Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-24
w hipptng a snake.

"The next day we went on up the valley OF
the Ichurlsh, crossed the dividing ridge which
marks Its head springs, and thence d5s3en1el
upon a wide desert steppe, intersectei by sterile
rocky ridges, which, like great sea-WaYes, sac.
ceeded each other for more than fifty vests.
"On these bare ridges we began t. see
seTpents. They Rlided away from before US wish
angry h'sses. They were OF several varieties.
lie hrst we saw were of slatey- grey color $40
or three feet loOg, and rather slugg.sh [ do not
think that these were poisonous. The horses
did not shy from them as they often do from
yenOmous snakes. We trOd many under foot.
But on one of the succeeding ridges We fell in
tban yard in length, and very active. These,
however, ran swiftly away at our approach.
Farther on, different and very beautiful
species began TO rear their heads and HAS at our
approach. They were Of pale green hue, cloud-
ed with black and had deep crimson spors on
their sides. They were as large as the black
variety, but not nearly so active. The horses
SHE'D slightly from these. Nevertheless, we
made our way without hindrance, till on coming
TO the foot OF an unusual high and stony ridge
my hoTse suddenly stopped short, snorting
violently. In second l saw tue cause OF It's
alarm. On rock, half dozen yards away, a
much larger serpent lay cOiled. 1t had seen US.
Slowly ltraissd its head foot or more. Its eyes
were red, like live Goals. Its tongue plave sui
1t began TO hiss furi01slY. The COSs acks shout
ed to warn me that its bite was sure death.
They knew 1t well and dared not 90 near it. [
feared lest it might strike the legs OF tue horses
and drawing one Of my pistols fred at its mock
but missed It. was about to draw my other
down from his horse, stole past my side, whip in
hand.
'''I will soon Kill it, BARN, he said.
"His air was so confident determined TO let
him Try. His whip was of the fashion in use WITH
Tartar teamsters,-a heavy, ashen stock, 10
which is fastened long lash, or throng, OF
leather. Carefully measuring the distance
with his eye, the boy whirled the whip around
his head il circle, then struck out at tina hiss
ing reptile. The thong snapped almost as loud
iy as the pistol shot as the tip of it fell on the
snakes crest causing il to fall at full length of
the rock. Bat it was only stunned. Before il
could recover itself, however, TchumpIn took
up stone, and throwing ii, made SO deft cast
as 70 nearly sever its head from its body. Two
of the COss4cks, who had dismounted, now as
sisted him To flush the reptile. On stretching
out thisserpents body found il to measure an
inch over two yards in length, and it, body was
rather thick in proportion. IL had two yeno-
nous faDgs. Its color was deep brown, with
red and green spangles on its sides. have since
learned that the celebrated cobra of India is not
more fatal in its bite than this parti-colored
serpent of the steppes.
"Atter this adventure, Tchumpin went ahead
with his whip for several versts, aud killed sew
eTal serpents or the same species, but none 90
large as the frst-FT0m "Tchumpin," by C.. A.
Stephens. st. Nicholas for NOUemJer.