The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1864-11-16

with What viyidness the thought shot across
NV mind. that this second victim was Cap
tam Grant, my noble companion At last,
after being thus whirled about for several
seconds, each second seeming TO be inter-
miuable, there ensued lull, Stiffness as of
death, and | opened my eyes, expecting to
look upon those unexplored landscapes
which are seen only in the country beyond
the tomb. Instead of that, ] saw Captain
Grant leyelling his rife toward me, While
standing beside and behind him, were the
blacks, in every conceivable attitude of the
most intense suspense. .'- - lu. l4
In a moment l. comprehended all. The
huge serpent had struck young buffalo COW
between which and him / had unluckily
placed myself at the moment of firing upon
the elephant. A most singular good fortune
had attended me-, however for instead of
Icing crushed into mangled mass with the
unfortunate COW, my left fore arm had only
been caught in between the buffalo's body
and one single fold Of the constructor. The
limb laid just in front of the shoulder at the
root Of the neck, and thus lad soft bed of
flesh. Tito which it was jammed, as it were,
by the immense pressure Of the serpent s
bedysthat was iron-like in hardness. j.. -M
cdAs saw Grant about to shoot, terror
took poss esSion of me, for if he ref aimed [
might possibly escape, after the boa released
the 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 lbeheld Grant
pause. He appeared to fully comprehend
all. He could see how was situated, that
was still living, and that my delivery de-
pended on the will CT the constructor. We
could see every line on each other face, so
close were we, and | would havershouted or
spoken, or even whispered at him, had /
dared, but the boa's head was within few
inches of mine, and the wink of an eyelid
would perhaps settle my doom; so j stared
like dead man at Grant and the blacks
Presently the serpent began to relax his
folds, and after re-tightening them several
times as the crushed buffalo quivcred,
he unwound one fold entirely. Then he
paused The next iron-like band was the
one that held me prisoner; and as | felt It
little by little unclasping,. my heart stood
still with hope and fear. Perhaps, upon be-
ing freed, the benumed arm uncontrolled by
my will might fall Tom the cushion-hke bed
in which it lay. And such mishap might
bring the spare fold around my neck or
chest, and then farewell to the sources of
the Nile. Oh, how hardly, how desperate
ly, | struggled to command myself! |
glanced at Grant and saw him handling his
rife anxiousy. | glanced at the ne
groes and saw them still gazing as though
retrihed with astonishment. glanced at
the serpent's loathsome head and saw its
bright, deadly eyes watching for the last
sign of life in its prey. .s
Now, then, the reptile loosened its fold
upon my arm hairs breadth, and now
little more, until half an inch of space sepa-
rated my ann and its motted skin l could
have whipped out my hand, but dared not
take the risk Atoms Of time dragged
themselves into ages, and a minute seemed
eternity itself! The second fold was re-
moved entirely, and the next one was easing.
Should dash away now, or wait more
favorable movement? I decided upon the
former; and, with lightning speed, | bound
ed away toward Grant, the crack of whose
piece heard at the same instant Ssor the
first time in my life, / was thorougMs over
come; and sinking down, | remained in a
semi-consious state for several minutes.
When fully recovered, Grant and the
overioyed negroes held me up, and pointed
out the boa, who was still writhing in his
death agonies. shuddered as looked
upon the effects of his tremendous dying
strength. For yards around where he lay,
grass, bushes and saplings, and in fact every
thing except the more fully grown trees,
We're cut clean off, as though they had been
trimmed with an immense sythe. This
monster, when measured, was ffty-one feet
two inches and half in extreme length,
while round the thickest part of the body
its girth was nearly three feet, thus proving,
believe, to be the largest serpent that was
ever authenticity heard of. Aa-t.