Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1878-02-21
AT THE SERfENT'S MERCY.
A Startling Adventure With an
Anaconda.


but stupendeous piece Of Mexican
scenery. All Of a sudden we were
startled by Il scream a shrek that
came from none but the throat Of a
frightened woman and we stood
still, so full OF terror and wild alarm
had been the cry. There was in
front Of US rock. On one side led
a path, on the other the same.
From the other side Of this barrier
seemed to come the cry. All was
stiffness, ard we dashed eachs on
either side Of the rocks.
1 arrived first on the spot, clear
ed space hemme in by rocks, and
any eyes beheld what till then had
rever so extended their sockets
with horror. On the ground be-
side bould,r, against which one
exquisite bare arm, clasped with a
ieweled bracelet, was Streached, lay
young Mexican girl, of aStonish-
ing loveliness, her wonderful beauty
vailed by a mass of black, wayV
hair, that fell in q perfect cloud to
her feet. She lay as still and white
Us one dead, on the solid rock.
Horror frose me at the sight.
At the opposite side of the inclos-
ure, and fifty feet away, was one of
the largest serpentS ever saw. He
was wriggling down from the rock,
and his filthy head was already slow
ly approaching the girl.
I was so engrOssed with tie hor-
rid scene that did not notice VII
son, who had suddenly emerged
from the other entrance to the spot,
and had started back with a loud
exclamation, utterly overpowered
by what he beheld.
The monster serpent-which l at
once took for a species of anaconda
was slowly extending his Shiny
length toward his prey, his neck
seeming to stretch like a mass of
rubber out Of the frightful folds on
the rock for the head and neck
elongated, yet the horrible coil did
not decrease. His short forked
tongue darted forth vengefully, and
his wicked dull eyes snapped with
diabollcal eagerress, yet he steadily
clme on.
Serpent and girl were hardly six
teen yards apart, and the gilI still
lay as lifele5s, to all appearance, as
if the vital spark had tivd.
For heavens sake, save her
drag her away :" yelled Wilson.
In his excitement, he drew his
revolver, and fired shot at the
head of the snake, which had no ef-
feet.
IRE sound ot Lis voice ard the
crack of the shot, brought me to
my senses, for l was standing like
one paralyzed. With spring or
two | stood between the serpent and
the girl, the attention of the former
luckily trife distracted by VII
sons. rash SHOT. | acted quickly,
and the case seemed desperate one.
A thrill seemed to go to my fin
gers. and, us touched the form Of
the girl. She WAS wondrously beau
tiful yet she lay as moti0nlesS,
every molded contour CT her figure
in repose, white aud rigid, classic
as maIble statue of innocence it.
self.
took the Illuminate form Of the
gil in my arms and rushed away
from the maw of the huge snake.
In my excitement could not help
shuddeling at the frightful presence
the serpent. Few would willing
~ be SO near such an object, and,
whether by Intuition or superstition
1 know not, there seemed to be a
Il fascination, horrible but ire
Sistable, i'll the ceature'S presence,
l rushed past VI ilSon with my bur
den. 4 torrent Was at hand. | laid
my frilIl burden on d messy bed,
while Wilson cd ne to the spot Op-
pOrtuuely, bringing with him hat
tul of cold waLe
A gentle application of this the
first lime produced NJ effect. a
second and third, more violent,
seemed fruitless. Sle lay like one
dead. We became alarmed. Was
she really dead ? We bore her to
tue side of the boiling torrent, ald
poured the icy torrent Oh her pure
IoreheaI. All of u sudden she
seemed TO return to the POSSESSIONS
of her senses. She started up, star
cd at us i'll alright, gaz7d about
her, aud then seemed to be trying
lu recall TO memory the cause Of all
That had befdlleu her. All at once
size cld,Iped Ii II hands to her fAce,
aid with wild shrek Of terror she
ttil iuto my arms, CRYING out ;