Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1875-05-27


shot"
The tents were soon pitched
by some of the guides, who car.
ried canvas and blankets.
Though much fatigued, yer
Sylveen could not sleep fol
thinking of the prisoner.
His calm, handsome face
showing neither fear nor brava.
do, when her father had men.
toned his destined fate, haunted
her mind.
Through a crevice in the tent
she could see him standing COM
posed and cheerful-looking, out
there in the clear moonlight, a.
mongst his dusky guards.
At last the young girl dropped
to sleep. At dawn she was a.
wakened by a strange feeling
of oppression in her chest.
u
A thrill ofhorrorwent through
her frame. Motionless-speech-
less with fear she lay, at sight
of a hideous-looking serpent
coiled upon her breast!
The monster was about four
feet long, IFS folds wound up in
three rings, in the center of
which was it's head, slightly Gle
waited, its two glittering eyes
turned full upon hel" face, its
forked tongue moving back and
forth with lightning rapidity in
its half-opened mouth!
The body was of a dark col
or, and had the appearance of
being covered all over with Sill
my-looking spots Of scales.-
Under the throat were two
stringy appendages like minia-
ture hammocks to that part Of
the creature, and adding to the
uncouth aspect of the reptile.
Sylveen had heard descrip-
tions enough of this fearful pest
of India, to realize at glance,
that her terrible visitor was the
terrible cobra de capeUO-one of
the most venomous of the SER
pent tribe.
What could she do? s.
The slightest feeblest
on her part would in
sure her destruction.
The creature had its gaze up
on her, and the moment she
should stir it would doubtless
thrust its horrible head against
her face or neck and make her
feel the fatal bite Of its poison
Gus fangs!
Scarcely daring to breathe,
she lay, keeping even her eye
lids steady, while acold perspi-
ration bathed her brow, and her
heart would beat loud and fast
with wild terror that almost
deprived her Of consciousness.
Meanwhile, outside the tent
she could hear the voices of her
father and guides,as they moved
to and fro, ignorant Of her per-
ilous position.
Would they never Gomez
Vainly she listened for her faith
er's approaching footsteps. Sew
eral times she saw his shadow
across the threshold of the tent,
and once she beheld his arm;
but he did not enter.
Suddenly the serpent eleva-
ted its head higher than before.
The beating of her heart, the
heaving Of her breast, which she
could not suppress, had proba-
bly, reused the creature to ac-
ton.
Slowly the head was thrust
then its Shiny touch
was on her fiesh-it lag nestled
on her qchite throat! In a few
moments she would probably
feel it's horrid fangs.
Just then her father looked in
the tent. He saw. the serpent
at once-at once realized the
peril of his child. An lnvolun-
tary cry escaped him. The Hin
doc guides We're soon at his
side.
They looked hopelcssly at
their muskets and their knives.
They could neither cut or shoot
the serpent, lying so closely a
gainst the girl, without mortal
ly wounding her.
For them to attempt to seize
the creature with their hands
must also prove fatal to the
young woman. The moment
hey touched it, it would bite
her throat.
What was to be done? How
was the serpent to be removed?
Not one of them could think
Of any plan, and the old captain
wrung his hands in silent ago
ny, believing that the fate of