The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-04-19
WHOLE NO. 444.

| Hss WV SSsuSos PVooiOI0 uOuuCNs SIke
our camp had been pitched, a hunt wa
set afoot, and Capt. Grant, myself, an,
some attendants, were soon making ou
way to "the path" There were no ami
mails there when we arrived, except a fev
hippopotami, and We we're, therefore, oh
liged to wait the coming of some NOR,
palatable game. Our patience, however
was severely taxed; and after long delay
We were about to bag" . hippopotamus
| when one Of our attendants, perched in Q
tree about half mile distant, began wav
ing his blanket. This was signal thai
game was approaching. We Immediately
drew into cover, and awaited the coming
up Of the latter.
We were not delayed long, for presently
. long column Of animals, from the Gle.
phant to the hoo.doo appeared in view
rotting at good pace to the river. Their
flanks were soon presented to US, and each
selecting his object, fred. McColl shot q
fine young buffalo cow, while Capt, Grant
was equally successful with . hoo doc, and
several spears, cast by our attendants, stop.
ped the career of one or two different ami.
mails Of the heard.
At this juncture, however, occurred an
unexpected adventure, that finished our
sport for that day. I had sprung forward,
Immediately after firing, in order to obtain
fair shot at a huge elephant that wanted
to bring down on account Of bis immense
tusks. l got the desired aim, and pulled
the trigger Of my second barrel. At the
momept of my doing so wild cry of alarm
uttered by one of the blacks, called my
attention. Glancing round, my eye chanc-
ed to range up the foliage of the tree be.
meath which Capt. Grant and myself had
lain for several hours previous.
Ny feelings may possibly be imagined,
as beheld an enormous boa constructor,
whose hideous head and neck, projected
some distance into view, showed that he
was about to make 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 me, fold after fold of the
monster would have crushed my strong
frame into quivering pulp. fell, seem.
lngly caught in whirlwind of dust and
strange, undesirable scutfle ensued. In
the midst of this terrible strife, suddenly
became conscious Of the presence of . Sc
cond victim. A thought shot across
my mind, that this second victim vas Capt
Grant, my noble companion. At last after
being thus whirled about for several Sc
conds, each second seeming to be intermin-
able, there ensued lull, stiffness as o.
death, and l opened my eyes, expecting to
look upon those unexplored landscapes
which are seen only in the country beyond
the tomb. Instead Of that / saw Capt.
Grant leveling his rife towards me, while
standing beside and behind him, were the
blacks in every conceivable attitude Of the
most intense suspense.
In moment I comprehended all. The
huge serpent had struck a young buffalo,
between which and him I had unluckily
placed myself at the moment of firing up
on the elephant. A most singular good
fortune had attended me, however, for
instead Of being crushed into mangled
mass with the unfortunate COW, my left
arm only had been caught in between
the buffalo's body and single fold of the
constructor. The limb lay just in front of
the shoulder at the root Of the neck, and
thus had soft bed Of flesh, into which it
was jaWmed, as it were, by the immense
pressure Of the serpents body, that was
iroalike in hardness.
AS saw Grant about to shoot, terror
took possession Of me, for if he refrained,
might possibly escape, after the boa re.
leased his folds from the dead COW. But
should he fire and strike the reptile, it
would in its convulsions, crush or drag me
to pieces. Even as the idea came to me,
beheld Grant pause. He appeared fully
to comprehend all. lie could see how |
was situated, that was still living, and
that my delivery depended on the will of
tho constructor. We could see every line
on each others face, SO close were we, and
could have shouted or spoken, or even
whispered at him, had dared, but the
boa's head was raised within few inches
Of mine, and the wink Of an eyelid would
perhaps settle my doom so l stared, star.
ed like dead man at Grant and at the
blacks.
Presently the serpent began gradually
to relax its folds, and after re.tightning
them several times as the crushed buffalo
quivered, unwound ons 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
being freed, the benumbed arm uncontrol!-
ed by my will might fall from the cushion.
like bed in which it lay. And such mis-
hap might bring the fold around my
neck or chest, ard then farewell to the
sources os the Nile. Oh, how hard, how
desperately struggled to command my.
self; glanced at Grant and saw him
handling his rifle anxiously. Iglanced at
the negroes and saw them still gazing Is
though petri6ed with astonishment. /
glanced at the serpent's loathsome head
and saw its eyes watching for the least sign
Of life in its prey. Now, then. the reptile
loosened its fold on my arm hairs breadth,
and now, a little more, and an inch of space
separated my arm and it's mottled skin.
could have whipped out my hand, but dar.
ed not take the risk. Atoms of time drag
ged themselves into sges, and minute
seemed eternity itself! The second fold
was removed entirely. and the next one was
easing. Should dash away now or wait
more favorable movement; l decided up.
on the former and, with lightning speed,
l bounded away toward Grant, the crack
Of whose piece heard at the same instant.
For the tirst time in my life, I was thor
oughly overcome; and sinking down, I re-
manned in semi. conscious state for several
minutes.
When l fully recovered, Grant and the
overjoyed negroes held me up and pointed
out the boa. who Was still wri,hing in his
death agonles. shuddered and looked
upon the effects Of bis dying strength
For ards around where be lay, grass and
bushes and saplings, and in fact, every
thing except the more fully grown trees
were cut clean of. as though they had been
trimmed with an immense scythe. This
monster when measured was fifty.one feet
two inches and half in extreme length.
while round the thickest portion Of ito
body, the g'rth was nearly three feet, thus
nroYinc I helisYc 10 hA thA larcesf ser