Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-11-17
Captain Speke's Adventure with
Boa Constructor.

way to "the path" There were no ami.
mails there when we arrived, except d few
hippopotami, and we were, therefore, oh.
liged TO wait the coming of some moro
palatable game. Our patience, however,
was severely taxed; and after long delay,
we were about to "bag' a hippopotainus,
when one of our attendants, perched in a
tree about half mile distant. began wav-
ing his blanket. This was signal that
game was approaching. We Immediately
drew into cover, and awaited the coming
up Of the latter
We were not delayed long. for presently
long column of animals, from the ele-
phant to the hoo-doo. appeared in view,
trotting at a COOL pace to the river. Their
TANKS were soon presented to us, and each
selecting his object. fired. McColl shot
fine Young buffalo COW. whilst Capt. Grant
was equally successful with hoo doc,
and several spears. cast by our attendants,
stopped tine career Of one or two different
animals of the herd
AT this junrture. however, occurred an
unexpected adventure that finished onr
sport for that day. had sprung forward
Immediately after firing, in order to obtain
fair shot at huge elephant that | want
ed to bring down on account of his i'm
mense tu-ks. / got the desired aim, and
pulled the trigger of my second barrel.-
At the moment of my doing so a wild cry
of alarm uttered by one of the blacks, call
ell my attention. G!ancing round. my
eye chanced to range I'D into the foliage
of the tree beneath which Capt. Grant
and myself had lain for several hours pre-
vi0us.
My feelings may POSSIBLY be imagined,
as beheld an enormous boa constructor,
whose hdeous head and neck projected
some distance into view, showed me that
he was abont to make fatal spring His
direction WAS certainly toward me: and as
he flashed from his position like thunder
bolt, gave myself mp. for ere aid could
have reached me. fold after fold Of the
monster would have crushed my strong
frame into qmivering pulp. fell. SEEM
ingly caught in a whirlwind of dust, and
strange. intescribable scuffle ensued.-
In the midst Of this terrible strife, | sud-
denly tecame conscious of the presence of
a second victim. and even after the time
that has elapsed since then, still recol!ect
with what vividness the thought shot
across my mind. that this second victim
was Capt Grant, my noble com mpanion.-
AT last. after being thus whirled about for
several seconds. each second seeming to be
interminable, there ensued lull, still
ness as Of death. and | opened my eyes,
expecting to look apon those unexplorcd
landscapes which are seen only in the
country beyond The tomb. Instead of
that. saw Capt. Grant levellng his rifle
towards me, while, standing beside aud
behind me, were the blacks, in every con-
ceivatle attitude of the most intense sus-
peDse.
In moment | comprchended all. The
huge serpent had struck young buffalo
COW, between which and him | had un. !
luckily placed myself at the moment Of fir
ing upon the elephant. A most singular
good fortune had attended me, however,
Cor instead of being crushed into a mang-
led mass with the unfortunate COW. my
left forearm only had been caught in be-
tween the builalo's body and q single fold
of the constructor. The limb lay Just in
front of the shoulder at the root of the
neck. and thus had a soft bed Of flesh, into
which it was jammed. as it were, by the
immense pressure of the serpents body,
that was ironlikc in hardness.
AS saw Grant about to shoot, terror
took possession of me, for if he refrained,
| might possibly escape, after the boa re-
leased his folds from the deal COW. But
shoull he fire and strike the reptile, it
would in its convulsions, crush or drag me
to pieces. Even as the idea came to me,
I heheld Grant pause. He appeared to
fully comprehend all. He conld see how
I was situated, that was still living. and
that my delivery depended on the will of
the constructor. We could see every line
on each others face, so close were we, and
l woull have shouted or spoken, or even
whispered at him, had l dared. But the
boa's head was raised within few inches
of mine. and the wink of an eyelid would
perhaps settle my doom; so l stared, star
ed like dead man at Grant and at the
blacks.
Presently the serpent began gradually to
relax his folds. and after re-tightenipe
them several times as the crushed buffalo
quivered. he unwound one fold entirely
Then he paused. The next ironlike band
was the one that held me prisoner; and as
felt it little by little unclasping. my
heart stood still with hope and fear. Per-
haps. upon being freed, The benumbed arm
untroled by my will might fall from the
cushion ike bed in which it lay. And
such a mishap might bring the spare fold
around my neck or chest, and then fare
well to the sources OF the Nile. Oh. how
hardly. how desperately struggled to
command myself! Iglanced at Grant and
saw him handling his rife anxiously. L
glanced at the negroes and saw them still
gazing as though petrified with astonish-
ment. l glanced ct the serpent's loath-
some head and saw its bright deadly eyes
watching for the least sign OF life in its
prey.
Now. then, the reptile loosened its fold
on my arm a hairs breadth, and now,
little more. until half an inch Of space sep
arated my arm and its notified skin. l
could have whipped out my hand but
dared not take the risk. Atoms of time
dragged themselves into ages. and min
ute see.hed eternity itself! The second
r 1 4