Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-01

last two years. I have lived for this mo-
ment. | have word Of comfort for you
You are in the select company Of rattle
snakes. Their bite ia certain, horrible
death. You will have the advantage OF
seeing yourself die. You will see snakes
without having delirium tremens. Hal
ha! ha! A rare distinction, Bernard.
You will see your body as beautifully
notified as the snakes and | will see the
show from high seat, Bernard, hand
some, bright Bernard, the lady killer"
He could not make himself heard fur
Their for the miserable wretch interrupted
the now of his cruel exultation with a
series OF agonized shrieks: "Help, Eus-
taCe. have mercy on me-"
mercy on you, dog. Yes, will give
you the mercy YOU gave her. she died
from the pangs Of snake and so will you.
Yes, ! viii help you"
And then the bitter pleasantly was re-
sumed.
Bernard. did You ever notice the result
Of a rattlesuake's bite? ItisOnly slight
sting at first and then the limbs begin to
swell-yOu have always been something
of swell, haven't you, Bernard? Then
the veins catch on fire. Bernard; the
BODY begins TO get spotted black aud blue
Ha! ha! Bernard. Did call you a snakeI
Then you will simply die as you have
your limbs are dropping off. Mr.. Gold
waithe, you will wear royal purple in
short while"
Again the shrieks Of his victim drowned
the jibes Of the tormentor. who suddenly
rose and pulled the pole from the bushes
the pole had seen him prepare.
Bernard" be shouted, 81 will stir up
those snakes little. They are not doing
their duty"
He 1aapod 0yar VI vuoT1 10 tho ,>oIo
down and, from his motions. ! Inferred
that he had by sudden dexterOus motion
OF the wrist thrown one OF the reptiles
upon the PROSTATE form of the man below
Then Basoombe LAUGHED. 1t was evident
that the misera BILE wretch. his victim, had
unwittinglv moved and received bite
from one Of the deadly serpents, for he
gave n sudden cry OF terror. In his des-
peratiOn he clutched the end of the pole
which RascOmbe was holding. The un-
looked-fOr jerk threw Bascombe Oft his
balance and he fell headforemost into the
well. That spectacle | can never Danish
from my memory. | wish 1 could. |
rushed forward. What had occurred up
to this point had been so bewildering that
| had been rooted to the ground. AS |
looked into the well both men were strug-
Cling in the narrow area to which they
were confined. Bernard had been seri-
ing desperate efforts TO throttle Bias
combe.
Dog, you cannot escape me-" Bas-
cOmbe Kissed as he twisted himself from
the hold OF his adversary and pinned him
against the side OF the well. l could see
the two snakes darting out their tongues
at the combatants, who in this sudden
contest had forgotten them. l shouted,
but Bernard alone looked up. He was
painting. Help me, have mercy on me-"
he said. 600 for adOctOr, | am pOisOnedp
BascOmbe did not notice me then. He
clutched Bernard by the throat again.
"NO doctor will save you. All the DOW
ers of the world Will not aid you, damned
villain" he cried exultantly.
/ was pOweTless. | called to them to
hear me. | said | would yet help, but |
realized that no help was within five m les
OF the place, and that both Of them must
have been repeatedly bitten by the deadly
reptiles. BascOmbe suddenly turned his
head up and met my blanched face.
"Old FRIEND" he gasped, ''let me die
here. Don't say anything about all this.
| thank God that you are here. ! thank
God that YOU have seen me vindicate my
honor. Let this hole be his grave and let
mine be by it,"
This much | distinguished of what he
said, for Bernard was screaming in ter
ror. The paralyzing injection from the
serpents' fangs was doing it's sure work.
"Old friend," again cried Bascombe,
"hls death and mine Is but matter OF a
few minutes. Be thankful that YOU have
seen this transaction. have righted the
| wrongs OF others besides my own"