The Benton weekly record., 1882-08-24

M1Lt W scc 1lUo) sllaheS why QOnL you g
: where hoop snakes is? Tn d bettin' til
jig water Cor the house that If the landlor
here hadn't shut down ON trustin' q coupl
o. months ago, you an the hull passed. {
you dnrn smart roosters a be q seein hoo
, snakes, and eV'ry other kind o. snakes b.
this time, consarn yoi''
'sMajor,'' said the Sheriff, Frank
new barrel Of apple is little tho best he'
I, had for long time. Icein yours, as uau
al?'' -r.s-s@ as~-.r
/ "Well, boys said the Old Settler, a.
he joined the crowd. 81 don't want to ri
mad about this thing, but when fcllel
tells me that hoop snakes amt amongs
the curiositles Of this mundane spear, hi
might jist as well cali me liar, an ms
father an my gran father aforo me q liar
Didn't an old litter Of q hoop snake usty
have his den on top o Rocky Hill? an
didn't he an his posterlty make it warm
for my gran father, an my father, an me,
off an on, year in an year out, fur forty
year? Well, mebbe they didn't; but Il
you're hankerin' arter facts that won't
wash out nor shrink, kin tell you that he
did. Frank, added the Old Settler, 'Ftllat
apple has got the maxim @ good liquor il
1t, but it's too young They's too much
tooth to- 1t, an the tooth is well set. It's
1irst-class 'lectionee1in' apple, an it a
tend to business right up to the mark on
circus day. II had time could set down
an figure up jest how many fights they is
to the pint in it. Its good apple, frank,
but if was you wouldn'tsel. any more
of it till this time next year. Ry that
time III fergit you've got il, an then you
kin work another one off on me, mebbe.''
"Major," :" said che Sheriff, sis that hoop
snake, Or any Of its offspring, hanging cut
at Rocky Hill yet?'
Scarcely replied the Old Settler.
"Notby no means, he amt. But I've got
the tail horn ofthc father Of 'em 'mongst
my traps. You see hoop snakes live prin-
cipally on deer, and
son deer, Major" interrupted the Sher-
if. "Now, say. Major, can't you get
their feed down at least to ground hog?"
"What!'' said the Old Settler. <sHoop
snakes eat groun' hog? Why, groun'
hogs is cold pizen to hoop snakes The
groun' hog don't know it, but hoop snakes
has to pack right up an git if groun'
hog digs his cellar anywhere nigh 'em.
An that's jest what druv the hoop snakes
out O. this kentry. The groun, hogs has
s'"9 t0v "'-'s'- for the sarpints, an they've
p1ckea Up their tails an rolled off to'r(]s
tAe setl1n sun, osrse>,aaan other mart n, fha
footstool The way foun' out this little
fact in nat'ral hist'ry was this. Rocky
Hill was one o the boss ridges fur deer,
an my grandfather an my father usty
hunt there 1nore'n any other place, though
they lsnowed they had to take the chances
with the hooperg, as we called the snakes.
Creased lightnin' amt the millionth part
Of second quicker'n a hooper, an q hoop
er ID sooner chase a man than eat. NJ /
gran father an my father, an me arter
'em, know'd how to manage 'em. Soon |
Us we'd see one start down the hill for us
we'd drop behind tree, an' kersock, the
hooper would slap his horn inter it. Mebbe
you've noticed how many dead trees they
is up along the south side o. Rocky. Them /
were all killed by hoop snakes sockin' their
stingers in 'em instead o. inter us. The |
pizen killed 'em In the jerk of q lambs
all. Bat them hoopers Was so durnt sud-
lint that we never could git club Oh to
one before he'd have his horn out o. the /
rec an In his mouth agin, an be q rollin'
IN down the hill like runaway wagon
wheel. Ny gran'Gathc nor my father
1ever killed one Of the hoopers, and they
lied b'lievin' that hoop snakes was charm
d, an couldn't be killed. Well, one day 7
vas huntin' on the hill, when q big buck
got up just In front OF me. He kinder loped
dong, an was draWin' bead on him when
SEQ hoop snake start down the ridge
light &C the deer.
'' lilo! HOP says /, tI'll wait an see the
un.'
groun' hog came ont Of his hole, which
vas new one, and I hadn't noticed it, an
topped between the snake that was Whiz-
i'm along an the deer. The snake struck
he groun' hog plumb in the side, an the
sroun' hog didn't seem to notice it. The
Ieer went on; but didn't see the snake.
put a bali through the groun' hog's head,
n hedropped. went up to him. He was
lead, and laying by him was the hooper,
ust as dead as he was. That kinder stag
;ered me. Pooty soon got an idee. I
licked up the groun' hog and walked along
he side o. the ridge, keepin' sharp eye
ut for hoopers. Not more'n mint arter-
Yards see an old Whopper start from the
op o. the hill straight forme. Istoppe( an
raced myself. When the snake got to
7here one more turn would bring him agin
ae, lowered the groun, hog. The snake !.
ut his singer three inches inter the car
ass, gave one gasp, and was deader'n a ,
nared pheasant. An that's the way foun'
ut that groun hogs was cold pizen to hoop
rs. Teouldn't tell you why, but them 5 the :,
acts that kin make affidavy to-
There Was dead silence for about three
linutes.
THE hooper was the father of the rest, 2
ontinued the Old Settler II knoWed it by ;
issize. I cut his horn of, an I've gotit
4 Il III