Middletown transcript., 1868-04-11

her attitude and a dress Spanish in its
style, and suited to the mellow climate in
which the wearer lived.
Her feet, so small and delicate, were
bare; so was her head, from which per-
feet food of golden curls fell over a neck
and shoulders as fair as ever l saw in the
sunny south, with scarce a shade of the
sunbrown to be seen.
A book which she had been holding had
fallen from her grasp, and lay among some
scattered flowers by her side
Curious to know what she had been read
ing, stepped lightly forward, and was
about to grasp the book, when beheld a
snake with its eyes flashing like sparks of
fire. in the very act of striking with its
deadly fangs. 1t was huge moccasin
snake, all coiled up where it had crcpt up
on its sleeping victim.
| had not worn my sword, but thanks
to fortune, small revolver was in my
pocket.
To draw and cock it was the work of
second; to aim at the reptile with the
quickness of thought, to fire in the same
breath was that of another
With a wild scream the girl sprang to
her feet, her eyes blue as the sea olf-sound-
ing, distended with terror, to see man
before her with drawn pistol in his
hand, the smoke from its deadly barrel yet
curling above his head.
I" Look" l said pointing to the writhing
reptile, the head of which, with extended
fangs, lay but a few inches from the body
I" | fired only to save your life. That hor-
rible snake was about to strike you even as
you slept"
"God sent you here" she cried wildly,
turning white as snow in her face, while
she looked terror-strickcn upon the hid
eous snake.
II believe He did," I responded Who
are you and where do you live?"
" My father is diver for the wreckers,
sir" she answered. "We live on an is
land a couple of miles down the reef, where
there is a settlement of divers and wreck
crs. If you see my father he will almost
worship you for saving me. am his only
child-so like my mother was, he says. s.
But never saw her. She died when !
was quite young"
The voice of the girl sounded touchingly
mournful when she said this.
Is that your boat at the landing?" |
asked.
"Yes," she answered. come here in
it almost every day; but l shall never
come again; and she gave another shud-
dering glance at the serpent.
Then, after she paused, she timidly
asked.
"Do you live near here 2"
Il wish that did" said I. But l am
the captain of an American war schooner,
which is nearly becalmed out by the reef,
and live in her. am to cruise on this
coast, and l hope shall see you very of
ten. viii you tell me your name?
"Alice Bond, sir. But are you Yam
kee, sir?
"Not what are generally known as Yam
kces---that is. men down Fast, replied
am New Yorker. But why do you
ask p
because father hates Yankees, sir.
He was born in England, but he came TO
Bahama to live, and after mother died
came here"
Il hope he will like me-" l said. Il
shall row down to your settlement. Shall
/ not take you there in my boat :"
30, no, no." she answered with look
of alarm. Father gets angry if any man
speaks to me. But sir if you could only
take that to show him what terrible death
you had saved me from, | think he would
like you. l wish he would, for then you
could come to see me sometimes"
She pointed to the snake as she spoke.
was so charmed with her artlessness,
her peerless beauty, the siren-lik6 music of
her voice, that | could have put the snake
into my bosom if she had asked it.
But shouted to the coxswain of my
boat to bring up a small bailing bucket
which was kept in it.
He came and was call eyes" when he
saw the fairy of the enchanted isle, but /
pointed to the snake and its head, and told
him to take stick and put them in the
bucket, and take it back to the boat.
I followed with the girl by my side, and
when we got to the water-side, launched
her little boat for her.
Swiftly and gracefully she rowed off,
and my wondering oarsmcn followed in her
wake, fot it would have been quite beneath
official dignity to inform them of the par
ticulars of my late adventure:
On a larger island partly cultivated,
some two miles below, soon saw the set
Element of which she spoke, and observing
that the schooner had come to an anchor
to keep from drifting into danger in the
calm, I had no hesitation in paying it
visit.
The girl landed few yards ahead of us
and was met by large msucular looking
man, middle aged apparently, who embra-
ced her.
The next moment saw her turn and
point to me, and l knew that she was
speaking of her peril and rescue.
As soon as we landed took the bucket |
containing the serpent and advanced to
wards them.
As came near, I heard him speaking
to her, and thought his tone was unkind |