, 1859-09-30
A SETTLERS HOLIDAY.


discovered by one Of my neighbors. who remarked
that was Jack ck-oEaltrades, and master Of none"
However il might be, grew poorer and poorer,
until nothing seemed left to me butemigration. The
Cape at that time offered great advantages TO Set
tiers, so thither went. Government bestowed on
me what was styled beautiful farm, but found
Il lovely wilderness, On which the hand Of civil
lied man had left no trace. Here. then, was abun-
dant scope for my peculiar talents, and BY their
diligent exercise aided BY the services Of few Hot
tentots, soon succeeded In erecting house, and
bringing under cultivation fields and gardens.
Sheep and oxen was compelled to purchase, but
Iobtained sufficient Of them to dot my hillsides with
their snowy 6eeces and dappled hides; and at the
end Of two years, sat down, well pleased to rest
from my multilarious lab0rs, beneath the shade Of
the vines and fg-trees which were already begin
ming to spread about their arms.
During oil this time I had never enjoyed holi-
day. and my half ones had been few and far be-
tween; and when one day two Of the neighbOring
settlers asked me to join hunting party In the
wilds Of the neutral territory, accepted their In
vitatiOn with the delight Of q boy. As my farm
was nearest to the frontier, my companions joined
me there the night before; and as soon as 1t was
light we started of for the place Of meeting, some
thirty miles distant
Away we cantered through green bowery lanes,
pcrumed with the starry blossoms Of the jasmines,
and aglow with the clusters Of the scarlet geran-
ium and the Towering laurel. On we dashed
through little brawling rivers, and walked our
horses up deep rocky CORES where hundreds Of
monkeys leaped from ledge to ledge, moving and
chatterng at Us a we passed, utterng shril cries
Of anger as they sent down upon US whole showers
Of stones and branches, until at length we reached
the wide rolling prairie. Then on we sped again,
with the fresh morning breeze blowing through our
har, and exhilarating our spirits; with the cloud
less sky glowing above our heads, and the 6owery
wilds spreading far around Us, dotted with herds
Of bounding antelOpes, and here and there with
the dark forms Of solitary buffalo or guu or brace
Of terrorstricken ostriches.
We had achieved about two-thirds Of our jour
ney, when We entered on district checkered with
clumps OF trees, beneath whose shade the grass
waved long and luxuriantly, and was thickly stud
ded with flowers. Among them was one new to
me, sort Of chandelier lily, Of immense size and
snowy whitenoss, and Immediately resolved to
obtain the bulb. Promising, therefore, to overtake
my companions hastily dismounted, and throw
ing the bride over my horses head TO insure his
standing, and laying my rifle on the ground, be-
scraping away the earth, my eye was attracted by
some slight agitation Of the grass near me, which
did not seem exactly the effect Of wind; even as
looked, q strange wavy motion became distinctly
visible; the next moment, with sudden spring.
an enormous snake rose up before me, glarng OF me
with fiery eyesand hooded crest its open jaws emit
ting that low yet terrific hiss, which, once heard Is
never forgotten and which appeared toagitate every
one Of the sparkling coils into which be had drawn
his immense length.
lwas still on my knees, and for moments or min
utes-I know not which, for they appeared to me
hours-the snake and remained motionless, gazing
al kaau
as my eye rested IN horrible fascination on his hid
eous beauty. Ny blood curdled, and deadly
coldness shot through every limb, as Il were par
alyzed. and about to yield myself resistless 70 my
fate. Suddenly, full sense Of my danger burst
upon me, and uttering q wild cry, which seemed to
appal even my fearful foe, sprang to my feet, and
rushed madly over the plain.
The cry Of terror soon brought back my com
paniOns, but ere they reached = there was sec
ond Shrek, Of fear and agony .0mbined Il was
from my poor horse, which, on approaching nearer,
We found struggling on The ground; with the hTEs T
shiny coils OF the same snake wreathed round his
neck and fore legs. The next moment three bul
lets were lodged in the body Of the cobra da capelo,
quickly followed BY three more, and with all haste
my poor steed was relieved from the remains Of
his terrible enemy.
But there was deep bite In the noble animals
lip, and even while we were bringing him water
IN venom hecSn ~ snreaS tbron~b hs system. anj
10 roliej anil vr;thaI IN death.3 .3hroea fhat wore
fayiSi to w;tnesa Stood Nv IN sorTowial silence.
watchir0 M fins ehbin~ nsIpinllv aJtnv from M
nat;ent snd a;thfn serySnt Who IA 20 often horne
ne THROUGH darkncsS. storm. heat. and WearinesS,
ard now 5vin0 tbe deash had myself 40 narrowly
escaDed. i shuddered as I watched its horror,
and they added deep iervOr 10 the gratitude with
which thanked Providence for preserving me from
snch a dooW
al leDgth Il S,Ae over: nv ccod horse had ut.
tered hie 1est n,oan ard bis suifTinos were Al an
end; but IN Ms death a mournIal episode, that
dashed the pleasure Of nv holiday, and had Il been