The Shasta courier., 1866-11-24
SHASTA COURIER.
SNAKE ADVENTURE IN THE
MANILLAS.

adventure occurred which | am about to
relate.
The dogs Led the way with glowing eyes,
and we followed as fast as possible but the
soil was soft and spongy, and although it
received the impression of our feet, they were
soon erased or filled with dark water, rank
with vegetation and slime. We were posi-
tive that we were on the right track of the
game: so on we pressed, bending low at
times to escape the branches of trees, or
cautiously peering into thcket, to discover
the cause of the sudden rustling which we
detected among the leaves, and perhaps while
we listened hearing the low angry hiss of
a snake as it gided into the darker recesses
of the swamp, or plunged with sudden motion
into the pools of stagnant water, and with
head erect, wriggled to its hole, or disappear
ed amid the bushes.
Sometimes it was necessary for us to leap
from knoll to knoll to escape the bogholes.
or else crawl upon our hands and knees
through thickets almost impenetrable. All
of a sudden the dogs uttered suppressed
howl, and with tails between their legs
retreated crouchng towards us.
"There is danger in our path of some kind,
muttered Allen, STOPPING and scrutinizing
the trees in our vicinity but nothing was to
be seen, and we attempted to urge the hounds
along but they obstinately refused to proceed
" Remain where you are for a moment, and
have. your rifle ready for instant service,
while | make short circuit, and see fl can
find out the trouble. Don't fire on any
account unless compelled to, and then be
careful your shot tells"
| did not like the idea of being separated from
Allen, but wisely kept my fears to myself,
although | watched his form until lost to view
among the thickets, and half resolved to fol-
low, on the ground it was expedient for US
to keep together in so dangerous place.
The dogs had left me for the company of
my friend and | was alone, with a death like
stiffness reigning over the swamp and my
Imagination conjuring up all sorts OF diseased
fancies. l leaned against tall tree, with
leaves so thick the sky could not be seen
beneath it. and awaited the return OF my com
panion but while | meditated upon the mad
ness of the undertaking before me, | saw a
sturdy branch of tree move and shake, as
though agitated by violent blast of wind
l did not stop to think that when we entered
the swamp the air was quite calm, and no
sign of a gale visible, because my thoughts
were otherwise engaged and | don't know
that | should have moved from my position
under the tree, had not chattering monkey
under a sapling few rods off, suddenly ap-
peared, and after staring at me for moment
made sudden gesture of fright and with
fierce cry, disappeared.
| started in the direction that the animal
had taken, but before | had gone two steps,
the tree against which | had leant was shak.
en- from its trunk to the topmost branch, and
shower of leaves fell upon my head. Then
began to suspect was in dangerous neigh
borhood and glancing over my head, saw
something-I could not at first tell what
whrling among the leaves, twisting and turn
ing like CLEANS of lightning, and cracking
the tender branches in its movements, and
showering down leaves like flakes of snow
| think that was not more than five sec
onds in placing the distance of a rod be
tween myself and the tree and don't re-
member of having turned back once to see
whether Twas clear of the danger that threat
ened me. What it was | knew not, but sus
pected that wild animal had taken posses
sion of the tree, and was calculating the pro
priety of making meal of me, when his
eagerness caused my alarm.
| was not on the whole, sorry when Allen
returned and reported that the coast was
clear, but that the dogs still manifested
symptoms of alarm, and appeared i'll at case
for trained animals like them.
You don't look very lively" Allen said,
after glance at my face. ''What is the
matter? Don't feel tired do you ?-Take
drink of this" and he offered me his flask.
did not refuse although while the bottle |
was at my lips kept my eyes fixed upon the
tree, expecting to see it move every moment |
60 1t strikes me" | said, returning the |
flask, :. that the cause of this alarm is in |
yonder tree, and that the leaves hide some
thing disagreeable to view. If you don't |
believe my words go out and examine"
IS will do better than that, l will send
Maize, for he seems as uneasy as a young
woman without a lover
The dog was directed to the tree, and he
made one or two efforts to obey orders but
all ended with feeble yelp and then he
retreated behind us.
Hang the dogs have they lost all their
courage?" exclaimed my friend pettishly;
they are frightened at their own shadows
If they won't go l will;" and cooking his
rifle, he started forward and gained posi-
ton where he could command a view of the
tree.
tried to dissuade him but without avail
and for fear that he would think me but an
Indifferent sportsman, moved a few steps
in the direction which my friend had taken.
q don't see anything" Allen exclaimed
with great self confidence but just then the
leaves of the tree rustled, as though some
large body was moving amid the limbs the
dogs uttered suppressed howl and retreated
with their tails between their legs, and |
heard Allen say, 1t p an exclamation
that 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 and for moment disap
peared from view, but only for moment
He came to the surface of the green water
like a sperm whale that has been exploring
the domains Of Neptune for an hour or more,
but unlike the huge monster, he didn't look
clean or at all comfortable.
/" "Well, you are the dirtiest looking white
man that | ever saw" | cried. and | could
not restrain my laughter at his ludicrous
appearance.
g can't stop to thank you for your com
plimentary remarks Allen said picking
up bis rifle which he had thrown from his
hand when falling, and thereby saved it un-
injured because in yonder tree is the big |
gest anaconda that | ever saw"
1t was now my turn to jump, and l think
that l placed about twenty feet between my
self and the tree in less than ten seconds. |
and even then did not feel safe from harm. /
Allen smiled and walked to favorable |
position for getting shot.
"Wbat do you mean to do? | asked