The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-03-15
The Rattlesnake Saved HIS ILfe.

The Rattlesnako Saved His IIfe.
Game there was none. We could not
break camp now with our weak men upon
Our hands, and iG only remained for some
one to attempt the desperate Journey ocross
the San Juan range, by way of the DEVILS
Pass. to Animas, aid return with food or a
rescuing party. Failing Of that, SPRING
time would find our cabin Inhabited by
corpses
We drew lots among ourselves, there
fore, We we'll men. to decide who should
undertake this perllons trip, and the risk
fell upon me. 1t was best, perhaps, that
1t 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, settled
my course by star, and at a brisk pace
steered southwark. All day l continued
on the trail, ever with watchful eye FOR
Indian slgns-for believed our old enc
mics still in the viclnlty-but all day un-
molested, and at last, weary and worn, as
the Chill shadows began to creep across
the great white plain behind me, l saw
looming up In trout the San Juan range,
gashcd with narrow gorge-the Devils
Pass. Once through tho horrible grave
for IL was little eIse--and the road TO Ami
mas would be comparatively easy. My
spirits rose hopefully.
AS darkness came fairly down, found
myself just at the month of the canyon
which led up to the pass, and deemlng it
a most sheltered place for a camping spot,
| soon gathered heap of dead limbs be-
meath an overhanging rock where the snow
had not yet come, built roaring fire,
which warmed and cheered me, and pre-
porcd for the night. felt little fear, for
the narrow. frownipg canyon would hide
the light OF my fire from all the plain
country. The only disturbance which
might look for would be the bowling of
the wolves, who threatened, but dared not
attack me; and cared not for them.
With these comforting reflections, there
fore, l ate hearty supper, drank little
melted snow-water, lit my pipe, and roll
ling myself IN my blanket, crowded close
to the rock wall behind me, now well
warmed by my fire. And so, in the flick
ering light, protected on all sides, l gave
myself unhesitatingly up to slumbcr.
How long l slept l cannot say. 1t was
deep In the night when woke with a sud-
den chilli. 1t was as If some one had
touched me with cold and clammy hand,
but even before | was we'll awake nv
frontiersman's caution returned, and l
opened my eyes slowly and didn't move.
Tue fire was all but out and the ghostly
light from It's dying embers touched the
snow and rocks and trees about with a
strange color like thick bicod. The air
was growing chill and still, too. except for
the cry of a coyote far up the canyon wall
opposite, who whlned and barked incess-
antly.
There was something almost oppressive
about the silence to me, when suddenly
from just beyond my smoulderng fire the
sound of step startled me, and before 1
had time even to move there was bending
over ne hidecus, painted face-the face
OF savage, and IN his hand, already
creeping toward my heart, was his heavy
scalping knifei
TO describe my sensation Is impossible.
Some terrible spell seemed to bind me.
Not only was facing danger which
meant instant death, but I was unable to
move, oven IN the attempt to save myself.
1t was as If | were fascinated.
l tried TO reason with myself. Tins is
but single enemy--lf l should spring
upon him l might kill him and 80 be free;
but although the reasoning was right, the
action was unable to bring about. and
! all the time the terrible knife drew nearer
The redskin knew that / was awake, and
that saw HIM, but ho gloated over my
helplessneas and delayed his fatal blow.
At last, however, saw tho gleam Of his
eye, the Tightening OF his muscles, and
knew that in ali instant more all would be
over, when sudden harsh, metallic rattle
sounded, as II 1t were IN my very bosom
l felt something glide from my sidc--a
long, scaly, snaky body shot out to meet
the duslky on.comiug arm. There was a
blow then cry of horror, and as tho knlre
fell ringing TO the earth rattlesnake
, crawled slowly away, and the Uncom-
pahgre, with his now ncrVeless hand out.
stretched and the blood dripping down
from his parted fingers, with long, wild
death shrek turned and disappeared In
the darkness. The rattlcr which my fire
had drawn from his winter quarters had
saved my life and the lives OF my COM
panlons.
A week later, with party Of thirty
good fellows l recrossed the San Juan
range and rescued my party from starva-
tion and the Indians; and 1t is because of
what that snake did for me IN DEVILS Pass
nigh on to twenty years ago, that let the
critters live to-day.
The Right Rev. H. Churchill Bish.
op Of Honolulu, arrived at Halifax, N.
s., Yesterday from Iiyerpool. Ha will