The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-06-29

- FAAA~ - AASAH GAA ks GAAAAA
dimpled chin were within q foot OF
the ma-ssasauga, which might easily
have struck her. But the moment
she ceased to regard it the serpent, as
ii only waiting the chance to go UNI
observed, turned its head, writhed 10
an instant out OF coil, and gIided over
the edge OF the step as | caught up the
child and set her safe indoors. She
set up a plaintive cry.
81 don wants come in, muzzer.
| want to catch ze pooty sing Eat
Wattles."
Ethel vas safe-was it through the
strange chance OF the ]interposed black
ash leaves which had protected her?
The thing next in order for me was
to capture the snake, which, now
that the present danger was over /
wanted to secure alive if possible.
With the help of a fellow boarder /
traced out the reptile, guided by the
sound of its rattle, pinned down its
head with a forked stick, and after
much patient, cautious labor got it
uninjured into a box, which, having
nailed and boarded securely, / took
with me to my city lodgings on my
return to them the next week.
By dint of careful handling the mas.
sasauga, in time and with injury to
no one, was comfortably installed in
my lodgings. It's home was a fat,
st~rongly-made wooden box, with q
thick glass top, which, to secure the
best sunlight, / broughtinto my sleep.
ing apartment and set on a stand by
the window. / did not intend to keep
permanently so dangerous an inmate,
but eventually to kill with chlorform
and stuff and mount the skin. The
time vas near at hand when these
snakes change their skin, and | wished
1t to be invested in the brighter colors
OF its new integument before carrying
my plan into effect,
The reptile was Of uncommon size
for its species, being two feet in length,
with a thick and seemingly clumsy
body, which under excitement became
wonderfully flexible and acti7e. It's
color on the back and sides was a dull
brown, notified with large, dark spots
like blotches, and its belly was a dirty
white.
1t, in the main, rested contentedly
enough in its box, which was large
enough within for it to lie at full
length in any direction, but would oc-
casionally, when all was quiet, glide
swiftly around its prison, and endeav-
or to thrust it's head between theglass
and wooden sides in an effort to es-
cape. 1t usually moved sluggishly and
most ofthat time it rested motionless
In a coil, or slnuously fat, or, some
times, at full length in its box.
It's susceptibility to irritation ap-
peared to be in proportionto the heat
OF the weather, and in the hotterdays
of the summer the head would rear
from the coil, and the curved fangs
spring sharply into sight at the
approach OF a person to its box.
As had but few visitors, and seldom
disturbed my captive myself, beyond
what was requisite in the study of
its habit the massassauga led a quiet,
inert life enough, and though it seem.
ed to a casual observer to pass most
OF its time in sleep; it's eyes never
closed, but cleaned ever watchful with
the CLINT like that OF, dull black gem.
When the sultry, depressing weather
OF dog days came. near the last OF
July, / noticed that its skin was be-
coming dry and rough, and seemed to
give uneasiness to the reptile, whose
slugeishness and irritability at the
same time became more marked. This
condition of the skin increased until
1t was stiff and l~ifeless, and enclosed
the body like a lght garment ready
to burst from the expansion within.
A film came over the eyes until the
snake was evidently blind. It's tenn
per was now at its worst, and the
sna . would rear and strike in the
dir ation of any sound in its vicinity.
At this time it presented it's most hor-
rid aspect, as with cracking skin and
clouded eyes it would at any unusual
noise lift its head, open it's wide Jaws,
showing the swollen poison gland
above and behind the deadly down
curving fangs, and reach forth blindly
in the endeavor TO follow the sound
to fed an object to strike.
/ had placed some stones in the box
aud after a while / observed the rep
tile when undisturbed had begun TO
spend much OF it's time gliding slowly
back and forth between them, rub
bing against them and against the
side of the box.
Presently / saw that the old skin
had burst at the neck and the snake
IN a new skin, fresh aud bright in
was working out Of the old one.
It emerged by degrees, like a grub
from q crystals, and in a few hours
was at liberty and it's eyes resumed
c~learness. The reptile, appar-
greatly relieved, was lying beside
its discarded c~uticle, which preserved
much Of the shape of its former wear
sr, and at q hasty glance might be
for another snake.
The magsasauga was destined to
participate in a new adventure more
tragic than had attended that OF
Ethel. Ash have said, its box was III
my sleeping room. One September
evening I had gone to bed and fallen
as usual. On the day previous
/ had drawn from the bank a consid-
sum Of money which was then
n my room. / was awakened a little
after midnight BY some one stirring 10
ne apartment, the door OF which I'll
had locked on retiring.
/ opened my eyes. but Law notion