News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-06-28
RATTLESNAKE AND BURGLARS.
a Nights Adventure of a Naturalist
From the Youths Companion. |

- lodgings. Its nome was q hat, StrOn
made wooden box with thick glass tor
which, to secure the best sunlight,
brought in to my sleeping apartment an
set on q stand by the window. [ did nc
intend to keep permanently so danger
Gus an inmate, but eventually to kill
g with chloroform, and stuff and noun
:, the skin. The time was near at han
u when these snakes change their skin
u and wished it to be invested in tn
:; brighter colors of its new integumen
u before carrying my plan into effect.
u As l had but few visitors, and seldom
e disturbed my captive myself, beyon,
what was requisite in the study of it
habits of massasauga led quiet, liner
life enough, and though it seemed to
, casual observer to pass most Of its tim
in sleep, its eyes never closed, bu
CLEANED ever watchful with CLINT lik,
that of a dull black gem.
When the sultry, depressing wenthe
of dog days came, near the last of July
L noticed that its skin was becoming dry
and rough, and seemed to give uneasines.
! to the reptile, whose sluggishness ant
irritability at the same time became
more marked. This condition of the
skin increased until it was stiff and life.
less, and enclosed the body like a tight
garment ready to burst from the expans
, ion within.
A film came over the eyes until the
snake was evidently blind. It's temper
, was now at its worst, and the snake would
r rear and strike in the direction of any
sound in its vicinity. At this time i
, presented its most horrid aspect, as with
cracking skin and clouded eyes it would
at any unusual noise lift its head, oper
its wide jaws, showing the
{ swollen poison gland above and behind
the deadly down-curving fangs, and
reach forth blindly in the eDdeavo to
follow the sound to find an object to
strike. 1 had placed some stones IN the
box, and after while Iobserved the rep
tile when undisturbed had begun to
spend much of its time gliding slowly
back and forth between them, rubbing
against them and against the side of the
box.
Presently I saw that the old skin had
burst at the neck and the snake in new
! skin, fresh and bright in color, was work
| ing out of the old one. 1t emerged by
! degrees, like a grub from chrysalis,
and in few hours was at liberty, and
its eyes resumed their clearness. The
reptile, apparently greatly relieved, was
lying beside its discarded cuticle, which
preserved much of the shape of its form
er wearer and at a hasty glance might
be taken for another snake.
On one September evening [ had gone
to bed, and fallen asleep as usual. On
the day previous / had drawn from the
bank considerable sum of money which
was then in my room. I was awakened
a little after midnight by some one STIR
ring in the apartment, the door of which
1 had locked on retiring. l opened my
eyes, but lay motionless in order to
verify my i'm pressions without indicat-
ing that 1 was awake, for thought de-
tected the muff1ed footballs of two per-
sons; then some one cautiously crossed
the room and leaned over my bed. I
was surprised defenseless, and knowing
it to be no use to stir, lay still with clos
ed eyes, feigning sleep, as the flash of
remained perfectly quiet, and breath
ell easily and naturally. The man after
a long look, was evidently satisfied of
the genuineness of my slumber. He still
stayed by me, but spoke in a
whisper in thieves slang to his compan-
ion.
'tHe's skipping fast enough. Take the
darkey and go ahead, and I'll pipe
him.
As he spoke, felt him lay heavy bar
to his hand on the counter
pane. could hear the other moving
about softly lifting and searching my
clothes, opening drawers, and by the
light of dark lantern examining every
part Of the room. Presently he turned
and came back to the other.
Give looked the room over and got
the trinkets, but can't find the leather
with the dust in. I'll try if there's any
thing under the pillow. If he moves,
stop him." felt hand stealing under
my pillow, moving about stealthily, and
my package of bank notes was presently
found and withdrawn. could hear my
gold repeater ticking from a bag the
burglar held in one hand as he bent for
ward over me.
I've got the stuff" he whispered.
"Ill just take another look around the
room. There's box here that looks like
a jewel-case'"
He moved across the room, and came
near the box which held the snake.
Through my half closed eyes saw him
cast down the light from his lantern on
the glass.
81 can't make it out Bill. There
seems to be something in the case. I
can see the sparks inside, but can't find
any lock. Had | best take the chances
to bust her open ?"
The man beside me took up the heavy
bar he had laid on the edge of the bed,
and 1 felt him poise it over my head.
"Go ahead" he said. eff he wakes,
I'll put him to Sleep"
l could hear the man lay the bag on
the floor, and then followed the quick
cutting sound of diamond passing over
the glass. Then came two or three quick
taps and the fall of piece of glass into
the box. The rattle of the massasauga
was rustling dangerously within. and the
sound quickened as the man put his
hand and arm in the aperture he had
made and felt about the interior of the
box. Then something moved quickly
within, and the man started back with a
cry of pain and alarm, and pulled out
his arm with such force as to throw down
the box. He drew forth with it the mas
sasauga fastened to his hand, which he
wrung in pain and terror. The snake
dropped writhing on the floor, coiled,
and kept up his rattle, which had not
stopped.
At the mans exclamation, the one at
my bedside demanded angrily, "What's
the matter, you fool, yelling out like
that 2 Do you want to raise the house
on usl"
"Jim, I'm n dead man. I'm snake
bit. Look out for rattlesnakes. The
floor is covered with them"
The snake was getting in his work
with his rattle in good shape and made
the room resound. The man beside the
bed got nervous. The other with
moan or two of pain had CROPPED his way
out of the room, and his retreating steps
could be heard on the stairway. The
man at my side muttered curse.
''He can't be such q fool as to have
left the swag. Anyway, I'm not going
to hunt for it in a room that's den of
rattlesnakes.
The rattle reverberating sounded as
though the room was full of snakes.
The burglar could stand it no longer,
but stepping high and long rs he crossed
the room, precipitately followed his
cOmrade down tue stairs, shutting all
doors as he went after him, as is the
custom of burglars. As the noise of
their departure died away, the snake
quieted and | heard him no more that
night.
In the nor hing found the snake still
coiled up on the foor and beside it lay
the bag dropped by the burglar, aud
which held intact all the plumber of the
household. On account of the service he
had done, l changed my plan for the
L ,-fAl H.