The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-12-23

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the snake with any particular interest,
though the moon rays just at the
moment gave to its eyes a
piercing brightness. 1t might be
only lodging and not revolving thought
supper also that it sought. lie could not
leap to his door and unlock it and dash
down the short flight of steps leading TO
the ground, as his first impulse prompt
cd. The door was alongside the one
window. HIS coat and trowscrs and ap-
parcl in general lay in pile across the
chair before it.
But not for moment longer could he
endure the situation. In fact, he had
! little chance to do so. The invader
gave another hiss--so threatening that
Dan realized his peril imminent. He
lcapcd back toward the head of his bed,
his feet sinking in the pillows. At the
same time he recovered presence of mind
sufficiently to cry out his loudest
"Hclp, help! Anybody--help me!
Quick"
At the sound of the boys alarm, Dams
undauntcd foe dropped completely to
the pine floor, and then glided with lit
tie more than single motion to the bed.
1t crossed the edge of it, and then lay
flat with yard of its body along the
crumblcd white sheet, its head turning
right and left Dan bounded from his
unsteady retreat with Mortified gasp.
The bed was for only second between
the scaly cannibal and the lad. The
dash for the door that he made was an
ticipated by the snake. Dams foot
struck against something that he felt
was fold of that long, supple body.
He fell directly forward, striking his
head cruelty on the basc-board. The
python swept his coil about his body be-
fore he knew it.
Still crying out desperately for aid
from those sound slccpers, only
just within car shot, Dan struck
away the open jaws and
struggled to free himself, as must have
struggled long ago the priest Leocoon.
But he lost ground every instant. II
was impossible to keep his footing. He
fell sideways on the folds of his alert
enemy. He felt the beginning of the
awful constructive process upon his naked
limbs. Never will he forget just how ii
scemcd-that cold, Shiny surface, its
stcel-like impcnetrab:lity and resistance
to his hands, although it must have
lasted but a couple of minutes. Could
nothing deliver him' Would nobody
save him--nothing2 Would 10 soul
hear his weakening voicea The open
jaws assailed him again and again now,
and he realized that coil was closing
just around his bare wrist, while he
plunged and pulled and struck out,
without freeing himself from living
knots that rc-ticd themselves and
tightencd.
Just as he fell forward, ready TO sue.
cumb to the pressure of the reptile, and
with his last Cry, there cnme a quick
scramble up the outer steps. The moon.
light was hid for second A great
dark body came bounding through tho
window, full atop of boy and serpent
in final struggle.
Danger had caught the sound Of tho
battle afar off by the orchard
wall. Well was it that the in
telligent deg guessed that the best
friend he had must be in some dire
danger at this peaceful hour of night,
and equally we'll that lcaping was his
grand resource on all occas ons. Tht
python felt D,nger's teeth close fierccly
upon its body. Partially relaxing its
grip on Dan, it turned like an arrow
upon Danger, Kissing furiously. DANCE,
sprang back, swapping and barking
holrse.y. Faithful, if frightened, th'
dog charged upon the foe again ant
again. The snake hurled itself on tn,
the great dog without releasing the hal
unconscious boy. But the dog jumped
about adroitly and bit and scratched
and barked furiously.
A faint low sound Of calling, the tramp
ling of human feet and then their rush
ing up the lite staircase outside. Mex
to these came the bursting open of tn
door and the inrush of men, or this stor
might have, in spite of DlHyer, p'ovet
too hidcous to tell. Peter gc,tt, witt
Farmer Ben Jenkins, Moriarty rom tn
stables, and Mr.. D,bcll, the schoo
teacher, stood there, clu.ching thci
scythes and stakes in CONSERVATION
Then, with general exclamation
"Clawbottle's snake!' they sprang to til
rescue of D,n and Danger.
To the risk Of tn
boys exposed body and soundnes
Of limb, the python was pounde'
and hacked into sections within fiv
minutes. Dan was dragged outside ant
lay there with Danger, who licked hi
hands and seemed to regain his dignit
much quicker All the uprisen mem
bcrs of the family, male AMI female, sur
rounded them, in various stages of dis
traction and toilet. Poor Dan! He &c
his wind back only to lose it in deat
faint that lasted for an alarm NJ time
But he came to himself anon, and the
was lodged for time, after some sort O
u nauseous composing draught of Mr.:
Ben's brewage, in the best bedroom.
Everyone regarded him as kind {
hcro-another young Hercules strang
ling the serpents"-in spite of the fac
that it had come near being prccisel
the contrary. 81 couldn't have done
,binp alone he protestel sIt was n