Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-07-11

was also large tree mower IA tAis Val
ley, which was now in full bloom. The t
flower was bright scarlet, which hung {
suspended in long, folding pendants from I
the branches. /
At a distance one might easily imagine !
these scarlet trees to be trees of fire, s
whose pendants, as they moved in the S
wind. were the flames jumping and leap
ing. was lost in admiration as con- !
templated these things; and as we con-
tinued TO advance up the valley, new
beauties opened out before US.
s'Stopl beware, Tregan!" cried my
guide, in warning tones.
stopped at once, and looking forward
under his, direction, saw vast snake
curled up at the foot of a tree in front Of
us. could not judge of its length, yet
it must have been very great. Another
and another of these coils were pointed
out by him, and had an unpleasant SEN
sation of cool perspiration oozing out of
the pores Of my skin.
s'Take care, take carev' he cried out
in terror, and, catching my pony by the
head he pulled me back toward the mouth
of the valley.
After we had got away some twenty
yards, I saw an immense boa constructor
curled round the stem of tree near
which we had been standing. The beasts /
neck was stretched some ten or twelve |
feet over the pathway, and its head kept /
rising and falling In much the same way |
as have seen that of turkey wiggle |
about.
The terrible reptile had evidently been |
summing itself, and having been awaken
ed by our approach, had proceeded to un-
coil its immense body in order to obtain
its midday meal. 1t was not less that so
feet long, am sure, for counted at least
six coils round the body of the tree-al-
lowing seven feet for the length of each
coil, and fifteen for the head and neck, I
made it out about go feet long.
After this we hurried back to the guard
and reported what we had seen.
Several of the prisoners expressing
wish to see the serpent, they were per-
mitted to approach the mouth of the val-
ley to catch distant glimpse of the boa,
with whom they were quite satisfied.
learned afterward-some few years after
ward-that this valley was never travers-
ed by any persons; that the escorts real
ly made considerable detour, and came
out by q secret channel, whose approach
9 es were carefully hidden by trees and
: rocks. This fact was concealed from the
mining population, to hinder their return
to K'ootar. They knew of no other path
than that through the boa-yalley, and
were too fearful of It's horrors to dare an
? attempt through it. Some had indeed at
: tempted to pass through it, but as they
had never been heard of again it was
universally believed that they had been
destroyed by the serpents; and there can
It be little doubt that such was the case.
It have heard somewhere that an army
= was once stopped by great snake, and
i can readily believe that the boas in this
/ valley would hinder the progress of the
Ie bravest army if not completely obstruct
it. From this point our road lay along
a well-sheltered plain, the track running g
by the side of tail, thickly -fotlaged trees.
In about an hour from our leaving the
/, valley, was startled by hearing a cry for
s, help, the sound coming, as it seemed to
Il me, from directly over my head.
! On looking upward / was Mortified to
Is see an unfortunate wretch fastened to a
n tall tree by means of ropes, and near him
- was small snake about eight feet long.
4. The snake was standing erect, and kissing
N at the unfortunate man, who was beating
D. his hands wildly and trying to avoid the
~ fangs of the serpent.
n ''Can we not help himP P'' asked, be.
lg ing greatly excited.
'sNo; he is a criminal, and must die.-
Better to die thus than wait to be starved
or torn to pieces by the birds. He is for
os tunate.''
Of The snake had now bitten the mana
yh least SO I judged, for he gave a scream o
,rG fear and pain, and he seized the serpent
- head with his half-loosened hands. TIL
venomous beast curIed itself rapid.
round the neck and arms of the poor mar
and strove to draw its head to the man
fasssbut desperation gave the poor fellow
strength, and for long time he resiste
successfully. At last his strength failed
and we saw, to my great horror, the fang
IA IA of the snake steadily approaching tn
mans open mouth, for he was nearl
suffocated.
could look no longer, and turning M
head away. continued my journey. 1 re
ty. marked that the old chief was indifFeren
and gave no more than half glance {
the unfortunate criminal, who was su
tering so terrible death.
In another halfmfle we saw numbe
Of birds lowering over tree, and o
our reaching it, saw another unfortunat
-. chained in It's upper branches. He VS.
nd nd vainly trying to defend himself from tt
t is attacks of an immense eagle, which saile
backward and forward, every now an
then descending upon the poor wretc
and striking him with its powerful ia
ons.
When we were seen, the poor fello
cried to as in piteous terms to save hin
. This, however, was impossible. The o.
chief was immovab1e, SO we were con
A-A PEELED to ride on and leave him to his fat
Another and another tree contained Il
corrupting corpses Of men who hi
shared similar fates.
These things made me look upon Il
governor Of the gold mines with feeling
-. Of distrust, and began to regret that
was SO completely in the power Of SUI
a cruel despot.