it. There was cracking of thread
"a sound Of tearing cloth--and-my knife wa
in my hands!
j had yet sense enough to know that th
smallest blade was the sharpest, and / opene
it. With one quick, nervous movement pres
ed the keen edge upon the tense skin, and Dire
itacross. With dull, tearing snap, the bod
parted, and the snake fell to the ground in tw
pieces! staggered to the boat reached !
and there sank down. knew nothing mo-
I until | heard voice calling me by name.
opened my eyes, and looked up My faith,
7 stood over me with terror depicted in his cou,
tenance. Told him my story as best could
He went up and got the duck had taken fro
the snake--the other one he could not find-
and also brought along the two pieces | hs
{ made Of my enemy. He told me he had hear
, me cry out, and at once started Off in the lar,
boat alter me, though it was long tims ere
saw my boat, had lain there over half d