Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1864-12-29
CAPT. SPEKE'S ADVENTURE WITH A BOA
CONSTRUCTOR.

camp ndu Dcell pllCHCu, NUM- was ScC 'H
foot, and Captain Grant, myself, and some
attendants We're soon making our way to
the patch" There were no animals there
when we arrived, except a few hippopota-
mi, and we We're therefore, obliged to wait
the coming of some more palatable game
| Our patience, however, was severely taxed,
and after a long delay, we were about to
bag Il hippopotamus, when an attendant
perched i'll a tree about half a mile distant
began waving his blanket. This was a
signal that game was approaching. We
Immediately drew into cover, and awaited
the coming of the latter
We are not long delayed, for presently a
long column Of animals from the elephant
to the hoodo, appeared i'll view, trotting at
a good pace to the river. Their tlanks were
soon presented to us, and each selecting his
object, fired Mccall shot fine young buf-
falo while Capt 6. was successful with
a hoOdoo, and several spears cast by onr
attendants stopped the career of one or two
different animals of the herd.
At this iuncture, however, occurred an
unexpected adventure, that finished our
sport, at least for that day. | had sprung
forward Immediately after firing i'll order to
obtain fair shot at huge elephant that |
wanted to bring down on account Of his inn
mencc tusks. got the desired aim, and
pulled the trigger Of my second barrel
At the moment Of my doing 50 a wild cry
of alarm, uttered by one Of the blacks,
called my attention. Glancing around, my
eye chanced to range up into the foliage OF
the tree beneath which Capt. Grant and my
self had lain for several hours previous.
My feelings may possibly be imagined, as |
/ beheld an enormous boa constructor, whose
head and neck projecting some distance IN
to view, showed that he was about to make
a fatal spring. His direction was certainly
towards me and as he flashed from his
position like thunder-bolt, | gave myself
up, for ere aid could have reached, the folds
of the monster would have crushed my
strong frame into a quivering pulp, fell
seemingly caught in a whirlwind Of dust,
and a strange indescribable scuffle ensued.
In the midst of this strife | suddenly be-
came conscious of the presence of a 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 Capt.
Grant, my noble companion. At last, after
being whrled about for several seconds,
each second seeming to be interminable,
there ensued lull, stiffness as Of death,
and | opened my eyes, expecting to look
upon those unexplored landscapes which
are seen in the country beyond the tomb.
Instead of that ] saw Capt. Grant leveling
his rifle towards me, while standing beside
and behind him were the blacks in every
conceivable attitude Of most intense eX-
citement and suspense.
But in a moment | comprchended ALL
The huge serpent had struck a young buf-
falo COW, between him and which | had un-
luckily placed myself at the moment of
firing upon the elephant. A most singular
good fortune had attended me, however,
for instead of being crushed into a man
! gled mass with the unfortunate COW, my
left forearm had only been caught in be-
tween the buhalos body and a single fold
of the CONSTRUCTOR The limb laid just in
front of the shoulder at the root Of the
neck, and thus had a soft bed of flesh, into
which it was iammed, as it were, by the
immense pressure Of the serpent's body,
that it was like iron in hardness.
As | saw Grant about to shoot, terror
possessed me, for if he refrained might
possibly escape, after the boa released his
strike the reptile, it would in its convulsions
crush or drag me to pieces. Even as this
idea came to me beheld Grant pause. He
appeared to comprehend all. He could see
how | was situated, that | was still living
and that my life depended on the will of
the constructor We could see every line
of each others face, 50 close were we, and
| would have shouted or spoken, or even
whispered to him if | dared But the boa's
head was reared within few inches of
NINE and the winking of an eyeIid would
perhaps settle my doom so | stared like a
dead man at Grant and at the blacks.
Presently the serpent began very grad
ually to relax his folds, and after tighten
ing them several times as the crushed but-
falo quvered, he unwound one fold entire
ly Thus he paused. The next iron-like
band was the one that held me prisoner :
| felt it little by little unclasping, my
heart stood still with hope and fear Per
haps, upou being freed, the benumbed arm
uncontrolled by my will, might fall from
the cushion-lke bed on which it lay, and
such mishap bring the spare fold around
my neck or chest, and then farewell to the
sources of the Nile. Oh, how hardly, how
desperately struggled to command myself
| glanced at Grant, and saw him handling
his rifle anXiously. glanced at the negroes
and saw them gazing as though petrifed
with amaZement
| glanced at the serpents loathsome head,
and saw its bright deadly eyes, watching for
the least sign Of life in its prey. Now and
then the serpent loosened its hold on my
arm a hairs breadth, and now little more,
until half an inch separated my arm and
its notified skin. | 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 removed entirely and
the next one was ensuing. Should | dash
away or wait a more favorable moment
decided upon the former; and with light
ming speed bounded away toward Grant
the crack Of whose piece | heard at the
same instant. For the first time in my-ifc
was thoroughly overcome, and sinking
down | remained in half conscious state
several minutes
When fully recovered, Grant and the
overjoyed negroes held me up and pointed
, out the boa. who was still writhing in his
death agonies.
| Shuddpred aS I looked unon thn nffnci