Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1881-09-01

So steep were its sides, and so tangled
with creepers and vines. that to cross it
we should have been forced to made q
long detour. either below or above. had
it not been for bridge, which nature
had provided in the shape of tree
which had fallen across the ravine.
spanning it completely from bank to
bank. 1t had been very large. old
tree. The shattered top lay on the side
next our huts; and the ends were over
run by a luxuriant wild grapevine.
loaded down with clusters of grapes.
the outer skins of which were covered
with hair! But their flavor was deli
ciOus, though on first putting one in
your mouth, the hair gave you n very
peculiar sensation. Winding through
the top of the tree with the vine. there
was a beautiful crOwn-lily, displaying
its glorious festoons of blossoms side by
side with the strange hairy grape clus-
tiers. so that a most singular and gor-
geous effect was produced. The trunk
Of the tree. which was at least four feet
in diameter, offered, perfectly safe
bridge across the gully; and for the first
four days we were constantly going
back and forth on it. 1t had evidently
been used for this purpose, either by
men or wild animals. long before our
arrival. for the log was worn smooth.
apparently, by the many feet that had
passed and repassed on it.
Though still tolerably sound and
strong. the log was plainly hollow one;
and out near tine middle OF it there was
hole in the upper side / noticed
this hole the first time l went across.
and thought what an ugly thing it
would be to step into it when crossing
with load. 1t must have been not far
from foot and half in diameter.
Several times, while walking over
this log. l noticed strange. sickening
odOr coming from it. which. though
faint. was very nauseating, and once.
when standing still for moment,
looking down into the gully beneath
it, saw some lunches Of what ap-
peared to be bones wadded together.
There were a good many of these lying
there among the rank grass. and l con-
cluded that a number OF animals had
died. or been killed there, and that the
peculiar odor came from these.
The fourth evening we were there,
Just at sunset, when the natives were
coming from bee-hunting. each with
his great sack OF mashed comb on his
head. l suddenly heard fearful outcry
in the direction Of this gully.
"Some OF 'em have tumbled of n
that logr' Myers. one of the sailors
with me, called out, and we all ran
from the hut where we were eating
supper, to see what had caused so dread
full shrek.
On coming in sight of the log that
spanned the ravine, strange specta-
Gle presented itself. Dangling from the
under side Of the log, struggling and
shrieking. hung one of the natives-a
brother Of Benu, named Oati. At the
same instant perceived the folds of q
monstrous, mottled snake, rising in
great loops above the log, and heard a
native who was standing on the farther
end 81 the log. screaming -" U'iar L.
hal U'iar iehdi! (Great snake! Great
snake!) Tdsahu! tdsahu" (Help,
helpD "Come forth, white chief, with
your fire gunr'
Without waiting to get my gun, for
poor Oats shrieks were awful to hear.
l seized large handspike lying near.
and dashing out on the log. delivered
two heavy blows upon the serpent's
writing folds, either of which feel
certain would have broken an ox's
back. Feeling these. the monster
dropped Oati. whom it had seized by
the thigh in its mouth and was holding
UP by main strength. and rearing its
huge. ilattened head six or seven feet
above.th log. looked me full in the
ia e, its great eyes dilated with fury and
its tongue licking the air with strange,
Kissing sound.
Ii was a sight to startle the bravest
of men. struck at its head and leaped