The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-21

parted, face colorless as marble, and
her long golden hair streaming behind
her. Close after glided the python
with all the sailors and the captain in
pursuit. The young man stood for a
moment stupefed with horror, and then
Joined in the chase. 1t was in vain that
the men armed with hatchets aud
knives, aimed blows at the tail; its mo-
4 tiOns were so rapid that 1t escaped their
strokes. The poor girl was only a few
steps in advance, with the reptile gain
ing on her every minute, when she
gathered all her strength, and, changing
her direction, fed to the forest, where
the serpent followed her, distanced for
the minute by the sudden alteration OF
her course.
The whole crew seemed to have lost
their heads entirely. They blundered
on headlong, tumhling over roots and
scrambling through bushes and bram-
| bles, instead OF avoiding them; 80 that
first one and then another was left be-
hind. West alone retained his SELF
possession. He was soon in advance OF
the others, armed with hatchet, which
he snatched from man he had passed,
apparently entanged hopelessly IN
some bramoles.
The poor girl, without thought save
OF distancing her pursuers, penetrated
| farther and farther into the recesses oil
the forest; but as she felt that exhaus-
ton must soon render her an easy prey,
alter crossing little open glade, she
took refuge in the hollow trunk of a tree
that presented itself as hiding-place,
and uttered one more piercing cry for
help, which reached the ears Of him for
whom 1t was intended
"Cnarley, save meV
He heard, and the words gave him re-
newed energy and courage. The rep.
tile flung its 1.-THE coils round the tree,
SO as to enclose poor Alice In its fold,
yet without toucning her. She clasped
her hands in an agony OF despair as ner
enemy, seeming 10 be aware it was
I'M possible lor her to escape, now turned
its attention to the lieutenant. It's eyes
glittering with cruel, steelY light, its
lorked tongue dartiug ouL,and quIVering
between its gasping Jaws-it presented
threatening and terrible aspect. The
captain and some of the others came
painting up. What was TO be done? 1t
was impossible to fire at the reptile, for
tear OF hurting the impris oned glrl. Ihey
tried to strike it with their hatchets ana
knives, bat it avoided their strokes, anu
threatened them with its iangs.
''My poor girl! !my poor girlw groaned
the captain. "oaVe ner, charley! Can
not you save her?'
Tue young man h had been driven to de-
spair ler moment, but the girPs white.
agoniZed face appealed to him dumbIy
and he reused himself to see that the
captain was ABOUT to throw him self
madly upon the serpent. He sprang for
| ward and caught him by the arm.
"For Heavens sake, sir, think what
you are doing! You will perish without
aiding your cplld. Bring me rope
quickV
A few minutes passed in painful su.-
pense, while one or two men Went off to
fetch rope. No one asked the lieuteu-
ant what Ne wanted it for, but ali de-
pended on him TO solve the diff iculty, the
| captain being SO unnerYed as not 10 be
able TO Think OF anything or do anything.
| While the men were gone, West
and the others kept the mon
ster's attention attracted by threaten
ing it with their weapons, not allowing
it u moments respite i'll which to attack
the girl. In less Time tnan could have
been expected, though 1t seems an age
20 those waiting, rope was brought,
| and the young officer, calling out some
encou aging words 10 A,ice, TOOK it be-
tween his teeth, aud clambered up into
a neighboring Llee. From it he giided
on TO d branch that projected ten ieet
above the reptiles head; ana then. max
ing running moose at The end, threw i,
so cleverly as TO catch the serpent Just
below the head. On drawing it back
quickly, the moose tight ened and he had
| IL securely. 1t raised itself in a fury,
and menaced its captor; but as il ,uld
not reach him without unc0iliug itself
! from the tree, West had time TO fasten
| l,< ND rEl w IN h.Nh hYlIt
himself glide rapidly to the ground.
"ro work noW," ne crieu, setting the
example. "Strlke MIN! Keep still,
Alice, and you are SAFE"
Tue meu all set to, and inflicted fear.
| tul wounds and gashes ali over The
| twisting, writing ioIds. It's conyul-
sions were irightful; but, as it could not
| free Its head, the assailanis were safe
as longAas they took care 10 avoid being
crushed in the coils which their attack
mad now made it remove from the tree.
| In its a,ony, it tore of the bark OF the
trees, and snapped OFT great branches,
striking blows tnat echoeu through the
wood, While from its throat es C lped rat
things ana hlssiDgs that passed descrip-
| tiOn.
AS soon as he could safely do so, West
fastened " fetch Alice from her hiding
place, when she tainted away IN his
arms. lie IL was who carried her back
TO the tent, leaving the sailors to ex-
tingulsh every remaining sigu OF life in
the still moving culls ol The snake.
The mex evening strong tide enabled
them to get the cutter ahJat agaIn; and
when tney were assembled on board, the
crew gave Lieutenant Westa cneer that
echoeu far over The waves.
The captain Iound il impossible to ex-
press IN WORDS his gratitude to his
daughters deiiyerer; SO he thanked him
by making her over TO MIN for good as
soon as tney returned to England.