The St. Johns herald., 1889-01-17

coveries. One of the men came to the door, yaWped, threw up his hand, and looked about him in sleepy manner. There was jug of whisky outside the door, and after taking long drink the fellow staggered over to the fire, threw on few faggots, and tSep lurched into the house. The other discovery was that the back water in the bayou was rising. He got the hint from the action of coons, rabbits and the snakes. They were pressing toward the higher ground on which the house stood, and none of them seemed to mind his presence.
 Taking advantage of such a shelter as was afforded, and being ready at any mo- ment to open the fight, the man finally reached the cabin. It was stout structure, with a heavy door opening outward. On the plank floor within, sprawlcd out in reckless fashion, were five sleeping men Captain Dadc and his outlaws. They were not only sleepers, but each man was blind drunk
 Guns, revolvers and knives were lying about on the floor Dan could have gone among them and stabbed each one to the heart without risk, but he was not coward enough for this. He was thinking that he would bind the fellows tight and fast, re- move their weapons, and then bar them in until he could return for help and capture the lot for the gallows-tree. This plan would have been carried out but for one unlOoked-for circumstance. The snakes had begun to take possession of the cabin. A dozen rushed in through the open door in quick succession, and others climbed Up to the open window, and either fell to the floor or squirmed along the logs. Here was safety from the rising waters. Their fear of man was temporarily benumbcd by the other danger, and cotton-mouth, rattlcr and moccasin passed the man at the door without thought of using their deadly fangs.
 Said Dan: II carefully pulled the door to. and braced it shut with log. Thar was wooden blind to the window, and this also shut and braced. Thar was room enough under the door for more snakes to get in, but it would have taken the strength of five sober men to break it down. I calkerlated as how that room would be holdin' about hundred snakes when the fellows began to rub their eyes open, and felt sure could leave the job to them to inish'
 He had to wade in water knee-deep before he got back to his canoe, and it was after daylight next morning when he came to my headquarters to make his report and ask for detail of men to go back with him.
 ''What do you suppose has happened by zhis time?' asked.
 ''Dead, sir, every man of 'em," he re- piled ''Them snakes got over their scare ln about half an hour, and the first man who moved to get up had pizen shot into him like streak of lightning Thar'l be five corpses tbar to be identified, and thar'H be some property to be divided up."
 concluded to go along with the detail, and about noon we reached the place. We had to kill a score of reptiles before we could land. Fhe door and blind were as Dan had left them. He advanced alone to the door, threw it open, and, after nasty glance inside, came bacy4p us with his face as pale as death.
 "Dead, suppose!" querIed.
 "All in heap, sir, and thar's mo- than 8 thousand snakes insi2er'
 A guerrilla outlaw named Chambers, who had sworn to kill me, came in four or five days after the death of Dade, ana begged me to permit him to surrender and go home.
 But you have threatened my life," said.
 "Sartin I hev, Captain; but I've bin fool. didn't know what you was. When Q man kin handle sarpints and outlaws like you hev done, what's the use kickin' agin him. want to surrender and put an end to this war"
 Two weeks later there wasn't ''hider out' in my whole district, and it was safe for men to go everywhere. The snake business, which Dan insisted on giving me credit for, was of more help than | regiment of Federal infantry.