Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-05-27

all over with slimy-looking spots OF
scales. Under the throat were two
stringy appendages like miniature
hammocks to that part of the creature,
and adding to the uneouth aspect Of
the reptile.
Sylvecn had heard descriptions
enough of this fearful pest of India to
realize at glance, that her terrible
visitor was the terrible cobra de capezlo
-one of the most venomous Of the
serpent tribe.
What could she do?
The slightest cry-the feeblest meye-
ment on her part would insure her de
struction.
The creature had its gaze upon her
and the moment she should stir it
would doubtless thrust its horrible head
against her or feel the fatal bite of its
poisonous fangs.
Scarcely daring to breathe, she lay,
keeping even her eyelids steady, while
cold perspiration bathed her brow
and her heart beat fast and loud with
a wild terror that almost deprived her
! of consciousness.
Meanwhile, outside the tent, she
could hear the voices of her father and
the guides, as they moved to and fro,
ignorant of her perilous position.
Would they never come? Vainly
she listened for her fathers approach
ing footsteps. Several 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 elevated its
head higher than before. The beat
ing of her heart, the heaving of her
, breast, which she could not suppress,
had probably aroused the creature to
action.
Slowly the head was thrust forward,
then its Shiny touch was On her flesh
1t log nestled on her aohite throat ? In a
few moments she would probably feel
its 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
involuntary cry escaped him. The
Hfndoo guides were soon at his side.
They looked hopelessly at their muss
kets and their knives. They could
neither cut nor shoot the serpent,
lying SO closely against the girl, with
out MORALLY wounding her.
For them to attempt to seize the
creature with their hands must also
prove fataLto the young woman. The
moment they touched it, it would bite
her throat.
What was to be done? How was
the serpent to to be removed.
Not one of them could think of any
plan, and the old captain wrung his
hands in silent agony believing that
the fate of his child was sealed.
Suddenly Henry Melton made his
appearance at the door of the tent
The guides and the captain, in their
trepidation and alarm, had forgotten
him. He might have escaped, had he
SO wished.
The moment he beheld Sylveen' 5
situation, his eyes cleaned with a cold
steady glitter. The girl lay on her
back, her right side toward the door
Of the tent. In this position her throat
with the head of the serpent nesting
upon it, was distinctly revealed.
Henry raised his left arm, as sign
to the party to make no noise. With
his right he drew his pistol
"Hold!" whispered the captain, seiz
ing his wrist. If you fire at the SER
pent you will kill my child!'
Il will save her, answered Melton.
"My God! I cannot risk it! Your
bullet will fail 1T must fail, with the
serpent right on har?"
"Have no tear, sir" answered Mel
ton calmly.
He looked so confident that the cap
tam, who had heard that he was a
"crack shot" from some of the mid
shipmen aboard, let go of his wrist,
Then kneeling, Henry leveled his
pistol straight at the serpent's head,
which still rested on the girls throat
There was moment of fearful sus-
pense. The guides soook their heads
solemnly, believing that the yeung wo-
mans doom was sealed; and the cap
tain was about Selling Henry's arm
again when fiery streak of fame
leaped from the pistol, followed by a
sharp, ringing peall
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 grazed the throat of Syls
yeen!
{ He has saved you!' cried the old
captain, straining the girl to his bosom.
eyes, papa! Oh, papa, now save
L.: