East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1865-01-18
A NIGHT MITH sNAKEs.


ventures recently published in Europe.
Tho hero Of the scene is a sailor, who
with his companions, were on an East
India island preparing to leave, but
could not finish sail they We're fit
ting. Ho says: i
We worked hard, and being bun
glers, much Of the work had TO be
dono over again three or four times.
We were, however, pretty yearly the
end of the Job, whom an adventure be-
fell me, the recollection Of which re-
produced in dreams often makes me
start up in bed in q cold sweat of ter
ror. have seen it, not quite correct
", in a popular periodical, probably
by some one who had heard it directly
or indirectly from me. 1t thus fell
out: The sail, a lug, did not SGT wei.
/ having, or believing / had, more
knowledge upon the subject than the
others, remained by the boat, whilst
my mates returned to the ship, turned
in. and made themselves comfortable.
I worked on till l had thoroughly
wearied myself - for the Southern
night, with its glorious moon and
fields of splendid stars, was brilliant
as the day, though cold for the cline,
chill wind having set in Immediately
after sunset
This, with tho work / was engaged
in-cutting and sticking the sail--did
not induce warmth, so that l partook
more freely than il was my wont to do
of the excellent brandy 1 had provided
myself with. At all events, tired,
yexed-for 7 could not so set the snil
as TO bend it on ship shape-and per-
haps more than half seas over Il was
not an abstemious man in those days.
lay down under tho lee of the boat,
took few pulls at tho brandy flask
and dropped off to sleep. Sleep! yes,
the sleep of devils. Frightfully hor-
rible dreams oppressed mo. L was
stihed, crushed with nightmare. That
was the impression on my half uncon-
scious mind. At last fully awoke.
Good Cod the icy chill that ran
through my veins when /, by moon
light, discerned tho cause Of the night
mare that was sitting me.
The fetid, horrible smell Of serpents
was in my nostrils, and saw that two
cobras, one the largest L had ever seen,
were lying upon my breast-where
they had no doubt crept for warmth
twined together, and, being quite mo-
tionless, were, l judged, asleep. To
stir. to awake them, was certain death.
In less than an hour, If L was bitten
even so slightly, I should bo q mass of
corruption Paralyzed, fainting with
fear, l lay perfectly still, but believing
that the dreadful suspense could not
long be endured; that must soon
start up and cast off tho horrible rep
tiles at any risk. They were evidently
asleep, and might be flung at dis
lance before being able to make use Of
their fatal fangs.
But merciful Godl they begin to
stir, to wriggle from each other ]
am lost
Ha, is that the swapping, chirrup-
ing bark Of our pct mongoose, (ich-
neumon, which alarms the reptiles
Let mo explain:
A mongoose is tho natural enemy OF
the snake, and in u combat with one
is sure to be tho victor The bite OF
the snake produces but momentary
effect upon the little animal-appears
to make it giddy for q few moments,
when it seems to recover itself by eat
jgG some hagbsn 5SFeKiqgi ii m9aRi&sfptu ttbbG
point. However it may be, the mon
goose quickly returns to the attack, and
tho snake, as l was told, is invariably
killed.
The island furnishes ichneumons al
most as plontifully as snakes. Lafranc
and Dupont managed to tame and do
mesticate throo Of them-not very
difficult task-knowing that not one of
the serpent tribe will approach where
they are or have been recently, no
more than oockroach will venture
out of its hole into kitchen whero u
hedgehog keeps watch and ward. -
Our ichncumons were special pets Of
mine, and were they, scenting the SER
penis, and missing me and the oven
ing meal / had provided for them,
coming to the rescue?
Yes, by hoavenl tho quick cars of
tho serpents had recognized the rapid
approach of the dreadful mongooses;
their horrid snake glances glowed
with fear and rage; their hoods dilato
as they untwist themselves, and glide
off in the hope of escape; but finding
that impossible, turn to fight The
ichneumons desired nothing better
They spring upon the serpents, bite
them upon the back part of the head,
and carry on the battle Of which / am
delighted spectator, with spirit,
cheerful, chirrupy vigor which is, l
feel, though l had never actually wit
nossod such a combat before, sure
augury of success. The battle is not
protracted one-the snakes are dead,
and my pets running after and leaping
up at me, appear to know they have
rescued me from death, and will havo
in reward an even more plentiful sup
per than usual. They are not mista-
ken. Our friends and my fellows wero
painfully excited by the incident which
had, however, so happily terminated;
and for my part, l was not myself
again for several days. 1 never slept
in the open air again.
EEA man was arrested and tried
in New Fairfield, Conn, for an at
tempt TO "kiss, hug and tickle" $50
fhn irn1inIr,,n,,A non Ia Z, .....I.. =. =.