The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-06-07

=
I confess that I was not little astonish-
ed atthis treatment; for now felt that
my mind had gradually passed from the
dreaming to the waking, state. Still, l
had not yet Unidentified my condition or
locality. Ny mind was in that confused
state, in which, after season of fever, or
a change of place. we are gsometimes be-
wilderet on awakening and utterly una
Bile to reconcile ourselves to outward, cir.
cumstances.
This state continued sometime, and as
| became more clearly conscious, my anx-
iety and be@ilderment as to what the
velvet cords and handkerchiefs could
mean, increased, Slowly-slowly, the
events since the sinking of the Liebling,
came into my mind. Gradually-just as
light breaks in on the vision-l bethought
myself of the cave and my bed Of leaves.
But now my confusion increased. for
wha. could. supply the place Of what l
thought to be boys with velvet ropes.
The leaves, knew, were my leafy mat
trass; but the boys and ropes, what ware
they? The st;aw unler the carpets was
a motion among the leaves. The wind
could not blow in the shattered cave.
Life! -life!-yes, quick as an electric
shock, it struck my mind that l was not
alone in the cave-that some kind of crea
ture was beside and over me on my leafy
couch. But what could that living crea
ture be?
"Tell me- tell me whatit wasp l, be-
coming impatient, demanded Of the Grip.
pie visitor.
II will tell you, my young friend, as
briefly as possible. But do you not wish
to rctire?"
Here we glanced at the clock, and were
astouished to End it half-past two in the
morhingl
"Nol-no" replied, 'go on with
your history. But here, refresh yourself
from this pitcher. while l light new ia
per, and build up the fire. There sir, |
am ready"
He continues: "At this moment, an
unaccountable dread of opening my eyes
on some sad, and perhaps fatal reality.
possessed me; and for some time l re-
mained in the most pitiable state of sus-
pense. | knew that Madagascar was no.
ted for its many and venomous serpents,
and the apprehension now flashed into my
mind that my body was covered with
deadly snakes, and that the least move
ment would expose me tocountless fangs
My heart almost ceased to beat at The
thought. l confess do mol believe sin
full human nature capable Of more excru'
ciAting torture in the future world than l
suffered mentally Of this moment. Should
| move limb, or open an eye. or draw
a long breath, instant destruction would
probably follow.
1t ust have been late in the morning
how, for | felt the warm beams of the sun; !;
and as theil light fell on my eyelids, l
was tempted 10 leap up and attempt to es.
cape, but moments reflection showed
nae the danger, and foi bore. ] had now
SO long, dwell ton what | thought my
dangerous condition. that l had overcome
my first terror, and was enabled to act
with caution. And as there now seemed
no cord, that is, serpent, on or near my
face, Iventured 10 gradually open my
eyes. ! need not tell you that no antici-
patton what ever could have fully pre-.
pared me tor what | now saw. The first
that caught my eyes, as L looked out from
the cave, without moving muscle, was
festoon ofserpents depending from vines.
which hung like curtains from the rocks
at the mouth of cavern. l dared not
look longer lest my terror should betray
me. 1t was some lime ere again | ven
tured TO look Great strength Of nerve
and self control alone could have enabled
me coolly to see what now saw. All
the entrance of the cave, was alive with
beautiful serpents, winding, coiIing, and
disporting among the vines, III the warm
sunshine. Inside the cave, as far as any
range Of vision extended. Iobserved larger
and uglier reptiles, clinging to the inches
Of the cavern. saw now that motion
was certain death. | therefore closed my
eyes, committed myself to God, in prayer
and resigned myself to meditation. Yon
may partly conceive with what feelings it
was that | now and then felt heavy cold
snake wind himself around my neck,
across nay face. or insert his cold head in
my bosom, OF under my arm. l had not
remained in this pcnsive state long, be.
fore heard distant cracking in the
bushes. without the cavern IL came
nearer and nearer, till at last the leaves
abou. me seemed in rustic. l opened
my eyes, and saw what seemed legious Of
serpenis, crawling rapidly toward me. In
terror and confusion | shrieked, "Help'
help!" and remained absolutely unable
to move a muscle, and without the pow
er Of thought. AS screamed, felt as
though a dozen birds were picking my
flesh; but this soon ceased and there fol
lowed a sickening suffocation, and then
it seemed that ten thousand needles were
pricking my entire body from head tc
foot. Such PHYSICAL snferings l had
never conceived it possible for the frame
to sustain; but it soon subsided, or per
haps my sensitivenes was destroyed, and
seemed to llinto deep deadly stu
Epor. 4 3 4 u Lg }t48I .lIl
@What my friend," interrupted here
"eaused the pricking sensationN NisJ
"You, must not know yeti" he replied
and continued: enough of sensation re
, lrnainad hnwavar To anahlA ma to know