The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1866-05-23
Combat with an Anaconda.

tam Grant, hlySeH anu euihC. "1tS'"',,", :,
we're soon making our way to the patch.
| Theie were no animals there when we airIV-
ed, except few hippOpotaml, and we were
Therefore obliged to. await the coming OF
some paatable game. Our patience, how
ever, was severely taxed, and, after. long
| delay we were about to bag ahlppopo
| tamus, when an attendant, perched IN
tree about half mile distant, began way
! ing his blanket. This was a slgual that
game was approaching. We Immediately
| drew into cover and awaited the coming OF
! the latter. r-.I
We were not long delayed, for presently
| a long column of animals. from the elephant
to the hoodoo. appeared in view, trotting at
a GOOD nee to the river. Their tianks were
PRESENTED to us. and each selected his object
and fired. McColl shot fine young buffa-
lo-cow, while Captain Grant was equally
success fll with hoodoo, and several spears,
cast by our attendants, stopped the career
one or two different animals of the heard.
| At this iuncture, however, occurred an
unexpected adventure, that finished our
snort at least for that day. | had sprung
forward Immediately after firing, in order
to oil tain a fair shot at a huge elephant, that
| wanted to bring down on account of his
| immense tusks. Igot the desired aim, and
pulled the trigger of my second barrel
M the moment, Of my doing so, wild cry
of alarm, uttered by one OF the blacks call
| ed my attention Glanced around, my eye
Glanced to range UP in the foliage of the
tree beneath which Captain Grant and my
selr had lain for several hours preyious.---
Nv feelings may possibly be imagined as L
heheld an enormous boa constructor, whose
head and neck, projected some distance into
view, showed that he was about to make Il
fatal spring. t'...t '' A3.'t.-a $50. "...
His direction was certainly toward me;
and rs he flashed from his position like a
thunderbolt,. | gave myself up, for ere aid
could reach me. the ioldS Of the monster
would have crushed my strong 4 anne into
ad,Iivering pup. | felt seemingly caught
in "a whirlwind of dust, and a strange indie
scrihable scufle ensued. .8. ,,.,.,r
In the midst ofthe strife | suddenly be
came conscious of the presence Of second
victim, and even after the time that has
elapsed since then, still recollect with what
yividress the thought shot across my mind
that this second victim was Captain Grant
nv noble companion. At last, after being
whircd about for several seconds, each sec
ona seemed to be interminahle, there ensu
cd a lull, stiffness as Of death and | open
ed my eyes, expecting to look upon these
mexnlored landscapes which are seen only
in the country beyond the tomb. InsteaC
of that, | saw Captain Grant leveling hi
rifle toward me, while standing beside hin
were the blacks, III every conceivable att
tude of the most intense suspense.
But in moment comprehended ALL =
The huge serpent had struck young buffa
10 cow, between him and which had un
luckily placed myself at the moment of fir
ing upon the elephant. A most singular
good fortune had attended me, however
for instead Of being crushed into manglet
I mass with the unfortunate cow, my,folearn
only had been caught in between the bufa
l los body and single fold Of the construc
, tor H.. ..N t.- ,ra.# a.....
The limb laid, inst in front of the ahoul
der. at the root Of the neck and thus had
, soft bed of flesh into which it was iammed
as it were by the immense pressure OF TIN
, sepcnt's body, so that it was like iron il
} harness.
5 As saw Grant about to shoot a terro
nosscssed me. for if he RETAINED, | nigh
possibly escape after the boa had releases
: his folds from the dead COW. But shoul
: he fire and strike the reptile, it would. in 1t
? convulsion. crush or drag me to pieces =
= Even as thisidea came to me behcd Gran
!, rausc. He appeared to comprehend all
r Tie could see how I was situated, that
r was still living. and that my delivery dc
e nended on the will of the constructor, W
Y could see every line on each other face, s
5 close we're We and | would have shouted c
s spokcn, or even whispered to him had
= dared, But the boa S head was reare
e within few inches of mine, and the win
IS Of an eve-lid would perhaps settle my doom
e so stared-like dead man, at Grant an
e at the blacks.
Presently the scrnent began very eradua
" to relax his folds, and after tightenln
them several times, as the crushed butfa
V ouivered, he urwound one fold entirely
( Thus he paused. The next iron-hkc ban
y was the one that held me prisoner; and
% felt it little by little unclasping, my hea
II stored still with hope and fear Psrhap
n upon being freed, the benumbered arm, u
lg controlled by my will, might fall from Il
ID cushion like bed in which it lay And su'
= mishap might bring the spare fold arouII
,s NV neck or chest and then farewell to. Il
ID sources oil the Nile Oh, how hardly, ho
desperately struggled to command myS,eeI
VI I glanced at Grant, and saw him handln
a his rifle anxiously; glanced at the negro
to and saw them still gazing as though petn
ed with astonishment. glanced at Il
h. serpent loathsome head, and saw its brig
lu beady eyes, watching for the least sign
ve life in its prey. Now, then the reptile loo
et ened the fold on my arm a hair S breadt
he and now little more, unul half an IN
lisy separated my arm, and its NOTED SKIN
e, could have whipped cut my hand, but d'
tie ed not take the risk. Atoms OF time dra
e ged themselves into ages. and mint
/" seemed eternity itself The second IL
N was removed entirely, and the next one
re- easing. Should | dash away now, or
more favorable moment? | decided up
"a the former, and, with lightning speed
~ bounded away toward Grant, the crack
, \ whose piece heard at the instant. |
We the fist time in my life | was thorough
nd overcome, and sinking down, | remain
err in semi conscious state several hours.
= When fully recovered, Grant and
of overjoyed negroes held me up. and polnl
for out The boa, who was still writing in
rs death-agopies. | sbuddered as, | lo"l
upon the effects of his tremendous dy
l# strength. For yards around where he !
grass, and bushes and sapplings, and
fact, every thing, except the more IL
to grown trees, were cut clean off, as thol
ak they had been trimmed with an imme
1ds scythe. No. ref 5.. 49,,
mas This monster when measured was fl
pe- one feet two inches and a half in extre
nee length, while round the thickest porto!
q, rs his body, the girth was nearly three II
lnei thus proving, | believe, to be the lars
lno serpent that was ever authenticity he
ons o Of tl I..17' ai tl aa
an .Ir--- - ,.r, ,...
,rc- A Doc RY,-The last dog story is
! to two dogs who fell to fighting In saw n
icy. In the course of the tussle, Que OF, the 9
L Il. St a "a mid mot