The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-02-20
PRISONED WITH A COBRA,
AN EAST INDIAN TRAVELLERS
HORRIBLE FIGHT IN A PIT.
Staying the Deadly Viper with a
Hunting Knife-Then Narrowly
Escaping Drowning.


stories had been recited when one of the
younger members turned to a grizzled
old fellow, whose bronzed and wrinkled
face bore witness to long exposure to
sun and weather, and SAID: "Pedes,
won't you tell 'em that story about your
experience in a tiger pit when you were
in Indian
After pause of sufficient length to
arouse the curiosity and impatience of
the group, the old fellow plunged into
his tale much as he would have plunged
into Jungle.
81 was hurrying along slight track,
when, bang, all at once, down went
into the concealed pit. The curious part
of the affair wqs that | 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 | was held as firm as if had been
birdlimed. | shuddered as noted the
dismal surroundings. There were several
great, gaunt-looking, yellowish green
frogs peering at me with curious eyes,
and then, as turned my head around
little. | made discovery that made my
very heart cease beating for minute
and sent every drop of blood in my body
bounding back in my veins.
"There, right on level with my face,
its length half concealed in the crum-
bling sides of the pit, its hood half eX-
panded, its forked tongue quivering rs it
Jerked it out and in, and its eyes glitter
ing with baleful glare, l saw a great
cobra. felt utterly helpless aud de-
spairing, and for moment my heart
whispered to me that my end had come.
Then came sort of nervous reckless
ness. suppose it was the fury of de-
spair' that we read about. | know |
uttered savage curse, and snatchng
my hard helmet hit the brute smash
ing blow in the face, and then began
fight for life. 1t was big, powerful
snake. The blow had only maddencd it.
Its hood expanded, its Kissing filled the
pit, and swaying and rearing its clammy
length it launched full at my face.
"My gun was lying choked up with
dirt and half buried in the 'pauk, but |
had my hunting-knife with me, and
while parried the fierce darts of the in
furiated brute with my helmet l made
quick stabs aud slashes at it whenever |
could get chance, and after short, eX-
citing struggle it suCcumbed and tried
to withdraw behind the crevice, but with
slice of my knife l nearly severed its
head from its body. And then for a
while-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 sultry above, |
onjectured, for even in the deep, dark
pit the air was sitting and oppressive,
and | could not detect a sound or rustic
in the vegetation that overhung the
mouth of my living tomb. could now
see that the daywas waning. The heat had
become, if possible still more sultry and
intense, and once or twice had fancied
l heard low, muttering, rumbling
sound as if of distant thunder. The
clouds were hurrying up in tremendous
solid masses, and soon q big drop or
two of rain began to come husting
through the overhanging grass, and an
other 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 troubled tur-
bid rain water began to triCkle down,
crumbling the clay away, and was soon
alarm the water beginning slowly, but
surely, to mount up the. SIDES of the pit.
thought then it was all up with me. |
can hardly describe to you my thoughts.
know | thought of home. l reviewed
my past life. made desperate struggles
again and again to free myself. | shouted
and screamed for help. | believe |
prayed and swore. In fact for the
hal, I q.
mented, but | found myself utterly
powerless. The miry clay and treachcr-
Gus 'pauk' held me firm, and then again
! must have relapsed into unconscious
ness.
"When came to myself 1t was light;
it was still raining heavily and stolidly;
the big drops FLASHED down; | could
see dull leadcn skies above and knew
the 'nullahs' and watercourses would
soon he full. The battle of the elements
had ceased, and but for the co tnuous
crash of falling rain all was still. The
water in the pit was nearly up to my
shoulders. felt was doomed to die,
and a sort of sullen, despairing stupor
took possession of me. | had now gwen
up ali hope, when, bark | thought |
heard the sound of human voice With
all the agony of despair raised a cry for
help.
"There was an awful pause, and then
| heard my faithful baeka crying in re-
sponse. Again | cried out, and | soon
saw his dear, old wrnkled face peering
down at me from the edge of the pitt
"Well, how did they manage
to get you outl' asked one of the racon-
teurs. "Oh, that was not easy, but
they managed it, Some of them cut
down sappliDgs and managed to make
sort of ladder, and the baeke came
down with long 'lathee' and loosencd
the 'pank' round my body sufficiently
for me to do the rest myself. Then they
tied their puggree' and hummer
bunds' together, and l knotted these
arouud my waist and under my armp.ts,
and with that help, they tugging away
at the free ends, managed to Chamber
out. n-Nea York Star.
The Cobra Plant.