The Van Buren press., 1875-05-11


of the guides, who carried canvas and
! blankets
Though much fatigued yet Sylveen
could not sleep for thinking Of the pris-
oner
His calm, handsome face, showing nei
ther fear nor bradado, when her father
mentioned his destined fate. haunted he,
mind
Through a crcvice in the tent, she
could now see him standing composed
and cheerful looking. out there in the
clear moonlight, amongst his dusky
! guards.
At last the young girl dropped tc
sleep AT dawn she was awakened by Q
strange feeling of oppression in hei
chest.
A thrill of horror went through hel
frame Motionless, speechf ss~ ~ilA lea
she lay, at sight of hd@s ~ looking
serpent coiled upon her breast
The monster was about four feet long,
its folds wound up in three rings. in the
center Of which was its head, slightly ei-
eyated, its two glIttering eyes turned full
upon her face, its forked tongue moving
back and forth with lightning rapidity in
its half opened mouth
The body was dark color and had
the appearance of being covered all over
with Shiny looking spots Of scales. Tn
/ der the throat were two stringy appenda-
ges like miniature hammocks to that part
of the creature, and adding to the un-
aspect of the reptile
Sylveen had heard descriptions enough
of this pest of India, to realize, at a
glance, that her dreadful visitor was the
/ terrible cobra dc capeio--one Of the most
vencmous OF the serpent tribe What
could she do? The slightest cry--the
feebl,st move on her part would insure
! her destruction.
The creature had its gaze upon her, and
/ the moment she should stir, it doubtless
/ thrust its horrible head against her face
| or neck and make her feel the bite of its
/ poisonous fangs,
Scarcely daring to breathe, she lay,
! keeping even her eyellds steady, while a
cola perspiration bathed her brow, aSd
her heart beat lond and fast, with a wild
terror that almost deprived her Of con
sciousness
/ Meanwhile, outside Of the tent she
could hear the voices of her father and
/ the guides as they moved to and fro, ig-
noraut Of her perilous position.
Would they never come; Nsinly she
listened for her fathers approaching
/ footsteps Several times she saw bis
shadow across the threshold of the tent
and once she beEeld his arm; but he did
not enter.
Suddnly TIE serpent elevated its head
/ higher than before. The heating Of hen
rWeart, the hcaviug Of her breast, which
she could not suppress, had probably
reused the creature TO action.
Slowly the head was thrust forward
then its Shiny touch was on her flesh
it lay nestled on her white throat In q
few moments she would probably feel its
horrl fangs,
Just then her father looked in the tent
He saw the serpent at oncc--at once re-
allied the peril Of his child An invol-
untary cry escaped him The Hndoo
guides were soon Mt his side.
They looked hopelessly at their musk
cts and their knives. They could nci-
ther cut nor shoot the serpent, lying so
closely against the girl, without mortal
ly wounding her
For them to attempt te seize the crea
ture with their hands must also prove ia
tai to the young woman The moment
they 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 rung his hands
in silent agony, believing that the fate OF
his child was sealed
Suddenly Harry Melton made his ap.
pearance OF the door of the tent. The
guides and captain, in their trepidatiou
and alarm, had forgotten him He might
bave escaped, if he bad so wished
The moment he beheld Sylveen's stu.
alton, his eyes cleaned with cold and
steady glitter. The girl lay ON her back
her riuht side toward the door OF the
tent In this position her throat with the
head of the serpent nestled upon it, was
distinctly revealed
Henry raised his left arm as n sign to
the party to make no noise With his right
he drew his pistol
Hold ? whispered the captain, seizng
his wrist If you fire at the serpent,
you will kill my childo
Il will save herr answered Melton
My God, canuot risk it! Your
bullet will rail--it must fail with the ser
pcnt right on her!
Have no fear. sir answered Melton,
calmly.
He looked so confident that the captain
who had heard that he was q crack shot
from some Of the midshipmen on board,
let 60 his wrist.
Then kueelng Henry leveled bis pis
tol straight at the serpents head, which
still rested on the girls throat
There was a moment of fearful sus
pense The guides shook their heads
solemnly, believing that the young
woman's doom was sealed; and the cap.
tain was about seiziug Henry's am again
when fiery streak of flame leaped from
the pistol. followed 10y sharp, ringing
peal
Pale as death, the captain rushed to his
daughter. Henry smiled
The serpent lay dead on the ground,
its head crushed by the bullet, which
had not even gra2ed the throat of Syl.
veen.