Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1863-08-21

pcnsiicular. and about thirteen or fourteen
feet deep. On the western edge of this
natural eel. a large tree had been grow
inc. and bad fallen across the top in such
manner thar. the roots resting on one side
and the branches on the other. Il formed
complete bridge scross. The bottom Of th,.
pat was literally swarming With tLc loafh-
some serPenis. which no sooner perceived
the hunters than tbey 1T up a hideous
noisc. rattling and Kissing VIOLENTLY.
i b. only chance 90 rctrcat was an open-
ing m the side some twelve feet below the
ground ard in or lcr that none % the rep
tiles should escape through tLis. tie hun
iers. obtaining water from a neighborinr
spring. made a tough paste - a quantity Of
the rIch mould laying about. and dropping
u down rammed it very tightly in the
opening. thss plugging it oaiirciy Up.
And now the slaughter commenced. A
voliy Which dad much execution. was fired
INTO the midst % the serT.ents. which re,lou-
hled thcir prcvious angry manifestations.
Round upon round vas hurled upon the
enfrapped rattlesnakes which. finding no
way oi getting out u ihc fatal confinement.
moved round and Mound their prison with
astonishing CELEBRITY.
Jesse Slocun. Jobs eldest son. Al l.st
hccoming tired q firing. seized his rudelv
construcied lance. aud creeping midway
out upon The trunk ofthe fallen tire. con-
menccd O. drive tie sharp edge of the
plalnc-irun into the bodies and heads Of
thc wriihing. wrisgling snakes. which now
presented a horrii appearance. Covered
With their osn blooI. the furiou. reptiles.
l~aping AM almost fiying around their
Den. rendering the sides thereof. o. the
heisht Of .ix or eight feet. rcd and CORY.
Tor some time jesse Slocum oc-r-ie,l
his position. dealing death blows " ben one
Of his companions noticing peculiar svar-
in- motion ofthc tr,e. called o. biu o. com.
III I'd o.. or there might be- an accident. At
this D. bur't into hearty laugh. and re-
"e~ei las work With Increased ,isor. ea-
claiming
h4oull only hush az. III have some
n.ce raii.esuake pie ready Tor you in very
Lulr while
a, be finished .hi. remark. a hug.
serpent emerged from tho almost seething
uias. directly under him; on percri,in..
vhich. b. raised has weapon a. high a.
possible. anl taxing A true aim. delivered
terrible blow directly upOa tie reptile.
neck Bot even a. he DIT 80. the further
eni ~ tbe tree split. and sunk with a harsh.
scrapiag noise. about bali way down the
sidc o.; the horriI well. where. resting
m1u.,u'. ii ieu ~.,h a dau tAamp to the
bottom.
Jesse vas a poueTial bul.i man. and
when bel sa~ hi. danger. b. haI iike light
ning managed o. turn himself completely
roulI and clasp thc trunk with both arm.
As fhc tree icll-tLe root. ~ which stil
LeIi. howcscr-the shock cassed hiuf o.
.hP from tbe upper Co the under .idc. sd
that De Nas Dow compelled 60 support his
whole weight in that pcriio4s position.
Nsiiher could D. move. f1r should d. at-
tempt to recover himself. De- uoulI inesita-
biy iall into the reeking lolth.omc mas.
beneath. wacre be would have become the
victim of those rattlesnakcs Which bad A.
SET escaped their doom. Many of the ven
cuious rrptilrs ~ouid BOW anl then s,rse
f,aria1-iy az Jrssee. or else az Lis coor-
skin cap. ihai Aai dropped from us bead
among then. findin --iiiniself fist ci,ir.
out. b. called out. in a husky. chokin.
t..... e. nr.. IL IL. r...r-.r.,. .-....-..