Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-06-12
Captain Spake's Adventure with a Boa
Constructor,

az the earlleSt peSStDte moment after caraD
had been pitched, hunt was set afoot; mid
Captain Grant, myself aud some attendants
were soon making our way to :. the Spat
There were no animals. iIere when NE ar
rived, except a few lhppopotalii. and we were;
therefore, obliged 20 wait the comm ., of some
palatable game. Our patience, however. was
severely taxed, and after long delay, we
were about to ''bag" a hippopotamus. when
an attendant perched in tree about half =
mile distant began waving his blanket. This
was sign that sSlme was approachinS We
immediately dreG into cover, and awaited fbe
coming of the latter
We We're not iGng delayed, for presently a
long column of animu.s from the elephant to
The hoodOo, appeared in. view, trottina. at a
good pace TO the river. Their -fanEs were
SOON presented'tO US, and each selecting bis
object, fired. McCull shot u fine young buf.
taiO COW, whilst Captain Grant was equally
successful with u hOodoo, aud several spears
cast by our attendants, stopped the career of
one Or two GTfereTt animals Uf the herd
at thisj uucture, however, occurred an un-
expected adventure. that fuissed our sport at
least Tor that day. had sprung forward iul-
mtdla'eiy utter firing IN order to Obtain
fair shot ut u huge elephant that wanted to
BRING down OH account vi his immense ttlsks
g't the desired aim, and pulled the trigger
Ot my second barrel. AT the nlomer. of INV
doing 50 Wild cry Of alarm, uttered by Que
OF tue blacks, called my attention. Glancnn
around, my eye, Glanced to range up in the
foliage Ut tie tree beneath which Cautain
Grant and myself had lain for several hours
previous. My feelings may possibly be fn-
aslneu, as beheld an enormous boa constric-
tor whose mead aud ueck projected some dis
lance INTO view, showed that he was about to
NJ fol-,
talhiy toward me; and as he flashed from his
position IKE a thunderbolt, i gave myself up,
lor ere aid could reach me, the folds of the
monster would have crushed my strong frame
INTO u quivering pulp. 1ell seemingly
caught Ill wiIiriwind Of dust, aud strange
lndescrbabie scufIle ellsued.'
In tile midst of this strife suddenly be
Game CONSCIOUS ut the presence of u second
victim, aud even the ume that had elapsed
since tlIem, L sutl recOllcct with what Il vivid
ness the thought shot across NV mind. that
this secoud victim was Cap,aiu Grant, INV no.
bic companion. At last, after being whirled
about ior several seconds, each second SEEM
ing to be IN crminaLle, there cnsued a lull, u
stI!lnesS OF death, aud | opened my eyes, ex>
Pectlng to look upon those unexplored land
scapeS which are seen only in the country be-
yond the tomb. Instead Of that saw Can
tam Grant leveling his rifle towards me, while
Standing beside and behind him were the
blacks IN every conceivable attitude of the
most intense suspense.
But in a moment / comprehended all
The huge serpent had struck Young buffalo
cow, between him and which I unluckily
placed myself at the moment of firing upon
the elephant. a most singular good fortune
mad attended me, however, for instead of be-
ing crushed into mangled mass with the
unfortunate COW, my left forearm only had
been caught between the buffalo's body and
a single toId of the constructor. The limb
laid just in front of the shoulder at the root
OF the neck, and thus had soft bed of flesh,
INTO which 1t was jalnmed as it were by the
immense pressure Uf the scrpent's body, that
II was. Ike IRON in harness.
AS saw Grant about to shoot a terrorpos-
sessed me, for if he retraned [ might posi-
bly, escape after the boa released his folds
from the dead cow. But should he fire. and
strike the reptile, it would, in its commissions.
crush or drag me 10 pieces. Even as the
ldea came to me, beheld Grant pause He
could see how l was situated, that was still
living, and that my life depended ON the will
OF the constructor. We could see every line
on each others face so close were we to him
had | dared. But the bpa's head was reared
within few inches of mine, and the wink of
an eyelId would perhaps settle my doom; SO
l. stared, stared like dead man at Grant and
the blacks.
Fresentiy the serpent began very gradual
y l" relax his folds, aud after tightening
them several times as the crushed buffalo
quVereu, he uuwOund one fold entireIy.-
thus he paused The next ir0n.i,ke band
Was the one THAT held me, prisoner aud as
lelti Little uuclasping, MY heart stood still
Wth hope aud fear. Perhaps, upon being
freed the benuInbed arm, uncontrolled by NV
VIII, might lal from the cushion kr bed il,
winch 1t lay. Aud such nisiIap might
brInS the spare fold around my neck or chest,
aud then farewell to the sources Of the Niie.
On. how hprdiy1thow desperately l struggled
to comtmamd Iiyssif! L glanced at Grant,
aud saw hinr handling his rifle auxiousIy l
glanced at the eiicsrOcs aud saw them gazing
as though peIr.iisl with astouishuient.
l glanced at ils Serpent lUathesome head
and saw It's bright, deadly eyes, watching for
tie least gu If life in its prey. Now then
the reptile loUscUed its fold on nv arm a
i:airs rreadth, aud now. a little more, until
half an inch separated my arm and its mot
tied skin could have whipped out nv
hand but dare not take the risk. Atoms Of
times dragged themselves into ages. and a
minute seemed eternity itseifI The second
fold was removed entirely and the next was
easing. Should dash away now or wait a
more favorable moment / decided upon
the former, and with lightning speed, l bound
ed away toward Grant, the crack Of whose
piece heard at the Instant P0r the first
time in my,life. L was thoroughly overcome
aud sinking down | remained iu a senii.col-
sciOus state several minutes.
When fully recovered, Grant and the
overjoyed negroes held me up aud pointed out
the boa, who was still wrilhing in his death
agonies. Isbuddered as looked upon the
effects of his treme- -dous dying strength,