Morning journal and courier., 1889-08-30

the coolest place. The velocity of the engine creates current of air which rapidly absorbs the abundant moisture thrown out from one's pores when the thermometer registers 90 de- 'grees at midnight.
 With our cheroots burning fragrantly, we
 bowled along very chattily, and felt regret- ful that we had not longer run before us. Nothing worthy of notice had happened until the driver ordered his fireman to make up the furnace.
 Soorsmungalum being upward of 200 miles from the sea, coal or compressed patent fuel would be too costly to burn in the engines on account of the expense of bringing it from the coast; besides, coal perishes very rapidly under a tropical sun. Therefore, the furnaces are constructed to burn wood, of which there is fair supply available from the company's jungle reserves. Of course, all fuel is precious, and drivers must take the fat with the lean-that is, roots as we'll as logs.
 Now, snakes very much affect the hollow | crevices of roots of old trees in India, and thus they are frequently carried into the woodyards at the railway stations, and thence are occasionally transferred to the engine ! tenders.
 This was exactly our case. As the fireman ! took up a log to throw into the furnace, down dropped lively cobra on to the foot plate. It was not very large species of s'spectacles," about four feet long; but g | one-foot hooder is quite enough to grant g | passport to the stoutest man that ever hop ped, and to frank him to that country from | whose bourne no traveller returns. So being | four human beings on that foot-plate, and consequently somewhat crowded, we skipped back with much alaority. Unfortunately none of us had stick, or the matter | could speedily have been ended. As it was | all we could hope for was that the reptile would glide of the engine, and drop off the ! track.
 | But the creature showed no inclination te go. Either 1t knew the bylaw against leav | ing the train while in motion, or 1t liked the ! fierce heat from the open furnace. It reared itself up, and in the hope of frightening it made kick at it, taking care, of course, not ! to let my foot go within striking distance, as ! my light ducks would have been no protection ! against those awful fangs.
 It was an unfortunate demonstration; fol l the snake, so far from being intimidated ao ! cepted the menace as casus belli, and advanc ! ed upon us.
 ! We were besieged.
 The driver sprang out on one side of th' ! engine, holding on the hand rail which rum | along the boiler; the fireman went up th' ! pile of logs behiud him like mountain cat ! 'tTom" vanished from the scene on the op 1 posite side of the engine to that the driver | QAu tdkou, Ca4lluS u 44o eo AOAAoW AAhs Ah0J were all as much at home skipping around
 on the engine in the dark as squirrels on th' | top branches of beech tree; but to me th' | unfamiliar situation was perfectly bewilder ing, and being partly fascinated by the loath
 some thing, was unable to stir, and my fee
 seemed rooted to the spot.
 The cobra raised itself to strikel
 tried to jump off the engine, but coult not move would have called out, bu
 horror had tied my tongue. The next in stant I expected to receive the morta
 wound, when the fireman slipped dow
 from the logs behind the snake, seized it b.
 the tail, and flung it bodily into the furnace
 It was relief to see that cobra squirming il
 the fire.
 l Sunkery Droog signals were now in sight
 and "Tom" and were soon after enjoying
 peg in station. But before the train wen
 on there was short interview between tha
 fireman and myself; and by the very broa
 grin on his good-natured face, and the heart
 ssSalaam, Iyer!" with which he brought bot
 his palms to his forehead, I judged he was we
 | satisfied. Certainly was.