Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-11-09

huge black-snake, . genuine twister
With . white ring arounl il neck.
John vas no coward. but he vas
MORALLY afraid Of . snake. Self-press
ervstion vas the first passage that
flashed upon Johns mind. and leg
take care Of the body. vas the next.
Dropping his scythe. and spinning
around like . top. he was ready to
strike 3:AO gait. when ct that moment
the snake Vas near enough to hook his
crooked teeth into Johns shirt, Just
above the hem. With . tremendous
spring he started of with the speed Of
Q locomotive.
HIS fret Jump took the snake clear Oh
the ground, and Is John stole . hssty
glance over his shoulder, he WAS horri-
Eel to find the reptile still securely
fastened to the extremity Of his garment.
while the speed with which he rushed
forward. kept the serpent extended to
an angle Of ninety degrees with his
body.
Here was aquandary. II he stopped.
the snake would coil around his body
and "a ueeze him to death; If he con-
tinued his race, he must soon fall from
sheer exhaustion. On he flew. scarce
daring to think how this dreadful race
Was TO end. Instinctively he had taken
tue direction Of home; feeling Of Sc
curity came over him. Suddenly
flashed soross his mind the true state OF
affAirs-his father gone-the quilting,
aud worst of all, the g,ri'! This new
horror sent the blood back curdling
about his heart, and he came to dead
halt. The next moment he felt the
body OF the cold, clammy monster in
contact with his bare legs, his tail
creeping round them in sort OF cozen'
ing way, ~ tho his snskeship only
meditated little fun by way of tick
ling John upon the knees.
This was too much for human en-
durance. With q yell, such as man
never utters save when in mortal ter
ror, poor John again set forward at Q
break-neck speed. and once more had
the pleasure of seeing the snake resume
his horizontal position, somewhat after
tho fashion OF the tail of a comet.
On, on they Aewl John forgot the
quilting, forgot the girls, forgot every.
thing but the snake. His active exer-
else, (he paid particular attention to
his running) together with the Excess
sive heat, had brought on the nose
bleed, and as he ran erect and head
thrown back, his chin, throat and shirt
bosom were stained with the flowing
stream.
His first wild shrek had startled the
N ., ;ltoro ou1 forkh khov -, al al MON 1nr.
ing il some mad Indian was not prowl-
ing about. By this time John was
within few rods of the barn. still run
ming at the top of his speed. his head
turned so that he might keep one eye
on the snake, and the other observe
what course he must take. The friendly
barn now concealed b; m from tho sight
of the girls. He knew they we're in
the yard, having caught glimpse of
them as they rushed from the house.
A few more bounds and he would be in
their midst. For q moment modesty
overcame fear, and he once more halt
Ell. The snake, evidently pleas with
his rapid transportation, manifested his
gratitude by attempting TO fold the legs
of our hero within his embrace.
With an explosive touch" and urged
forward by circumstances over which
he had no control" poor John bounded
on. The next moment he was in full
view Of the girls, and as he turned the
corner of the barn, the snake came
round with whiz, something after the
fashion of q whip cracker.
Having reached the barnyard, to his
dismay; he found the bars up. But
time was too precious to be wasted in
letting down bars,-Gathering all his
strength, he bound into the air, and
alighted on the other side, the serpent's
tail cracked across the upper bar, snap
ping like whip.
Again John set forward, now utterly
regardless of the girls, for tho extra
tickle from the SO, pent' tail, as he leaped
the bars, banished all his bashfulness
and modesty, and again he had the
pleasure of finding the snake in line,
drawing steadily at the hem of his soil
tary garment.
The house now became the centre of
attraction, and around it he revolved
with the speed Of thought. Four times
in each revolution as he turned the cor
ACAs VIC DOL Cul Couo 0IOuuu Will y
whiz that was quite refreshing.
While describing the third circle. as
he came near the group VI wonder
struck girls, without removing his gaze
from the snake, he managed to cry out
''CALL A MANI"
The next moment he had whisked out
Of sight, and quick as that re.appeared
upon the other side OF the house.
''CALL A MANI"
And away he whirled again, turning
the corner 30 rapidly that one whiz Of
the snake sounded half way between O
low whistle and the repeated pronun-
citation of douhle-o.
Before either Of the girls had stirred
from their tracks; he had performed
another circle, and cried out
''CALL A MAN!'
Away he few once more, but his
strength was rapidly failing. Nancy
Clark was the first to recover her pres.
ence OF mind. and seixing hop pole,
she took her station near the corner of
the house. AMI ~ John reApp-ared she
brought h upon the snake with force
that broke his back and his hpi,i upon