The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-01-09

leave the stream and 60 toward the tree
where he heard them long time in conver.
satien. Then they returned to the stream
and held another earnest consultation, when
they started rapidly on the back trsckI-
They had thus given up all hope of recap
turing him, and he was safe from further
pursuit. -- --..-- ,......... .--E--g-..,
With the knowledge that there was no
pursuit came sense Of conscious security
and he regarded his ultimate escape as Ger
tain at that moment as though he were in
his native State. -., =.
He then reached his position on the tree
and slept as sweetly as an infant until the
hot sun, shining full in his face, admonished
him that it was late in the morning. After
making slight breakfast upon the COM
notes, he started up the stream, He had
got but short distance when he found
that be had committed mistake-although
fortunate one at the time-in crossing the
stream. The ground upon the opposite side
was preferable for walking, and he deter
mined to cross over. He resolved to make
the attempt upon log that he had noticed
lying upon the bank. - =, e. -..
With the largest part slightly water soaked
while at the opposite end were several pro
truding knots, the remains of limbs. About
three feet from the butt was large aper-
ture. am thus particular in describing it,
for it is necessary in order to get q perfect
understanding of what followed.
He bestrode the smallest, most tu)yant
end, and carefully placing the rifle before
him, pushed out into the water. He had
gone but short distance when be heard a
sharp, quick rattle, and saw the head of an
enormous rattlesuake slowly issue from the
aperture within FIVE feet of himl First the
head; then the narrow neck, and the swell
ing body continued to glide out until full
two feet had risen IN a perpendicular direc-
ton from the log. He saw that instant &C.
ton was necessary, and instead of showing
himself into the stream, as any person would
have done, he seized his rife by the barrel,
and aimed q crashing blow at the snake
Either his aim was not well taken or the
reptile stopped in order to shun the blow,
and in turn struck fercely at him. The
distance, however, was too great, and its
hooked fangs entered the log within few
inches of his knee As quick as lightning,
he brought his rife down cutting the rep
tile nearly in two. This species is killed
very easily. and the one in question, after
several gasp nj struggles, died. Summer
field watched it until he was sure that life
was extinct, aud then reached forward,
wound the visible part Of its body aronnd
his gun; and commenced pulling it out
Foot after fto,, until full ten feet had ap-
feared, and then came fourteen rattes He
flung 1t out into the stream, and let the
horrid, greasy knot hoat away.
During this occurrence, although it oc-
cupied oomps ati1ely short time, he had
foated considerably down stream, and he
now commenced plddling vigorously with
his hands aad feet to reach the opposite
bank. He had just commenced making
progress when from the same aperture in
tie log, came another deadly rattle, and
the head of another frightful reptile ap.
peared. Summerfield concluded to "cru,h
this one in the bud" and accordingly raised
his rife and brought it iercely down,
crushing its head completely. This violent
blow with the hammer of his rife upon the
log discharged it, and the bullet passed
within sn inch or two Of his side! Feel
ing no pain, he coilsd the head of the snake
around his gun and drew it out and threw
it into the stream. 1t was consider ably
smaller than the other, and probably its
mate. He felt suro that all danger from
this source WIS now at an end, and, pad
ding rapidly soon touched the opposite
bank. He wondered how the snakes
came to use their rsttle5 III 50 crammed
space. He saw, however, that for several
feet the log was mere she'll, and they
must have had an abundance of room =
Feeling satisfied with the acquaintance be
had with his decayed trunk, be did inot
linger by it, reloading his rifle: started
forward
As he moved thoughtfulIy along, he
could not help rejecting upon the miracu-
lous deiiverancs that he had just expe-
rienccd
He now felt the ed Of something more
nutritious than the simple commOtes, and
bad again to resort to the stream. By using
the same art6cs as before, lie managed 10
secure couple of good, plump FISH, upon
one Of which be made hearty breakfast.
The other he carried with him,
BE was considerably surprised TO find
large quantities of ntre. This section
seemed literally covered with it in some
places. But what alarmed him most was
The large number Of buffalo berries. This
is sruall pleasant fruit, and greatly relish
ed By the grizzly bear; ana where you find
the fotmer growing iu abundance, You are
pretty sure to meet with his grizzly INA
lesty. He will enter spot Containing them,
and, rising on his hind legs, draw the bushes
toward him with bis fore paw, and spend
hours thus employed. In fact, this little
fruit is oftimes his chief food.
la the afternoon, he become aware that
he was really among the mountsius-the
Black Hills. He had, in truth, been among
them for the last twenty four hours; but the
approach was SO gradual that be did not
realize it until there appeared unmistaka
signs around him. He was tumbling over
rocks, tearing through impenetrable brakes
of brier, and surrounded By trees ola more
-;-.,e;c grou-tb The stream foo instead