Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-05-02

scJtne ana spinning around as TOP, ne
was ready to strike a two forty gait,
when at that moment the snake was near
enough to hook his crooked teeth into
Johns shirt, just above the hem. With
a tremendous spring, he started off with
the speed Of locomotive. His first
jump took the snake clear from the
ground, and as he stole a hasty glance
over his shoulder, he was Mortified to see
the reptile securely fastened to the ak
! tremlty Of MS garment, while the intre
pidity with which he rushed forward,
kept the serpent extended at an angle of
ninety degrees with his body
Here was quaudary. If be stopped
the snake would coil about his body and
squeeze him to death; if he continued,
he mpst fall from sheer exhaustion On
he flew, scarce daring to think how this
dreadful race was to end Instinctiyely
he had taken the direction of his home;
feeling Of security flash d over him.
Suddenly flashed across his mind the true
state Of affairs-his father gone-the
quilting, and worse than all, the girls.
The next moment he felt the body of
the cold, clammy monster in contact with
his bare legs, his tail creeping on them
in sort Of cozening way, as by way of
tickling John upon the knees.
This was too much for human endur-
ance With yell, such as man never
uttered, save in mortal terror, poor John
set forward at break-neck speed, and
once more had the pleasure Of seeing the
snake resume his horizontal position,
somewhat after the fashion of the tail of
comet.
/ On, on they few John forgot the
quilting, forgot the girls, forgot every
thing but the snake.
His active exercise, Che paid particu-
lar attention to his running together
with the excessive heat, had brought the
nose bleed. and as he ran, ears erect,
and head thrown back, his chin, throat,
aud shirt bosom were stained with the
flowing stream.
His first Shrek started the quilters,
and forth they rushed, wondering if some
Indian was not prowling about BY this
/ time, John was within few rods of the
barn, still running at the top of his
I speed, his head turned so that he might
keep one eye on the snake, and, with the
other, observe what course be must take
The friendly barn now concealed him
from the sight Of the girls. He knew
tho girls we're in the yard, having caught
glimpse Of them as they rushed from
the house A few more bounds, and he
would be in their midst For moment.
modesty overcame fear, and he halted.
The snake, evidently pleased with his
rapid transportation, manifested his graf
itude by attempting to cnfold the legs Of
our hero within his embrace
With an explosive couch" and urged
forward by circumstances over which he
had no control, poor John bounded on
The next moment he was in full view of
/ the girls, and as he turned the corner of
the barn the snake came round with
whiz, somewhat after the fashion Of
coach whip.
Having reached the barnyard, to his
dismay, he found the bars up But time
was too precious to be wasted ia letting
down bars. Gathering all bis strength,
he bounded into the air--snake ditto and
as he alighted on the other side, his
sBaheship's tail cracked across the upper
bar, swapping like an India cracker
Again John set forward, now utterly
regardless of the girls, for the snakes
tail, as he leaped the bars, banished all
his bashfulness and modcsty, and again
he had the pleasure of finding the snake
in straight line, drawing steadily at the
hem of his solitary garment.
The house now became the centre Of
attraction, and around it be revolyed with
the speed of thought. -Four times in
each revolution, as he turned the corner
his snakeship came around with whiz
that was quite refreshing.
While describing the third circle, as
be came near the group of wonder-struck
1 girls, without removing bis gaze from the
snake, be managed to cry out
Call man p
The next moment he had whisked out
Of sight, and as quick as thought reap
peared at the end Of the house
"Call man"
Away he whirled again, turning the
corner SO rapidly that the whiz of the
snake sounded halfway between a low
whistle ond the repeated pronunciation
Of double o.
Before either Of the girls had stirred
from their tracks, he had performed
another revolution
" Call man"
Away he few once more, but his
strength was rapidly falling,
Nancy Clark was the first to recover
her mind, and scizing a hoop-pole, she
took her station near the corner Of the
house, and as John re-appeared, brought
it down upon the snake with force that
broke its back, and It's hold upon Johns
neither garment at the same time.
John rushed into the house and to bis
room, and at tea timo appeared in his
best Sunday suit, but little the worse for
~ x,on ,rI 81 IL .~~<a~,,ce. crttro1.