Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-09-16
A VISION OF SNAKES.
A Scene in a Tropical Valley.

I was wandering in valley, the light
of which was peculiar neither of night
nor day, but a green gloom through
water. And, as I wandered, saw SER
penis dangling from the trees, writhing
through the grass, burrowing in the
ground, floating on the Swallowed
ponds, or darling with wavy motion
across the scanty patches of sad glim-
mer made by the rare s1nbeams that
had filtered through the dense canopy
ing foliage and as [ glanced down
glade which sloped to sea lying sullen
beneath a sultry, clouded sky, a
huge sea-snake raised it's horrid head
before the leaden waters. [ trod on
serpents' eggs, from which, the instant
they awere crushed, fanged, kissing
jaws protruded, and 1.-THE, scaly forms
squirmed forth. The dusk was studded
with treacherous eyes; the forest was
roped with Shiny, swelling and collaps-
ing, variegated coils; distinctly even
in it's stagnant atmosphere could be de-
tected the strange odor of the valleys
sovereign tenents. [ sawa plumed war
rior steal up to one that was slumbering
in the grass. Heforked it to the ground,
slew, cooked, and ate it and put it's
skin upon his bow to insure the right
fight of his arrow. Then he went to
hunt the deer that at times might be
seen gliding through the jungle, as if
they feered to rustic it's heritage their
beautiful eyes glancing in dread at the
hideous eyes fercely Or stonily fixed
upon them.
He stalked stag until he was within
bow-shot of the splendid creature that
stood at gaze, with back thrown, many
tined antlers upon little mound. Just
as the hunter puts forth his foot to
draw the string, he heard hiss and
rattle. The snake that he had slain
was avenged. One of his fellows had
struck the slayer. His dusky face
turned pale. Hastily he bound his leg
tightly above and below the wound, and
sitting down sucked at it like child at
its mothers breast. But it seemed as
if he was going to sleep Like the babe.
He staggered up in alarm, gashed at
his wound with his knife, and then
tottered as fast as he was able back
to his fre-passing on his way hun
dreds Of the black-marked dealers of
death, with their devilish eyes and rat
tie tails-coiled up like 'siemished )"
lines, or stretched out as stiff as sticks
-sluggishly enjoying the hot sluggish
air. He bored friedrich into his
wound and once more tottered on. But
his steps grew feebler and feebler.
Again and again he put his flask to his
lips. The fre-water that would have
maddened him at another time had no
effect upon him now. Drowsily nod
ding, he fell to the ground, breathed
heavily, and went off into the sleep from
which there is no waking.
But I heard a noise of stunning,
humping, and piping on musical in
struments, and, following the sound,
came to an opening in which stood a
village in the midst of bamboos and
palms. The inhabitants were dark,
but OF q different type of countenance
from that of the red-skinned hunter.
wonder that any people could have
hxed their dwelling place in the midst
OF such valley of the shadow of death
but, what L saw soon made me marvel
more.
The music having ceased for while,
a magician spread gaily-embroidered
garment upon the ground before a cot
tage-wall, uttered words of incantation.
and ordered all snakes within TO come
forth. They wriggled forth in swarm
and were put in bags by the chief ma
gician's attendants. On 5his side and on