West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-04-18

by noon they were ten miles from the
camp, and further down the bayou than
they had ever been before
When they stopped for hlacheon near
a small spring, Jose informed his patron
that they were only few miles distant
from the extensive coffee aud indigo
plantation of General Antonio De Silva.
who controlled leagues OF forest land in
the vicinity. and from whom the Ameri-
can mahogany merchants had purchased
the logging right
| After lunch the Colonel lighted his
pipe. and leaned his back against a
great tfee-trunk to enjoy on after. dinner
smoke.
Near hy was a c;rmp .F low bushes.
bearing ye.lorish bcri$,sasd he asked
Jose II they were good TO cat
Jose examined them aud immediately
declared that they were excellent.
II have often eaten them down to
ward the coast senor," he said. ''but /
have never scel any before so far in the
interior.
He tasted the berries, pronounced
them delicious, but somewhat different,
In havor from them growing near the
the coast, and picked some for the Col
onel, OF which the latter ate literally.
without any suspicion of evil effects,
hnding them, as Jose had declared. of a
most delicious flavor, and in taste some
thing like the raspberry.
lie did notice that Jose ate only a
couple, nor did he sec the look OF Gun
ning exultation on the Indians face.
len minutes after eating the first
Derry, the Colonel felt strangely exhiler.
a.ed, ana burst out into n rollickly col
nm H.. Il
one Intoxicated with absinthe.
His whole nervous system, even To his
hnger-tips, tingled with pleasing excite
ment. lie had vague recollection of
making resolve 10 check his ludricous
outourst; of seeing Jose glide away into
the forest with his rifle over his shoulder.
and look of malignant hatred on his
swarthy face; Of struggling to his feet
and calling to the Indian to come back:
and then he rolled upon the ground and
all became blank
Not until the following day did CON
scionsness begin 10 slowly assert itself
He then awoke, with horrible sensation
of helples sness.
The lower half Of his BODY was
numbed and paralyzed by a terrible
gradually constructing power from all
directions.
His limbs appeared dead, aud all the
blood forced out of them into the upper
part of his body. His eyes seemed start
ing from their sockets; there was n sing
ing In his ears, and he breathed with
great difficulty.
His throat was hot and dry. and he
was consumed with raging thirst.
lie was lying face downward, and hav-
ing determined to throw off the stupor.
he raised his hands to his head.
Instantly he was dragged Backward
several feet along the ground.
Horrihed and bewildered, be made
frantic effort, raised himself on his ell.
bows and looked about him.
lie was half engulfed in the throat Of
monster boa-constrictor
The reptile had begun to swallow him
without first crushing him within its
coils, as is usually the case.
When the serpent moved, an indeserib-
ably sickening odor arose, and almost
stupehed the imprisoned man.
Maddened at the loathsome prospect.
the Colonel gave horrife1 scream of
agony, and clutching frantically at the
ground, struggled to release himself from
the deadly embrace of tho serpent's
throat.
But the teeth Of his devourer were
fastened in his buckskin coat, and held
him like pair Of hungry nippers, while
the horrible suction pump below was
worked with renewed energy.
The Colonel ceased his struggles, and
looked about anxiously for Jose.
NV hat has become of him2 Was he.
too, being devoured, or was he already
destroyed2"
Whiie ne was puzzling over these
speculations, he suddenly remembered
that Just before CONSEQUENCES left him.
the Indian had disappeared in the forest.
and then, like flash, he recollected the
fellows conference with Mendoza. and
he realized that he had been left to
perish.
At the terrible thought, nc made an
other effort 10 escape
The movement disturbed the boa. and
again 1t dragged him backward two o.
three feet, and again the constrictin0
suction from below began.
30 long as he kept perfectly quiet the
serpent seemed content to let matters
take their course. and % remain in n
semi-comatOse condition.
Hours passed that the horror of his
position seemed to lengthen into days.
He put down his left hand. TO feel the
taut rim Of the boa constructors avs.
They we're three inches higher up his
body than when he 6rst regained cou-
sciousDess
The excitement thro lgh which he had
passed had exhausted his emotions. but
THIS dire discovery awakened them.
lie tried 20 form some plan of putting
an end 10 his existence, but his brain was
no longer equal 90 the concentration of
definite idea He was beyond all power
Of action.
Once he anced that he heard the CRY
OF some animal or human being near by.
but ne was too far gone TO pay much at.
tcntion.
st last all seemed 10 be over with him
lt was as though the darkness of night
had gradually closed over him. the roar
ing noise in his ears continued for awhile
and then all was silent
Tie had sunk into the uuconsciousness
Of complete exhaustion
Il remembered no more. - said tho
Colonel, until J came 20 my senses
ag un and found myself lvin3cna ainyu.
rious bed, In a cool, pleasant room.
'lhc first face that sayas / oaered
my eyes, was ihst Of the lady whoaffer.
ward became ms wife At the time
thought her an angel from heaven. and
we'll she is as near one as mortal can
be