Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-05-10
IN A PIT WITH A COBRA.


A General tells the following story
of his experience in pit-trap in an
Indian jungle in Tent Life in Tiger
Land"
was hurrying along a slight track,
when, bang, all at once, down | went
into the concealed pit. But now
comes the curious part of the affair.
| went plop!straight down into deep,
dismal hole, and at the bottom landed
right up to my waist in a deposit of
tenacious, clayey mud. Regular
''pank" it was. In fact, when tried
to struggle and free myself | found
I was held as firm as if had been
birdimed. / shuddereda as l noted the
dismal surroundings. There were
several great, gaunt-looking, yellow
ish green frogs peering at me with Gu
rious eyes; and then, as turned my
head around little, / made discov-
ery that made my heart cease beating
for minute, and sent every drop of
blood in my body bounding back in
nv veins. There, right on level
with my face, its length half conceal
ed in a crevice in the crumbling sides
of the pit, its hood half expanded, its
forked tongue quivering as it jerked
it in and out, and its eyes glittering
with a baleful glare, | saw a great
cobra. | felt utterly helpless. and de
spairing, and for a moment my heart
whispered to me that my end had
come. Then came n sort OF nervous
recklessness. / suppose it was the
fury of despair" we read about.
know / uttered savage curse, and,
snatching my hard helmet, | hit the
brute smashing blow in the face,
and then began fight for life. 1t was
big powerful snake. The blow had
maddened it, It's hood expanded, its
kissing filled the pit, and, swaying
and rearing its clammy length, 1t
launched full at my face. My gun
was lying choked up with dirt and
half buried in the ''pank, but | had
my hunting knife with me, and while
| parried the fierce darts of the infu-
rated brute with my helmet, | made
quick stabs and slashes at it whenev-
er could get chance, and after
short and exciting struggle it sue
cumbed, and tried TO withdraw be
hind the crevice, but with slice with
my knife ! nearly severed its head
from its body And then for awhile
you may laugh at me or not, as you
will-all was blank. ] must have
tainted. The weary hours dragged
along. 1t was intensely still and sui
try above, conjectured, for even in
the deep, dark pit the air was sitting
and oppressive, and / could not de-
tect a sound or rustic in the vegeta-
ton that overhung the mouth Of my
living tomb. could now see that the
day was waning. The heat had be-
come, if possible, still more sultry and
intense, and once or twice / had fan
cied | heard a low, muttering, rumb-
ling sound as if of distant thunder.
The clouds were hurrying up in tre-
mendous solid masses, and soon big
drop or two of rain began TO come
hustling through the overhanging
grass, and another dread began TO
take possession Of my mind. ! knew
what was coming. From hundred
tiny crevices and gaps in the edge Of
my pit the rain-water began to trickle
down, crumbling the clay away, and
| was soon drenched to the skin, and
felt with alarm the water beginning
slowly but surely TO mount up the
sides of the pit. / thought then it
was all with me. | can hardly de-
scribe TO you my thoughts. / know i
thought OF home. reviewed my past
life. ! made desperate struggles again
ard again to free myself. / shouted
and screamed for help. / believe |
prayed and swore. In fact, for the
time, believe / must have gone de-
mented, but | found myself utterly
powerless. The miry clay and treaeh
erous 'pank" held Inc firm, and then
again | must have relapsed into un-
consciousness. When | came TO my
self it was hardly light; it was still
raining heavily and stolidly; the big
drops plashed down: / could see a
dull, leaden sky above, and knew
the "nullahs" and water courses
would soon be full. The battle Of the
elements had ceased, and bnt for the
continuous crash OF falling rain all
was still The water in the pit was
nearly up to my shoulders. i felt |
was doomed to die, and a sort Of sui
len, despairing stupor took posses
sion of me- ] had now given up all
hope, when, bark / thought heard
the sound of a human yoieel With
all the agony Of despair. raised a
cry for help. There was an awful
pause, and then heard my faithful
Baka crying in response. Again /
cried out and / soon saw his dear old,
wrinkled face peering down at Inc
from the edge OF the pit.
"Well, how did they manage TO get
You outFi | asked ''0h, that was