The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-06-03
OUR ONLY SNAKE.
A TALE OF THE MAURITIUs.

OUR ONLY SNAKE.
A TALE OF THE MAURITIUs.
We we're party of four, made up o
our host, old DR.. Fairbairn, youn.
Thompson, assistant surgeon of the-th
CHARTERED at Mahibourg, Capt. Blogg
of the same distinguished corps, and my
self. We sat in the veranda after din
ner, smoking and half doing, when the
doctor suddenly said to his brother pro
fessional: "By the way, Thompson,
had fine specimen of the cobra da ca
pello given me to-day by the skipper Of
the vessel that arrived with coolies from
Madras"
"Ah, really. You must let me set
him."
"And what may that be you're talk
ing about, doctor?" said Capt. Blogg, a.
sound like the booming of a cannon
ceased in the corner at which he was
seated, for ne was heavy sleeper.
"a species of SNAKE" replied DR..
Fairbairn. .
GA cobra, did you say? The deuce
and all A snake herel-a live one,
d'you mean7n
The doctor nodded.
"Well, now, I've always maintained
that if there was one redeeming point
about this precious island, that point
was the absence of snakes. Another il
fusion destroyed! Mauritius, give
thee up!"
"But, Blogg, one snake can't make a
colony, you know"
"I don't know. I'd believe anything
about snakes"
"The species is very venomous. I've
heard, DOCTOR" squeaked in a shrill treble
the assistant surgeon, who was an earnest
young man and ardently devoted to his
profession He had nervous cough and
wore spectacles.
az believe you. You should have
seen the creole at the custumhouse jump
as he opened the box in which the skipper
had carefully placed the glass case with
my specimen. 1t saved the skipper some
duty on trinkets and fligree-work, !
expect, for the box passed without fur
Their inspection"
"And do you mean to say that this
venomous reptile is under the same roof
with us, and only bit of glass between
us and it ?" and Captain Blogg appeared
disquieted.
"True, O king! But the glass is very
thick, and"
Smash! There was a cry and scuhaing
of feet.
"Lui fin alle-lui fin sauve, m'sieu p
cried servant, running in with affrighted
looks.
"Who's gone-who's escaped, ere Ma
labari %
Pamboo, Sahib," cried an Indian
servant.
How did it happen, cretin %
"Moi n'a-pas COMMAS, m'sieu. LIE pitt
gokhra lui Case"
ooh! no doubt. OF course, it was the
.gokhra that did it all, and you lazy
wretches are as innocent as doves. Be
off at once. Search the house, and if you
find it kill it at once, d'you hear?"
"Oui, oui, kill him, kill him, say 7''
shouted Captain Blogg as the fellow dis
appeared. "Pon nay word the idea of a
snake or gokhra, as that fellow calls it,
makes me quite nervous"
"Well, you're all right anyway, Blogg,
for they've made your bed up in the pa
vilion tonight. If the thing gets out Of
the house at all you may be sure he's
had enough close confinement and will
be off for the jungle at the back, or down
to the river at his first chance"
eyes; my theory is that in his pre-
sent famished condition he should first
make direct for your hen-house-"
sob, hang your theories! You look as
wise as an owl, Thompson, but you ain't
as cunning as a serpent. My peace Of
mind has gone for the present."
The night was oppressively hot and
I sat for some time in the pavilion
veranda, where darkness proved some
thing of shelter from the mos
quitoes with which the place abounded.
Blogg wouldn't sit up, and had gone
to his room at once. l was in the
middle of my second cheroot when an un.
earthly yell from the direction of Blogg's
room startled me, and in few seconds be
was standing before me, while he leaned
one hand on the back of my chair and
whispered in hoarse voice, "The snakel
Pm bitten! Quick; bring the doctor at
once" As he sunk into a chair 1 hast.
ened of, and having Weakened Fairbairn
and Thompson we were soon again at his
side, our hands full of restoratives, our
tongues full of inquiry. ooh, there's
no mistake about it" said poor Blogg.
81 heard the thing give hiss, and then
felt the bite. was half asleep, and had
thrown my leg over the side Of the bsd
Look here here's the mark" And be