The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-03-01
Tbe Gin1es, Netp BLOOMFIELD, ]Da.

aid could reach me, the folds Of the mon
ster would have crushed my strong frame
into quivcring pulp. [ felt seemingly
caught in a whirlwind of dust, and a
strange indescrbable scuffle ensued.
In the midst of this strife l suddenly
became conscious Of the presence Of
second victim, and even after the time
that has elapsed since them [ still recol-
lect with what vividness the thought
shot across my mind, that this second
victim was Capt. Grant, my noble COM
panion. At last, after being whirled
about for several seconds, each second
seeming to be interminable, there ensued
lull, stiffness as of death, and / open
ed my eyes, expecting to look upon those
unexplored landscapes which are seen on
ly in the country beyond the tomb. In
stead of that, | saw Captain Grant level
ing his rifle towards me, while standing
beside him were the blacks, in every con-
ceivable attitude Of the most intense sus-
pense.
But in a moment comprehended all.
The huge serpent had struck a young
buffalo cow, between him and which l
had unluckily placed myself at the mo-
ment of firing. A most singular good
fortune had attended me, however, for
instead of being crushed into a nangled
mass with the unfortunate COW, my fore
arm only had been caught in between the
budalo's body and a single fold Of the
constructor.
The limb laid just in front of the shoul-
der, at the root of the neck and thus
had a soft bed of flesh into which it was
jammed, as it were by the immense pres
sure of the serpents body, so that it was
like iron in harness.
AS saw Grant about to shoot, terror
possessed me, for if he refrained l might
possibly escape after the boa released his
folds from the dead cow But should he
fire and strike the reptile it would in its
convulsions crush or drag me to pieces
Even as this idea came to me, l beheld
Grant pause. He appeared to compre
hend all. He could see how [ was
situated, that L was still living, and that
my delivery depended on the will of the
constructor. We could see every line or
each others face, so close were we, and ]
would have shouted or spoken, or even
whispered to him, had dared. But the
boas head was reared within few inch
es of mine, and the wink of an eyelid
would perhaps settle my doom SO L star
ed-stared like dead man, at Grant anc
the blacks.
Presently the serpent began very grad.
ually to relax his folds, and after tighten
ing them several times, as the crushed
buffalo quivered, he unwound one folG
entirely. Thus he paused. The mex
iron-like band was the one that held me
prisoner; as I felt it little by little unclasp
ing, my heart still with hope and fear.
"Oh, how hardly, how desperately
struggled to command myself! IglanceC
at Grant, and saw him handling his rife
anxiously. glanced at the serpent's
loathsome head, and saw its bright deadly
eyes, watching for the last signs of life il
its prey Now, then, the reptile looseneC
its fold on my arm hairs breadth, and
now little more, until half an inch sepa
rated my arm from it's mottled skin. The
second fold was removed entirely, and the
next was easing. Should [ dash away
now, or wait more favorable moment
decided upon the former; and witt
lightning speed, I bounded away towarG
Grant, the crack Of whose piece | hearC
at the instant
For the first time in my life, I was thor
oughly overcome; and sinking down,
remained in simi-conscious state severa
hours. When | fully recovered, Grant
and the overjoyed negroes held me up
and pointed out the boa, who was still
writhing in its death agonies. l shud
dered as | looked upon the effects of his
tremendous dying strength. For yards
around where he lay, the grass, bushes
and saplings and everything except the
more fully grown trees, were cut clean of
as though they had been trimmed with +
scythe.
This monster measured fifty-one fee
two inches and half in extreme length
while round the thickest portion Of it,
BODY the girth was nearly three feet =