The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-12-15

t-- "a =t'FE' "a Z 1
> I. s..ss.a a&s -. NO. 20.
els. Clarke's face was bright with ex.
'itement, while HeindPs glowed with
The same malignant joy I had seen in.
my dream. ...... -. -.
The two went into one OF the stalls |
and led forth large OK by rope fas.
tened to, bis horns. They soothed the |
animal by pattipg him and uttcring en-.
couraging words, and led him to dis
tant portion Of the room, between two
posts. They dropped the end of the
rope through hole in tile floor, and
then Heindl said: ...
"Let Us now agree just how to pro-
eeed. First, am to go below and draw
the ox's head to the floor and secure it
fast. You are to reu1aiu here. with
this end OF the rope in your hands, to
help me if lie struggles too bard. Aft
er he is fastened I will return, aud then
we will get out his snakeship, You
mustn't be ,squesmish about handling
him, for all depends on rromptness =
Grasp him firmly about the neck and
he cannot harm you. I will operate
with the knife and the tube, and fo:;cc J
the fluid from the snake into the OK.
Then the snake must be boxed up
again, and the OK led out and conveyed
to tho woods yonder. I know a secret
spot where will not be seen. We will
come day after day and observe him.
Don't you see what q glorious test it
will be 2" .-5.'-. +. =. -
eyes, I.see,"' replied Clarke, pale to
the very lips. n..
"Don't it thrill your soul with joy p
demanded Helndl, fercely s'Eisn't it
grand beyond measure 2"
"Yes, yes! assented Clarke.
,"But," whispered Heindl, loudly and
harshly, "wouldn't it be infinitely more
glorious if either the snake or the bull
aoere man :" <..': f..
He smiled at Clarke with an eager,
impish lcer, as the latter stood shiver-
ing, and then hastcned away with a
Wild laugh. He went to the other end
Of the room and disappeared through a
back door,
[ now turned my attention to the OK,
who was glancing about with apprebep-
sion and with wild.looking eyes. He
smclt rischief, and paved the floor
and blew great puffs of wind from bis
nostrils. Suddenly there was a noise
below, and the rope began to tighten.
The aoimal moved and tried to free
himself. He endeavored to-, toss his
head but it was held fast. He sc.am-
bled aud struggled with his, feet, and
looked up with piteous rage as his
head was drawn rcsistlessly to the floor.
Despite his struggles, he was soon pow
erless, and after few impotent plungef
ceased making efforts to e1tricate him.
self: But his eyes rolled feareully, and
told Of latent strength, that, when once
exerted, would make havoc and conster
nation round about. Heindl had doue
his work without needing Clarke's as
sistance, and I now watched for his re-
turn. Several minutes elapsed without
his appearing. wondered at his pro
longed absence, and also began to think
that my. long tramp was to turn out {
FOOLS errand for if Heindps iotcn ,ions
related only to the serpent and the OK
as his conversation with Clarke indicat
ed, then my fears would be proven tt
be groundless. I even smiled to my.
self as I thought how much trouble
had taken on account of simple dream
only to find myself the victim of dis
ordered fancy and morbid dread o
something that existed only in my Owl
mind.
| Then came a desire to witness tn,
strange experiment Of Heiudl, and I re
gretted that I had concealed myself il
the closet, as he might have intended
only to invite ME t. accompany hin
and Clarke on their midnight expedi
tion. ALL could do, however, was. t
observe what l could from the poin
where I had stationed myself, as t.
enter would involve tho necessity q
explaining my presence, to do which i
a satisfactory manner would be YER
difficult. @'''7s'' >'.'s
In the midst Of these thoughts I va
rather startled at seeing a figure movin
stealthily toward Clarke from 4 diret
ton different from that in which Heind
had disappeared. The figure crouche
on its hands and knees and moved Wit
the utmost caution. " II :, : ",
/ Clarke was standing with QUE foot o
the box containing the serpent, watcl
ing the bull. He was patiently avail
ing Heindps return.
Hooked closely at the moving figure
It approached a spot where the ray
from the lantern fell. My heart bound
ed nearly to my throat as I recognize
Heindl, crawling along the floor, hold
ing rope between his teeth, and hi
eyes fastened on Clarke with a hungr
glare! This was new phase Of tn
affair. What was going to happen
This question, which I asked mental,
received speedy answer. Ia