The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-08-20

! ground my teeth when took in the out
rage in all Its bearings.
"Tll outwit these scoundrels yet NUT
tered, going to the little opening and trying
to peer outside. was not tall enough, but
gnsping the top plank Of the wall l drew
myself up and peered forth through an open
ing too narrow TO admit of escape unless
enlarged.
realized that time was precious. The
trial was ON to-day and might come TO a
conclusion without my presence. If it
should prove to be the last day of the suit,
my absence might result in ruin TO my en-
ployer. Such thoughts rendered me des-
perate. must escape. With the fury of
desperation drew myself up once more to
the top of the wall. and attempted to en-
largo the opening through which the light
entered, with my hand.
One effort and then / drew my hand
away. lacerated and bleeding. Rough
stones imbedded in the earth surrounded
the narrow opening. / fell back to the
bottom Of the cellar with groan. For q
time was completely unnerved at the out
come of my venture. AT length ! cried
aloud for help. 1t was forlorn hope that
some one might be passing and come to
the rescue. Vain hope! / was hoarse from
Directly over the center of the cellar,
some two feet above my head, was small
trap door in the floor. This / made several
Intellectual attempts to raise. / labored
under great disadvantage, since /
could only reach the top by spring
ing upward and striking it with my
hand The solid conclusion led me to be-
lieve that the tap was weighted down.
was indeed prisoner without hope of
Escape. Sinking down at last In one cor
ner of the narrow cellar, / meditated long
and seriously upon the situation. 1 had
been basely deceived by those slippery vii
lains who pretended to be members of the
bar; that they were not what they professed
to be was now a self-evident fact. If l ever
made my escape would revenge myself on
the smooth-tongued scoundres, inwardly
vowed.
Hours passed. Time after time essayed
to break from the bondage of that accursed
cellar, to no purpose. With each renewal
of effort came added weakness, and as my
strength failed me, a feeling of despair en-
tered my heart. Was it possible that these
demons in Johnson's employ would leave
me here to starve?
While thinking upon this, sound fell on
my ear that startled me as nothing had ever
done in my life before.
/ listened, then sprang TO the middle of
the cellar, with a shudder of horror, while
beads of Precipitation oozed forth from ev-
cry pore of my body.
/ listened. The sound was not repeated,
but on gazing back at the spot had lately
occupied, caught the CLEAN of two bloody
eyes. Then a glitter of shining sclles,
and / knew that was face to face with a
horrible death. Starvation would have
been terrible, but to die under the fangs of
a venomous serpent was more SO.
The heavy eyes held horrible CLEAN as
the head rose and pushed itself forward
over the edge of The wall into the cellar.
Instinctively I glanced about for some
weapon of defense; nothing, not even a
pebble was in sight-only my loose hands
to contend with the wrath of a rattlesnake.
Reader, put Yourself in my place at that
moment, and imagine if you can the hor-
rible nature of my feelings. You can not
do it, nor approximate to it. / dared not
move or utter cry. There we were face
to face, the rattlesnake and /. ! never want
again to pass through such an experience.
kept my eye fixed on the serpent, not
daring to look away. until il seemed as
though / was fascinated, as l had read of
birds becoming under. the gaze of a SER
pent
The eyes of the serpent grew into mon
strous size-great round orus, full of min
gled colors and scintillating CLEANS. The
yellow and green predominated, filed the
whole atmosphere in fact. Dizziness, and
a strange ringing filled my brain. Gradual
~ yielded to that horrible fascination,
and began to move toward the serpent--go-
ing to my doom.
Would nothing break the spell?
Something did break it. At the moment
when all my senses seemed lost in terri
bic fascination, a sharp report filed the
outer air, followed by a scurrying around,
and slender animal darted under the floor,
and the next instant fell to the damp floor
of the eel ar in the coils of the rattlesnake
With shudder and a gasp came TO my
self. My presence of mind returned to me,
and glanced at the struggling objects on
the fioor-a rabbit in the embrace of a rat
tlesnake. The poison of the serpent-would
soon finish the poor hare; but realized
that this was my opportunity, and at once
proceeded to improve it.
/ soon succeeded in setting my heel upon
the head of the serpent, crushing it into
the gnvelly soil. 1 breathed easier when
the venomous reptile ceased to squirm.
Dad blast the luck, anyhow"
/ was interrupted in my work of destroy
Ing the serpent Dy the SOUND or voice,
and glancing at the little opening above the
cellar wall l caught the CLEAN of pair of
eyes-human eyes this time-and the glow
of an honest face.
"Ther rabbit darted under here. Go In,
Brisk, an fetch i'm out. !"
The face disappeared, and on the instant
the sharp yell of a dog greeted my ear. The
four footed brute thrust his nose into the
aperture and barked, but did not venture
to modest me. l lifted up my voice then
and made my presence known.
Dad blast it. who's in thar"
I'm in the cellar" l shouted, "and can't
get out. Will you help me?"
Come, Brisk"
Dog and man disappeared, but after the
lapse of minute / heard welcome steps
above. The crash of falling boards greet
ed my ears, and then the trap opened and
two faces peered down upon me-one a
man S, the other dogs.
Goodness gracious! What you down
here for?" exclaimed the young hunter.
Help me ont and / will explain, / an-
severed, quickly.
The fellow thrust plank down, by the
aid of which gained the floor above. to
find myself in a large log shanty, which
proved TO be one that had been long since
deserted by the loggers. / found my res