The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-11-22


SONS, appeared what might have beer
easily mistaken for floating log, but
which l knew TO he an alligator drowsily
basking in the glad sunshine.
The hsavy heat seemed to render ex
ertlon even for natives difficult, for
saw no fisher as usual padding his light
canoe, or preparing his tough nets of co
coanut fibre. And the very Cingalese
Woodeutters had deserted their work,
| leaving behind them great heap Of hewn
timber, in front OF which, imbedded in
the spongy wood of 4 cypress, four or five
! short, bright axes remain sticking. Some
| few PAGES from this heap was the runous
summer house, and beyond it there lowered
aioft the giant taiipot tree with its vast
/ serrated leaves. that serve the Cingalese
for sail and thatch, and screen, beneath
which Oswald and | were accustomed to
meet.
To my surprise, and perhaps chagrin. |
did not at first see him for whom looked
| and began to fear that he had forgotten
to keep his wonted tryst; but, on draw
ing nearer, l beheld a sight that for the
| moment froze my very veins with horror,
and caused the cry of anguish that rose
upon my lips to die away Oswald
}ing on the turf among the roots of the
gigantic palm tree-seemed to be asleep,
overcome, probably, by the unusual heat,
around him was loosely coied something
that resembled stout rope, curiouslv
streaked with black and orange aud
understanding that caused the with
cred leaves and crisp grass to rustic as it
stirred.
| had never seen a living tic palunga,
but l knew at the first glance that the
snake before my eyes was no other than
large specimen of that dreaded reptile
which in Ceylon takes the position that
in Continental India belongs to the cobra,
and for the bite Of which there is no
known remedy. Twice within the last
three years, leborers on my fathers plan
tation had been brought in dying from
the venom of the tic pa!unga, but in each
instance the skill OF the native snake
charmer had led to the capture Of the
reptile, and it WAS not believed that any
of this specie bad been left alive in our
immediate neighborhood. This, however,
was unquestionably tic.palunga many
feet long, and it had wrapped its coils,
as though in hideous sport, around
Oswald's limbs as he lay there uncon-
scious
The great, fat head of the enormous
snake rested on the ground among the
flowers and ferns. | could see its eyes,
bright as jewels, fixed upon me. 1t
showed for the moment, however, no
particular signs of anger or distrust, but
oontented itself by quietly contemplating
the intruder on its haunts. As | stood
gazing on my sleeping lover, and ihe
monstrous creature that lay wakeful but
quIescent SO near to him, all the stories
of snakes that l had ever heard or read
came crowding in upon my quickened
memory. l knew that the tic-palunga,
in common with the most venomous va
rietie5 of its race, seldom employed its
poison fan9s unless when attacked CT
annoyed. But | also knew that the
hardest elephant hunter OF the forest
would sooner confront the charge Of
herd of incensed tuskers that face the
lance-like dart and rancorous bite Of this
dread denizen of the JUNGLE.
The tic-palunga, unlike the boa, and
the python, rarely, II ever, preys upon
the larger animals, such as deer or cattle,
confnIng its diet for the most part to
birds, and frogs, and lizlrds. Some cap
rice most likely had caused it to Irvine
part Of It's supple convolu!ions around
Oswald as he lay, and, 50 long as he re,
manned asleep and moIioniess, there was
little probability that the serpent would
harm him. My great fear was lest he
should awake, and, in awaking, by some
hasty movement arouse the ire of the
resi- ,less foe. Oswald was brave and
strong, but it was a mockery TO speak of
courag, when SO terrible an antagonist
was in question.
suddenly, as if it had been a whisper
from heayen there came to my mind
thought that promised hope, even in that
dire extremity OF need. | had often seen
harmless sn ,kes kept tame in colonial
households, and was aware of their hab
its, aud of their love for certain kinds of
food, and, above all for milk. Could | but
bring to that spot supply Of milk, and
place it before Oswald should awake,
tempting'Y near to the tic-Palunga, all
MIGHT vet be we'll And vet to desert
hini-po5r fellow such terrible com
pany, seemed cruel; yet it was for his
sake, and [ felt that l must 90. Very
slowly, then, least my footsteps should
disturb the sleeper, or irritate the huge
reptile that Kept watch beside him, |
stole away, and, whom at a safe distance,
flew, rather than ran, along the forest
path.
The nearest European dwelling was
Oswald's own home. There were Gin
gaIesese huts nearer, no doubt, where
dwelt some Of Mr.. Forsters hired men
but / should no. be able 70 procure what
l sought save from the planters house
At another time l should not have
willingly trepassed on the domains of Os-
wald's father but this was no occasion
for scruple or punctilio Life and death,
as knew, depended on my speed.
There, at length, rose up before me the
milkthorn hedge, the impenetrable thorn,
which are often useful in keeping out
leopard and jacLal, which surrounded
the planters homestead and. passing
through an open gate, | entered the com
pound. The first servant that | met, md
who lifted his hand to his snow-white
turban with a polite "salaam" and
smile that sho we'd the white teeth between
his bearded lips, gas a man whom knew
"a Mahratta groom, who had formerly
been in my farther's service, and whose
child had nursed through an attack of
the Ceylon fever.
"Lall Singh" gasped out, painting
for breath, "do me a service for the sake
of old bread and salt. Get me some
fresh milk quickly, Ter the loYe Of God,
but ask no QUESTIONS bhai r
Something, IN my tone impressed the
Mahratta, fer without word he hurried
of and soon returned, bearing jar of
would contain something less than pint,
and which, at a sign from me, he filled
with milk. This very act, slight as it
NAV xem, was no small compliment, for
lnnhaIo-- hir nu.r dnirah inn nnrn