Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-11-24

avail /; and for fear that be would thinl
me bat an Indifferent sportsman NOV
ed q few steps in the direction which
my friend had taken.
81 don't see anything" Allen ex
claimed with great self confidence: bu
just then the leaves of the tree rustled
as though some large body was moving
amid the limbs; the dogs uttered sup
pressed howl and retreated with thei
tails between their legs, and I hearc
Allen say, at is !' an exclamation tha
was emphatic, but hardly explanatory
for he stepped back, regardless where
he put his feet, and the consequence
was he fell into a miniature lake ano
for moment disappeared from view
but only for moment He came tc
the surface of the green water like 9
sperm whale that has been exploring
the domains of Neptune for an hour OF
more, but unlike the huge monster, he
didn't look clean or at all comfortable.
swell, you are the dirtiest looking
white man that | ever saw" l cried
and could not restrain my laughter at
his ludicrous appearance.
81 can't stop to thank you for your
complimentary remarks" Allen said,
picking up his rifle which be had thrown
from his hand when falling, and there
by saved it uninjured ''because in
yonder tree is the biggest anaconda !
ever saw"
1t was now my turn to jump, and |
think that | placed about twenty feet
between myself and the tree in less than
ten seconds, and even then did not feel
safe from harm.
Allen smiled and walked to favora-
BILE position for getting shot.
"What do you mean to do ?" I asked.
"See how near 1 can come to the
brute's eye at rods distance" was the
reply. .- -,i 'e .-.
Perhaps the anaconda understood his
meaning, and was disposed to begin the
fight and not remain up there like a
coward for suddenly there was whirl
of the leaves, and they fell quickly to
the ground. a sc
While we were watching, head with
flaming eyes was thrust out from the fo-
liage, and then followed neck and
about six feet of the body The rep
tiles mouth was open, and displayed
two huge fangs set we'll back in the
mouth For few minutes the head
waved back and forth, with its eyes fix
ed upon us or the dogs-we could not
tell which-and those ponderous jaws
opening and closing as though COM
mencing the fight if we were really dis
posed to begin one. 81.
Allen raised his rifle, and waited for
the snake to remain stationary for few
moments, when he fired There was
wild scream of terror from the whole
troop of chattering monkeys, and they
disappeared amid the trees like light
ming. a'' - -'ta ---f') "
The ball struck the anaconda near his
flaming eyes. The tree upon which the
snake rested was shaken to it's very
roots, and swayed to and fro. Branch
es were broken off, with reports as loud
as the discharge of pistols; and those
boughs which were too large for even
the reptile to contend successfully with
were stripped of leaves as completely as
if done by hand. -g-
The struggles of the monster were
terrible. He seemed imbued with
mighty strength, for he uncoiled his
tail, and after thrashiug it about the
body of the tree for few moments,
took two or three coils about the trunk,
and frightened it until l thought the
very sap would exude. !. .-ll
"Now is your time!' cried Allen,
who was quietly loading his rifle
"Fire and see how quick he will relax
his hold.n ---... ..,
took deliberate aim and fired. The
ball struck one of the folds, cut its way
through and penetrated the tree. The
coils were quickly unwound and con-
cealed for moment, for the snake was
now reused to madness, and seemed de-
termined to destroy everything within
reach. The saplings wilted away as if
by magic, and the bushes were torn up.
"End the contest" | cried, as the
head of the anaconda rested for mo-
ment, and the fierce eyes glared upon US
more wicked than ever.
"Pll bet an ounce that l put ball
within one inch of his left eye," Allen
said, slowly raising his rife and glanc-
ing back to me to see whether accept
ed the wager. i1 a5e ~
I nodded my acceptance, for I was
tired of the sport and wished it ended
My friend fired, and the head of the
anaconda, with one convulsive struggle,
fell to the ground and remained motion
less but the tail still continued to work
as though life was too dear to be re-
linquished for few small wounds.
Almost with the fall of the snake a
troop of monkeys appeared upon a
neighboring tree, aud chartered and
crowed with delight; and an old, gray
headed rascal gathered leaves, and
while be made hideous grimaces at US,
..e did not fail to fling them at his de-
funct enemy.
A CLERGYMAN in Utica, n Y, has
/ L u L r I