The Placer herald., 1857-01-17
NUMBER 10.


kissing of serpent. Having crept in this
manner through the ground floor, he placed
himself before Napoleon, and said with 8
savage laugh, "Madche, malche;" which
means "there is one" The General also
laughed, and said, How is this' Is the fel-
low in GOOD earnest, able to telll" He then
ordered the interpreter to explain clearly
that the reptile had been seen. Il know it,
replied the fellow, Il smelt him as entered
the house." "Iere we are" said the General
in-chief, the acting is now going to begin.
Well, let the serpent appear, and | will give
thee two segaiHs more.'
The man Immediately commenced creep
ING, and squirting water on both sides. lie
ascended in the same manner staircase
leading to an upper story, occupied by Bour-
rienne. A long. dark corridor opened into
several apartments 1t was lighted by ~
slyiight at the furthest end, which gave a
view of the country, and at the bottom OF the
skylioht was placed the water fountain, this
spot being the coolest in the house The
opening itself was sufficiently large to give,
from the other extremity OF the corridor, q
view of the beautiful blue Egyptian sky. On
attaining the landing place OF this corridor
the jueler paused, and betrayed emotion
Tie was closely followed by the Geueral-in
Chief and n number Of officers, attracted by
curiosity. The General did not lose sight OF
the fellow IN instant and was determined,
il he discovered the least trick to take him
in the act. On seeing him shudder and close
his eyes, 'the man is beginning his part"
said the General to Junot And in truth
the snake-catcher was in the most extraordi-
nary state. iabtually pale, as all swerthy
skins are, lie became every moment paler.
he called fer more water, washed his body
squirted and Kissed as before, but produced
another kind of kissing. He looked on each
side of the landiNg-place, made sign with
his hand to keep silent, and still creeping
upon bis belly, advanced to the outside cor
ridor, which was the darkest part of it. In
water he exclaimed in low tone ''there he
is !" 81 should be delighted to do him the
honor of hospitality" said the General-in-
Chief "But, my friend suspect thou art
laughing at us Do you know that this ras-
cal, with Kissing. has been making fools Of
lis for the last hour in forcing us to run,
without umbrellas, after the imaginary ser
pent 2" The snake-catcher continued to hiss
and creep. On sudden, black and round
body, resembling the branch of Il tree, ap-
pealed in relief upon the pure azure, which
was visible through the skylight 1t was q.
handsome serpent, real, alive, and about six
feet long At this sight, the fellow redoubl-
ed bis Kissing and squirting, and the serpent,
after uncoing itself from around the toun
tain, Kissed ini its turn, but its note WAS much
more piercing. s -a Sos ere5
The eyes of the reptile shone, in the som
bro corridor, with a blood d-coored fame. it
glided along the fountain, aud stoppea then
a slight noise was heard; it was the reptile
rising upon its tail The snake-catcher could
not do the same, because he had no tail; but
he had raised himself halt up, and made q
motion In an instant the reptile darted
at HIM He was waiting for this attack, and
at the very moment it was made, caught the
animal with one hand round the throat,
which he squeezed with violence as to force
open his mouth, into which he spat. The
effect was magical the reptile seemed to
have received his death blow The man
afterwards extracted his fangs, or rather the
venom contained in small vesices attached
to its Jaws. He then played with it, made 1t
dance, and put it round his neck. The
snake catcher" said Napoleon, "is lucky
charlatan"