The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-10-13

dwelt some of Mr.. Forster's hired men,
but I should not be able to procure what
sought, save from the planters house.
At another time 1 should not have will
ingly trespassed 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 milk-thorn hedge, the i'm
penetrable thorns of which are often
useful in keeping out leopard and jackal,
which surrounded the planters home
stead, and, passing through an open
gate, 1 entered the compound. The
first servant that I met, and who lifted
his hand to his snow-white turban with
a polite "Salaam |" and smile that
showed the white teeth between his
bearded lips, was a man whom / knew, a
Mahratta groom, who had formerly been
in my fathers service, and whose child
I had nursed through an attack of the
Ceylon fever.
"Lall Singh |" 1 gasped out, painting
for breath, "do me kindness for the
sake of old bread and salt. Get me
some fresh milk quickly, for the love of
God, but ask no questions-bhai
Something in my tone impressed the
Mahratta, for without word he hurried
off and soon returned, bearing a jar of
milk and a drinking vessel, or lota,
which would contain something less
than pint, and which, at sign from
me, he filled with milk. This very act,
slight as it may seem, was no small COM
pliment, for it was, doubtless, his own
drinking cup that Lall Singh was giving
me, and should any lip not belonging to
one of pure Hindu descent touch its
FURNISHED rim, it would hereafter ke un-
fit for use. However, scarcely waited
to utter word of thanks, but snatched
up the brass lota and darted out.
1t may be thought singular that I had
not given the alarm to the household
at Mr.. FCrster's plantation but had
resolved that would not, if could do
my errand unquestioned, create aturmoil
which might bring about the very evil
against which l was striving. Oswald's 8
mother and sisters loved him, but their
nerves were not of the strongest, and
their outcries, had they heard the news,
would have had the effect of summoning
score of servants and coolies, and to
seal Oswald's fate by sending a posse
of volunteers to the place where he lay
at the snakes mercy.
As if on winged feet, yet carrying the
precious draught of milk with jealous
care hurried back to the spot where, at
tine foot ef the huge talipot tree, lay Os-
valid, yet asleep. The snake, however,
as though uneasy, was beginning to
stir. It's monstrous head wagged slowly
from side to side among the white wild
flowers, and its slender tongue pro-
truded from between its grim jaws.
But was in time, and, as / poured the
milk, OF rather a portion of 1t, on the
ground, so that a long trail should lead
to the spot where set down the brass
drinking cup, with what of its contents
remained, was careful to avoid, by any
abrupt gesture, incensing the tic
palunga.
Then came a minute or two of ago
nized expectancy, and then, to my great
Joy, l saw the reptile slowly uncol him
self, evidently making for the milk.
First. one wreath and then another OF
the snakes timber was untwined, and
the great serpent, brushing through the
forest grass and howerets, stopped its
broad head to drink. AS / saw Oswald
thus freed, and the unsupported foe
draw farther and farther away from the
place where he reposed, I felt the
strength which had hitherto supported
me become weakness. My nerves being
no longer braced by the sense of Os
wald's mortal peril, the instructive terror
and disgust which 1 had from childhood
Felt for the serpent tribe overpoweret
me, and 1 grew giddy and weak, ane
could scarcely stand and scarcely see.
What was this before my dim eyes
The well-known porch of the Dutcl
colonist's summer-house, overgrown b,
trailing creepers, and all but choked b,
tall weeds. Mechanically 1 entered, ant
sinking down ON moldering woodel
seat, once decked with silken cushion
and gold leaf, L gradually regained Tia
physical strength which had deserte,
me, and with it the capacity for thought
It is curious how. in such cases of ex
treme exhaustion, the benumbed DlinI
slowly resumes some train Of abandone,
thought, and thus it was with me. B.
degrees remembered Oswald's danger
my own efforts to save him, and
What was that rustling among tn
stems, and leaves, and buds of the iuxu
rious plants that festooned the shattere'
windows of the summer-house, in a
the rank profusion of their tropics
growth2 Surely-surely not the rip
pling, undulating motion with which
huge snake drags himself through tn
brake and jungle grass Yes; my fear
were but too true, for there in the ope
window space-the broken trellis-wor
of which had been replaced by viii
vines and dangling orchids-appeared
at height of six or seven feet aboy
the ground, the hideous head of th
serpent that had lately menaced Oswald
and now confronted me.
And then it flashed upon me that th
deserted kiosk was probably the rel
tiles actual home, and that, as thong
in the very irony of terror, 1 had vel
tured to intrude into the lair of the te
rible creature, from the sight of whic
/ had-once that Oswald's safety SCENE
assured-reeled dizzily away. / ha
often heard of the strange taste whic
snakes evince for an abandoned huma
dwelling, and how frequently they haui
the outbuildings of Europeans abode