, 1858-04-30

in the interior Of 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 fight of their
companions, and were awaiting punishment for
some misdemeanor, and those slaves who hoped
to escape punishment by promising to devote
themselves TO the determination Of the snakes
Among the negroes in captivity was one named
Pegu, who was condemned to receive three hun
dred 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 fastened toit
when he perceived a rattlesnake gliding towards
him through the grass. He did not stir.
The rapid death following the serpents bite
was preferable to the lingering one which he felt
awaited him under the Oyerseer's cane. The
serpent eoiled itself ready to strike, when at this
moment the planter caught the peculiar sOuPd Of
the rattle and leaped tcrror-stricken on one side.
The snake, attracted BY the motion, changed his
intention; and, fancying that the planter was
about to attack him, glided rapidly towards the
unhappy man, who, paralyzed with fear, remained
rooted to the ground Pegu, seeing his masters
peril, leaped forward, and, catching the snakes
tail with one hand, caught him BY. the neck with
the other, and, after quarter Of an hours com
preston, succeeded in choking him. An hour
after this Pegu received bis three hundred lashes,
and died that night under the punishment Such
is gratitude in Martiniquel u0
A most affecting incident happened in the same
island while was staying there, passing most of
my time IN the forests, or with that wild race Of
cattle hunters known as Buccaneers. A fine ath-
letic negro named Colo belonging to rich planter
who lived thirty miles from San Pierre, asdes-
perately enamOred Of pretty mulattO lass named
Juanita, living on the next plantation. But tJuan-
tia was cOquette and cruel, as cOquettes gener-
ally are. Having q slight tinge Of white bloodin
her, she looked down from an exalted hight upon
poor Colo, who was as black-blacker, in fact,
than the ink with which am writing She
treated him shamefnIy, giving him an ounce Of
hope and a ton Of bad treatment Still Colo did
not despair, but pressed his suit on every cp-
pOrtunity.
Atlast Juanita, finding her lover so pertinacious
that he must either be finally rejected or accepted,
told him one day that she had passion for rat
tlesnake's tails; that she valued them in proper
ton to their length; but that as yet she had not
been able to get tail which contained twelve
rings. Now Il he brought her a tail Of twelve
rings, she would be his. Golo's heart sank, but
still he determined to undertake his dangerous
task What was there he would not peril TO gain
JuanitaS Day after day, Colo, with a burning
brand Of pine wood in one hand and short sabre
in the other, traversed the forests, listening for
the ominous rafting Of the snakes In point Of
numbers his success was prodigious; for there is
no better method Of killing the rattlesnakes than
the one Colo adopted; thrusting the burning
torch in his face, and as he detests fire. he is ca
SLY decapitated in the moment Of his confusion.
Nevertheless, Colo could not find single tail
with twelve ringsinit Hehad some with eight
nine, and even one which had eleven; but when
he laid this last before Juanita, she was still in
exorable, and declared that even eleven and half
would not content her. At last, one day, when
almost despairing Of success as Colo was crossing
an open space, his ear was caught BY partieu-
larly sonorous rattle. He stopped, and perceived
an enormous rattlesnake gliding towards him.
It's eyes were glowing with an Intense firei its
bifurcated tongue was agitated with an incOnceiv-
able rapidity Of motion. The gray and yellow
scales on its head and back glistened with a
changeiul luster, like some silkens surface on which
light was playing. Colo felt that the hour was
come when he should either win Juanita or perish.
The size and whole appearance Of the snake con-
vinced him that he had twelve or more rings in
his tail, and he awaited his approach with beat
inc heart. The snake came gliding on, and when
within three feet cOiled himself for spring.
Colo now seized the opportunity, and dashing his
torch into the animals jaws, severed the bead
from the body at single blow.
twas with thrOb Of delight that he discOy-
cred, on STOPPING down to examine his prize,
thirteen rings in the snakes tail While he was
separating them from the carcass, he felt slight
pricking sensation in his heel Turning quickly
round, he discovered 10 his horror that he had
placed his foot on the snakes severed head, in
which the muscular action still continued, and
that, all liieless as Il was, it had bitten himI
Colo now knew that he was dead man, and
his sole object was to see Juanita before he ex.
PRED Catching up his prize, which he had pur-
chased with his life, he rushed across the field
with the speed Of despair. Every moment he
felt the poison working more tatally in his veins,