The Worthington advance., 1876-05-25
OUR ONLY SNAKE.
A Tale Of the Nauritius.

OUk ONLY SNAKE.
A Tale of the Nauritius.
We were party of four, made up of
our host, old DR.. Fairbairn; younp
thompson, assistant surgeon of the
-.th, quartered at Mahibourg; Cap.
tain Blogg, of the same distinguished
corps; and myself. We sat in the We.
randa after dinner, smoking and halt
doing, when the doctor suddenly said
to his brother professional "By the
way, Thompson, had fine specimen
OF the cobra de capel!o, given me to.
day by the skipper of the vessel that
arrived with coolies from Madras
"Ah, really. You must let me see
him.
''And what may that he you're talk.
ing about, Doctor!'' said Captain
Blogg, as q sound like the booming OF
cannon ceased in the corner at which
he was seated, for he was a heavy
sleeper.
"a species of snake,'' replied DR..
Fairbairn.
"A cobra, did you say The deuce
and all! A snake here! A live one,
Il you mean!''
The Doctor nodded.
"Well, now, I've always maintained
that it there was one redeeming point
about this precious island that point
was the absence Of snakes. Another
illusion destroyed. Mauritius, I give
thee up!''
"Bnt. Blogg, one snake can't make a
colony, you know
III
about snakes.''
''The species is very yenomous. I've
heard, Doctor" squeaked in shrill
treble the assistant surgeon, who was
IN earnest young man and artlently de-
voted to his profession. He had 4.
nervous cough and wore spectacles.
II believe you. You should have
seen the creole at the Custom House
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 trink.
cts and filigree-work, I expect, for the
box. passed without further inspec-
tion.''
''And do you mean to say that this
venomous reptile is under the same
roof with us, and only q bit of glass
between lis and it!'' and Captain
Blogg appeared disquieted.
''True, o King! But the glass is
very thick, and-''
Smash! There was cry and scuf-
fling of feet.
''Lu: fin alle-lui fin sauve, m 'sieu!'
cried a servant, running in with af.
frighted looks.
Malabar -
':Pamboo, Sahib.'' cried an Indian
servant.
SHOW did it happen, cretin =
''Mei n'a-pas connais, m'sieu. LIE
pitt gOkhra lui casse--'
'Oh no doubt. Of course, it was
the gokhra that did it lll, and you lazy
wretches arc rs innocenta rs doves. Be
off 1t once. Search the house, and if
you find it kill it ut once, d'you
hear!''
''Oui, oui, kill him, kill him, say !''
shouted Captain Blogg as the fellow
disappeared. "'Pon my word the idea
of a snake or gokhra, rs the fellow
calls it, makes me quite nervous
swell, your all right any way, BlOgg,
for they've made your bed up in the
pavilion tonight. If the thing gets
out of the house at all you may be
sure he's had enough close confne'
ment and will be off for the jungle at
the back, or down to the river at his
first chance
':Yes my theory is that in his pres.
ent famished condition he should first
make direct for your hen.house--''
''Oh hang your theories! You look
rs wise as an owl, Thompson, tut you
ain't rs cunning rs serpant. My
piece Of mind has gone for the pres
ent."
swell, my wife will give you cup
of tea to restore it, said the Doctor,
and he went into the drawing-room.
Captain BlOgg, though generally a
very entertaining person-n0t so much
from wit in himself as from being the
''cause of wit in others''-was by nc
means an amusing companion during
this evening. He planted himself care
fully in the middle Of the room, on the
stiftest and most uncomfortable chair
he could find, avoiding cushions or an
timacassars or anything that might
harbOr an unwelcome intruder.
At whilst he revoked, trumpel his
partners trick, and paid no Iced to
the common rules of the game-errors
which, when committed by others, he
was wont to declaim with all the au
thority of q member Of the Portland
1t was a relief to everybody wher
the time came to retire to rest; and
Captain Blogg and betook ourselve.
to the pavilion, wooden erection
apart from the house, and divided in
to two compartments, which served
for sleeping.rooms when the house wa
full. nj, -. s2 s,s,.,- =.
The night was oppressively hot, AMI
sat for some time in the pavilion yer
! andah whora darkness nrOVed some