Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-02-28
In the Folds OF a Boa.
DY cAPrAIN DRU1v ADAMS.


Bruin boyee," said uncle Grizzly Adams
to me, one night as we lay out in the prairie
looking up at the stars, " want yer to tell
me bout that big sarpint KEN so nigh putin
out your chunk, while yur war down in thet
cussed kentry whar the reptiles grows"
As the old trapper spoke, his words recall.
ing one Of the most dangerous as well as the
most horrible adventures Of my life, felt an
involuntary shudder pervade my entire frame.
1t had been an unusually hot day, even for
the latitude-Central America-one of those
days when it requires an absolute effort to
move, much less work
Such being the case the chain and compass
were laid by and all hands sought such di-
version as best suited their iancies.
Tom Didlake suggested an hour or so on
the river, where, beneath the interlacing
boughs overhead, that completely shut out
the rays of the sun, we might find degree
of GOODNESS not to be hoped for on land.
The idea suited, and in few minutes we
were in the broad-botom scow, which we
pushed out into the sluggish current, if cur
rent it could be called, aud permitted to drift
as it saw proper.
The change was not much for the better,
tnougu We ulo fancy 'hat once IN Whlie
ia'n' pun V' a'r came s'eaiing up from pelow'
ana win 'ne u9'uslon we were SATISFIED. How
lonS VIC hoaleu 'hus know not
/ | remember seeing, as though in dream,
Didlake drop back against the stern.sheets,
fast asleep, and then | must instantly have
followed his example, for recollect nothing
more ior some time' until awakened suddenly,
auu iu manner iar from agreeable
Inc nrst sensation on returning or par.
tlally returning 10 CONSEQUENCES was that oil
oppression almost oil suhocaton'
lhe very ar Dreamed seemed thick with
some subtle tnougn ieariuny offensive odor'
In VAN trieo 70 snake oil the nightmare
Tor rs sueh l supposed Il TO be-
inc WSisn' upon my ehost grew heavier
my Dreatn came ana went In iaDored gasps
IN WoTd' 1 ielt taat was Smotherlng' ana
WIN desperate ehort' gave violent START
arose 10 se'ting posture ana opened my
eyes upon scene tnat certainly won't iade
'roIn III, l'elnory very sUon'
inc SEQ" nau urii'eu INTO suote' ana louged
against 'no Prolec''ng root oil large ree' tne
branches OF wh'eh hung uown almost touch-
'ng ,ue water
asleep, anu oV'1en'ly sunerlng as nad uone'
between US us'cenulng from anna tne ,nlck
ooughs oVeihead' was 'ne long piiaht poay OF
huge serpent ms great nat nead, with ITS
wlue Jaws, glistenlng lanss' ana terrible prignt
eyes osc'i'e''ng pacA"arG anu iorwaru' wi.nih
TWO Ioet oi my iace' anu seemingly unueter,
'hlheu Whioh OF tue TWO Victims ne woulu
strike
NY sudden movement decided nm
/ saw Inc oody grow rigId as it swung
PACK lor tue dow 'he jaws new sun wider
apart a Missing accompanied with an IN
crease OIL tho horrid odor, ana tnen, as l IN
stinctiVely threw forward the paddle heid as
shield | snut my eyes ana walted'
instead oil 'he deadly sweep oi tue reptiie'
heard sharp f'odag'Hg SOUND rom Tue shore'
the mss oi an arrow as IL cut close 70 my ear
ana the tnud oil the missile as 1t buried us
hinty head a,nia 'ne scales 'nat covered 'ne