The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1864-10-26
Adventure , with a Boa ;Constrriijc
rFrosn Capt Spikes Book on the Discovery Of the
-. Sources OF The Nile. >

At the earliest possible moment: after
our camp had been pitched, . hunt was
set afoot, and. Captain Grant, myself,
and some attendants, were soon making
our way to "the path. There we're no
animals there when we arrived, except
fow hippopotami, and VIC we're, therefore,
obliged to wait the coming Of some more
1palatable game. Our patience, however,
was severely taxed; aud after long
delay, We we're about to "bag" hippo
potamus, when one Of our attendants,
perched in tree about half mile dis
tant, began waving his blanket. This
was d signal that game was approaching.
We Immediately drew into cover, and
awaited the coming up Of tho latter.
We wero not delayed long, for pres
emily a long column Of animals, from
the elephant'to the hoo. doc, appeared in
view, trotting at a good pace TO the
river. Their TANKS we're soon presented
to US, and each selecting his object, fired.
McColl shot q 6nc young Buffalo COW,
whilst Captain Grant was equally sue.
cessful With hoo.doo, and several
spears, cast by our attendants, stopped
the career of one or two different ami.
mails Of the herd.
At this juncture, however, occurred
an unexpected adventure, that finished
our sport, at least for that day. I had
sprung forward, Immediately after firing,
in order to obtain fair shot at huge
elephant that / wanted to bring down on
account Of his immense tusks. / got
the desired aim, and pulled the trigger
Of my second barrel. At the moment Of
my doing so, wild cry Of alarm, uttered
by one Of the blacks, called my attention.
CHANGING round, my eye CHANGED to
range up into the foliage of the tree be-
meath which Captain Grant and myself
had lain for several hours previous. My
feelings may possibly be Imagined, as I
beheld an enormous boa constructor,
whose hideous head and neck, projected
some distance into view, showed that he
was about to make fatal spring. His
direction was certainly toward me; and
as he flashed from his position like a
thuuder.bolt, I gave myself up, for ere
aid could reach mo, fold after fold Of the
monster would have crushed my strong
frame into a quivering pulp. / fell,
seemingly caughtin whirlwind Of dust,
and strange indescribablo scuf1e en-.
sued. In the midst Of this terrible
strife, suddenly became conscious of
the presence Of second victim, and
even after the time that has elapsed
since then, still recollect with what
vividness the thought shot across my
mind, that this second victim was Cap
tain Grant, my noble companion. At
last, after being thus whirled about for
several seconds, each second seeming to
be interminablc. there ensued lull, o
stiffness as Of death, and I opened my
eyes, expecting to look upon those un.
explored landscapes which are seen only
in tho country beyond the tomb. In.
stead Of thnt, I saw Captain Grant lev.
cling his rife toward me, while, stand.
ing beside and behind him, were the
blacks, in every conceivable attitude Of
the most intense suspense. .,. ......
In, a. moment I comprehonded oil.
The hugo serpent had struck young
buffalo COW. between which and him I
had uuluckily placed myself at the mo.
ment of firing upon the elephant. A
most singular good fortune had attended
me, however, for instead Of being crush
cd into mangled mass with the unfor-'
tunate COW, my left forearm only had
been caught in between the buffalo's
body and single fold Of tho constructor.
The limb laid just in front Of the
shoulder, al the root of the neck, and
thus had soft bed Of. flesh into which
it was jammed, as it were, by tho i'm.
mense pressure Of tho serpent's body,
that was like iron in hardness. AS /
saw Grant about to shoot, terror took
possession Of me, for if he refraincd I
might possibly escape, after the boa
released his folds from the dead COW.
But should he fire and strike the reptile,
it would, in its commissions, crush or
drag me to pieces. Even. as the idea
came to me, I, behold Grant pause. He
appeared to fully comprehend ALL. He
could see how I was situated, that was
still living, and that my delivery Deepen
dcd on the will Of the constructor. We
could see every line on each others
face, SO close were we, and I would have
shouted or spoken, or even whispered at
him, had I dared. But the boa's head
was reared within few inches Of mine,
and the wink Of an cyelid would perhaps
settle my doom; so I stared, stared like
dead man at Grant and the blacks. I
Al "A A.,a L. |