The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-10-09

diate neighhCrlIoOd. 1ha, however,
wns nuqnestionahly tic pnlnrga, many
feet long, and it had wrapped its coils,
~ though in hideous sport, around o.,
wall's limbs ash lay there unconscious.
The great flat head of the euorm0np
snake rested on the ground among the
flowers and ferns. | could see its eyes,
bright as jewels, fixed upon me. II
showed, for the moment, however, nc
particular signs of anger or distrust, but
contentcd itself with quietly contcmplat.
ing the intruder on its hnunts. As ]
stood gazing on my sleeping lover and
tho monstrous creature that lay, wake.
ful, but quiescent, SO near to him, all
the stories OF snakes that I had ever
heard or read came crowding in upon my
quickened memory. l knew that tho tic
pAlungn, in common with most of the
venomous varieties Of its race, seldom
employed its poison fangs unless when
attacked or annoyed ; but I also knew
that tho hardest elephant hunter Of the
forests would sooner confront the charge
OF herd OF incenscd tuskers than face
the laucelike dart and rancorous bite OF
this dreaded dcnizen OF the Jingle.
Tue tic palunga, unlike the boa and
tho python, rarely, If ever, preys upon
tho larger animals, suchas deer or cattle,
coniiuing its diet, for the most part, to
birds and frogs and lizards. Some ca
price, most likely, had caused it to twino
a part Of its supple convolutious around
Oswald rs he lay, and 80 long as he re.
NAMED asleep md mOtiouless, there wn5
little probability shat the serpent wouId
harm hiEl. My great fear was lest he
should awake, and, III awaking, by some
hasty movement, arouse the ire of the
reSistless foe. Oswald was brave md
strong, but it was mockcry to speak OF
strength or courage when so terrible au
antagonist was in question.
Suddenly, rs il it bad been a whisper
from Heaven. there came into my mind
n thought TINT promised hope, even in
that dire extremity OF need. I Ind
often seen harmless snakes kept tame in
colonial households. and WIS awhro Of
their habits, and Of their love for Ger.
tain kinds OF food, and, above all, for
milk. Could l bnt bring to that spot
supply Of milk, and place ii, before Os.
wald should awake, temptirgly near to
the tic palunga, all might be well. And
yetto desert bim-poor fellow lin such
terrible company seemed cruel; yet it
was for his sake, and 1 felt that 1 must
go. Very slowly, then, lest my foot.
stops should disturb the sleeper or irri-
tate the huge reptile that kept witch be-
side him, | stole away, and when at a
rafe distance, flew rather than nn niong
the forest path.
The nearest European dwelling was
Oswald's own home. There wero Gu
Galese huts nearer. no donbt, where
twrlt some Of Mr.. Forster'S hired men.
hut I should not be able to procure
what sought save from the planters
house. At another time l SHOULD not
have willingly tresplssed on the domains
0f Oswald's father; but this WIS no oc-
t'asion for scrupls or punctili0. Life
and death, Us l knew, depended on my
speed.
There at length rose up before me the
milk thorn hedge, the imp"uctrable
thorns OF which are often useful in keep
ing out leopard and iackal, which sur.
rounded the plH tcr's homestead md
passing through IN open gate, I entered
The compound. The first servant that l
met, aud who lifted his hand to his tur-
han with polite "Salaam !" ard asmi!e
that showed the white teeth between
his bearded lips, was mnn whom l knew,
II Mahrntta groom, who hal formerly
been in my fathers service, and whose
child had Eursel through NJ attack OF
the Ceylon fever.
"Lill Singh" l gasred ont, painting
FOR breath, " do nc kindness for the
sukn OF old bread and salt. Get mo some
fresh milk quickly, Tor tho love Of God,
Int ask TO queStiOrs-hhai !!
Something iu my tone impressed the
Muhratta, for withOut word he hurried
oil, aud soon returned bearing jar Of
milk and drinking vessel, or lota,
which would contain something less than
q pint, and which, at n sign from me, he
filled with iik. This very net, slight
,,s it seems, was no small compliment,
for it WIS doubtless his own drinking
cnp that LsIl Singh was giving me, and
should any lip net belonging to ono OF
pure Hindu descent touch its FURNISHED
lin, it would hereafter lie unfit for use.
However, l scarcely waited to uttcr
word OF thanks, but snntchsd up the
brass lota aud darted ont.
IL may be thought singular thnt / had
not given tho alarm to the household ut
Mr. Folstcr's plantation; but l had re.
solved that | would not, il l could do
my e.rnud unQuestiOncd, create tur-
moil which might bring about tho very
evil agaiust which l was striving. Os-
waldS mother aud sisters loved him,
hut their nerves were not OF the strong.
ps., and their Ontcries, hnd they heard
the news, would have had the effect OF
summOuing score OF servants and
coolies, aud to seal Oswalds fate by
scntliug noisy posse OF volunteers to
the place where ho lay Mt the snakes
mercy.
As II on winged feet, yet carrying the
precious draught Of milk with jealous
care, l hurried back to the spot where,
at the foot Of the hugo talipot tree, lay
Oswald, yet asleep. The snake, how
ever, rs though uneasy, was beginning
to stir. Its monstrOus head wagged
slowly from sidc to side among the
whits wild flowers, and its slender
tongue protrutIed from between its grim