The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-02-15
The Rattlesnal.e Saved His Life.

Game there was none. We could !
not break camp now with our weak |
men upon our hands, and it only re- |
manned for some to attempt the des- |
perate journey across the San Juan |
range. by way of the Devils Pass,
to Animas, and return with food or |
a rescuing party. Failing in that, |
spring would find our cabin in |
habited by corpses.
We drew lots among ourselves,
therefore, we well men, 20 decide
who should undertake this perilous
trip, and the risk fell upon me. It
was best perhaps that it should
have been so, for of all the party /
best knew the trail. Without waste
of words or time, prepared myself
for the journey, and thoroughly
armed, early one morning, before
the pale moon had fallen behind the
western mountains, babe good-by to
my comrades and started Turning
my back upon the camp, 1 settled
my course by star, and at a brisk
pace steered southwark. All day
continued On the trail, ever with a
watchful eye for Indian signs-for
believed our old enemies still in the
vicinity-but all day unmolested,
and at last, weary and worn, as the
shadows began to creep across the
great white plain behind me, l saw
looming up in front the San Juan
range, gashed with narrow gorge
the DEVILS Pass. Once through
that horrible grave-for it was little
else-and the road to Animas would
be comparatively easy. My spirits
rose hopefully.
As darkness came fairly down, I
found myself just at the mouth of
the canyon which led up to the pass,
and deeming it a most sheltered
place for a camping-spot, 1 soon
gathered heap of limbs beneath an
overhanging oak where the snow
had not yet come, built roaring
| fire, which warmed and cheered me,
and prepared for the night. 1 felt
| little fear, for the narrow, frowning
canyon would hide the light of my
fire from all the plain country. The
only disturbance which l might
look for would be the bowling of the
wolves, who threatened but dared
not attack me; and / cared not for
them.
4 With these comforting reflections,
therefore, I ate hearty supper,
drank little melted snow water, lit
my pipe, and rolling myself in my
blanket, crowded close to the rock
wall behind me, now well warmed
by my fire. And so, in the Pickering
light, protected on all sides, / gave
myself unhesitatingly up to slum-
Der.
| How long I slept I cannot say. 1t
was deep in the night when / woke
with a sudden chill. It was as if
some one had touched me with a
cold and clammy hand. But even
before 1 was well awake my from
tiersman's caution returned, and 1
opened my eyes slowly and didn't
move.
The fire was all but out and the
ghostly light from its dying embers
touched the snow and rocks and
trees about with a strange color
like thick blood. The air was
growing chill and still, too, except
for the cry of coyote far up the
canyon wall opposite, who whined
and barked necessarily.
There was something almost OPP
pressive about the silence to me,
when suddenly, from just beyond
my smouldering fire the sound of a
step startled me, and before / had
time even to move there was bending
over me hideous, painted face
the face of a savage, and in his
/ hand, already creeping toward my
heart, was his heavy scalping knife
To describe my sensations is i'm
possible. Some terrible spell seemed
to bind me. Not only was L facing
a danger which meant instant death,
but l was unable to move, even in
the attempt to save myself. 1t was
as if were fascinated.
1 tried to reason with myself
This was but single enemy-if
should spring upon him might
kill him and so be free; but all
though the reasoning was right, the
action l was unable to bring about,
and all the time the terrible knife |
drew nearer. The redskin knew |
that l was awake, and that saw
him, but he gloated over my help
lessness and delayed his fatal blow.
At last, however, 1 saw the CLEAN
of his eye, the tightening of his
muscles, and knew that in an in
slant more all would be over, when
sudden harsh, metallic rattle
sounded, as if it were in my very
bosom. l felt something glide from
my side-a long, scaly, snaky body
shot out to meet the dusky on
coming arm. There was a blow
then a cry Of horror, and as the
knife fell ringing to the earth
rattlesnake crawled slowly away,
and the Uncompahgre, with his now
nerveless hand outstretched and the
blood dripping down from his parted
fingers, with long, wild death
shrek turned and disappeared in
the darkness. The RATHER which
my fire had drawn from his winter
quarters had saved my life and the
lives OF my companions.
A week later, with a party of
thirty good fellows recrossed the
San Juan range and rescued my
party from starvation and the In
dians; and it is because of what
that snake did for me in Devils
Pass nigh on twenty years ago, that
/ let the critters live to-day.-A
Miners Story in Toledo Bee.