The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-05-06
ans lookips serpent coiled upon her

forth with lightning rapidity in its
half-opened mouth.
The body was of a dark color, and
had the appearance Of being covered
all over with slimy-looking spots of
scales. Under the throat were two
stringy APPENDICES like miniature
hammocks to that part of the crea-
ture, and adding to the uncouth as
pect of the reptile.
Sylveen had heard descriptions
enough Of this fearful pest of India
to realize at a glance, that her terri
bic visitor was the terrible cobra de
eapello-onc of the most venemous of
the serpent tribe.
What could she do?
The. slightest cry-thc feeblest
movement on her part would insure
her destruction.
The creature had its gaze upon her,
and the moment she would stir it
would doubtless. thrust its horrible
head against her face or neck, and
make her feel the fatal bite Of its
poisonous fangs.
Scarcely daring to breath, she lay,
keeping even her cyclids steady,
while a cold perspiration bathed her
brow, andher heart beat fast and loud
with a wild terror that almost de-
prived 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 pcrilous position.
Would they never come? Vainly
she listened for herfather's approach
ing footsteps. Several times she saw
his shadow across the threshold of
the tent, and once she behold his arm,
but he did not enter.
Suddenly the serpent elevated its
head higher than before. The beat
ing of her hsart, the heaving of her
breast, which she could not suppress,
had probably aroused the creature to
action.
Slowly the head was thrust for
ward, then its Shiny touch was on
her fesh-h lag nestled on her nhdc
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 Hindoo guides were soon at, his
side.
They looked hopelessly at their
mnskets and their knives. They
could neither cut nor shoot the SER
pent, lying so closely against the
girl, without MORALLY wounding her.
For them to attempt to seize the
creature with their hands must also
prove fatal to the young woman.
The moment they touched it, 1t
would bite her throat.
What was to be done? How was
the serpent to be removed?
Not one of them could think ofany
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 behold Sylveen's
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 SER
pcnt nesting upon it, was distinct
ly revealed.
Henry raised his left arm, as a
sign to the party to make no noise.
With his right he drew his pistol.
"Hold!' whispered the captain,
Selling bis wrist. 'If you fire at
the serpent YOU will kill my child"'
twill save her" answered Melton.
"NIy God ! cannot risk it! Your
bullet will fail-it must fail, with
the serpent right on herr. ............,
"Have no fear, sir" answered Mel
ton calmly.
He looked so confident that the
captain, who had heard that he was
a "crack shot" from some of the mid
shipmen aboard, let so of his wrist.