Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1879-10-15

guard and reported what we had
seen.
Several of the prisoners express.
ing a wish to see the serpent, they
were permitted to approach the
mouth OF the valley 10 catch a dis
tant glimpse of the boa, with which
they were quite satisfied. Learned
afterward-some few years after
ward-that this valley was never
traversed by any person; that the
escorts really made a considerable
detour, and came out by q secret
channel, whose approaches 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 valley, and were too fearful of its
horrors to dare an attempt through
it. Some had indeed attempted 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 be but little doubt that
such was the case.
have heard somewhere that an
army was once stopped by a great
snake, and | readily believe that
the hoas in tbisealley would hinder
the progress of the bravest army,
if not completely Obstruct it,. From
this point our road lay along a well
sheltered plain, the track running
by the side of tall, thickly foliaged
trees. In about an hour from our
leaving the valley / was startled
by hearing a cry for help, the cry
coming, as it seemed to me, from
directly over my head.
On looking upward l was horri.
fed TO see an unfortunate wretch
fastened TO tall tree by means of
ropes, and near him was a small
snake about eight feet long. The
suake was standing erect and his.
sing at the unfortunate man, who
was beating his hands wildly aud
trying to avoid the fangs Of the
serpent.
"Can we not help himi" l asked,
greatly excited.
"No; 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 fortunate
The snake had now bitten the
man-at least 80 | judged. for lie
gave a scream Of fear and pain, and
he seized the serpent's head with
his balf-loosened hands. The veno
nous beast curled itself rapidly
around the neck and arms of the
poor man, and strove to draw its
head to the mans face. But des
peration gave the poor man
strength, and for long time he re,
sisted successfully. At last his
strength failed, and we saw to my
great horror, the snakes faDgs
steadily approaching the mans open
mouth, for he was nearly sufiocated
could look no longer, and, turn.
ing my head away, continued my
journey. Again, remarked that
the old chief was indifferent, and
gave no more than single glance
at the unfortunate criminal who
was suffering so terrible death.
In another half mile we saw q
number of birds lowering over q
tree, and, on our reaching it, saw
another unfortunate chained in its
upper branches. He was vainly
trying to defend himself from the
attacks of an immense eagle which
sailed backward and forward, every
now and then descending upon the
poor wretch and striking him with
his powerful talOns.
When we were seen, the pool
fellow cried to us in piteous terms
to save him. This, however, wal
impossible. The old chief was i'm
movable, so we were compelled t.
ride on and leave him to his fate
Another tree contained the corrupt
ing corpses of men who had shared
similar fates.
These things made me look ~
the governor of the gold mines will
feelings of distrust, and began Il
regret that was so completely il
the power of such cruel despot.