Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1865-02-11

the tree beneath which Captain GIANT and
myself had lain several bouss previous.
My feeling may possibly be ims gired as
beheld an euormus boa constructor whose
bdeous besd and neck projected some dis
tent iuto view, showing tnat he was 10
make a fatal spring. His direction was
certainly toward me; and ss he flashed
from als position like . thundcr-bolt.
gave myself mp. for ere aid could have
'eacbed me. fold after fold OF the monster
would have cru.hed ny strong frams into
quifvering pulp fell seemingly caught
IN u whirlwind Of dust, and strange, iu-
dcscribable scufls ensued.A Ia the midst
Of this terrible strife, suddenly became
conscious Of the presence of another vc i'm
and ever after The time that has, elapsed
since then, l still recolect with what vi
vdness The thought shot across my mind
that this second victim was Captain G npt,
my noble companion. At last, after being
thus whirled about FOR several seconds
each second sepniog TO be inierminshle-
tiere ensned a luIl stiffness, IS &c des'h.
aud opened my eyes. expecting to look
upon those nnexplored landscapes which are
seen only iu the country beyond the tomb.
Instead Of that. | ssw Captain Grant
levcliug his rife towards ne, while, stan.
d'ng beside aud behind him, were the
blacks, in every conceivable attitude Of the
most intense Suspense.
Ina moment comprehended ell. The
huge serpent bad struck . young buff,lo
COW, be,~ cen which and him / had unlukiiy
placed myself 1t the moment OF firing npoB
tue elepbsn'. A most singular good for
tune had attended me, however foi instead
Of being crushed into msngled mass
With the unfortunate COW, my lett forearm
only bad been caught n between the buf
falo's body and siugle fold Of The cosstriea
tor. The limb laid Just in front Of the
shoulder at the hesh, iuto which 1t was
jansd, ss it were, by the immnse pressure
vi tbs serpsn''s body that wssl irOnlike in
hardness d .ai1a. i3A
As 1 saw Grant about to shoot, . ter.
ror took possession Of me, for il be refrsined
| might possibly escape. after the boa re-
leased his folds from The dead COW. But,
should he hte aud strike the reptile It
would, in ils COW ulsions. cFueh or drag inc
TO pieces Eseu as the idea CAME 10 me
behelu Grant pause. He appeared TO fully
eompi sDsnd oil lie could see how l was
situated, that was still living, and that
my delivery depended Oh the will OF the
cons,ric,or. We could see every line 10
each others faces SO close we're ~e. aud /
would shouted or spoken, or even whispered
NJ b %, had dared, bat the soa's head
was within few incher Of mine, aud the
wink Of an eyelid would perhaps sc tie my
doom; So l stared like q dead man, al
Grant asd 1T the blacks.
Presently tue serpent began gradually
J 10 relax its tolds, aud after re Tightening
5 them several times as the crushed butfal,
} suivered, hs INV ound Que fold entirely -
Iuen he paused. The next iron-llke baDt
: WAS tAs one that held ne prisoaer aud ss
: felt il little by little uncisspIDg, my hear
. stood with hope and fear.-Perbsps. upon
e being freed, The benumbed arm. uncontrolled
Dy my will, nigh fall from the cushion-llk'
oed 10 winch it lay Aud such u mishal
u,gh, oring the spare fold around my neci
or CHEST, aud then farewell TO the source
of the Nile. On. how hardly, how des
psrately l struggled TO command myself
/ glanced NJ Grant aud saw hun haudilui
; his rife auxIousIy. glanced at the ne
!. groys aud saw them still gas'g as tboug
pelrlGed with sstonishmeut ganced IA
K tbe serpeut.s loat thsome head ena saw il
bright. deadly eyes watching for the leas
y slgn oi nfe N iis prey
4 Now, then, the reptile loosened its 10
i on my arm hairs breadth, aud now,
"a little more, until half an inch of sps
separated my arm ani it's mortled skin.
o could hsve whipped out my baud, b
$. dared no. take the risk Atoms of til
= dragged themselves into ages, aud minu
: s,emed s.ernity, aud the next one WI
ed easing Should dash away now or wa
ir q more favorable momen? Idecided upe
the former; aud with igh'plug speed
n bounued away toward Graut, tue crack
"a whose piece heard NJ the same instan
IL For The st time in my life, ! W
y. thoroughly overcome; and sinking dow
~ | rpmaiued in q seml-couscous s.ate I
,u several minutes. ..
Is Vixen fully recovered. Grant and q
H. owe j wed mtg oe, held me up aud poin''
ul ont The boa, who was still wriIhIng 10 Il
death agonies. shudisred as | lopkt
er npor the effects Of his tremendous slreng
ne For Yards around where be Icy. gra'
DO bushes and ssplings and 10 act every hii
except ,he more fully grown trees, We
cut clean uf, MS though they bad be
10 ,rim.d with al immeDce scyihe. III
monster. when measured. was hfty'one Il
er two INCHES aud u half in extreme leng'
Iss while round The 'hickest psrs Of the DO
nd the girth was nearly three feet, prroing
oar believe, 10 be the largest serpent that