Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-02-22
ened scream followed byioud calls for

SpldnS uONn the Dack STAIRS ana
turned Rover loose. The instant tie
intelligent dog was free he disappear
ed with a savage growl in the direct
ion of the struggle, which now she
could plainly hear.
Let us now return to Fred.
HE was awakened by the scatter
ing of the sheep and lay quite still
for a moment grasping his axe and
looking to see fit was bear or Hank
Garcelon,a as he had imagined, that was
depicting the flock.
What allied that tree? He did not
remember that either limb reached
the ground when he was there that
morning. Now it was sweeping the
ground and waving into the air more
than any of the other limbs.
Great Scott! Look at those gilt
tering eyesl With the scream Nellie
had heard he sprang to his feet to
lace the oscillating body capped by
the horrible head OF an immense
snake!
The long limb OF that tree had
evolved great serpent!
Months before the story had been
circulated that n python had escaped
from Il travelling menagerie which
had been exhibiting in that vicinity,
but people had laughed at thereport
as good advertisement and also a
good excuse for the absence from
their exhibition of the interesting
reptile.
Here he was tonight to answer for
himself, however. Nothing to laugh
at, eitherl
He had probably been coiled under
that pile of wood or quite possibly
within that very tree-topall through
that hot July day. The GOODNESS
and quiet of evening had tempted
him out for recreation or plumber
and poor Fred had chosen the right
time and place to get good view OF
a rare specimen" without paving
his quarter!
Fred raised his axe 20 strike, but
before he could bring it down upon
the sleek, lat body of his dreadful
antagonist there was blood.curd. /
ling hiss, a lightniag-like glide along
the short distance between them, and I
the snake, with one sweep OF his 1.-the
coil, had enyeloped the boys BODY
and right arm in an ever tigbtenin1
fold that, without immediate outside
interposition. would soon have rem, .
dered this story too tragic to be
told. i
Then rang out his cries for helm
from those who would so gladly aid
him did they know his peril.
As he struck away the distended
Jaws and swaying head, which seemed
to be forever before his face. and
every moment to threated him, his
situation was not unlike that Of
LAGOON of old.
All his efforts seemed TO be in vain.
the awful, crushing construction was
last telling upon his strength and he
Tell on one knee upon the body of the
python.
He will never forget inst how It
seemed; the cold, Shiny surface and
It's ivory-like impenetrability and
resistance to the touch OF his hands.
Could no one hear his cries, which
ne felt were growing fainter?
just as lie was about to succumb
20 his fate, and the fierce compression
1f that tense, steel-like coli. so cold.
10 revolving, he heard Rover's saw
lge growl and with n last cry of:
Take him, Rover! Take him, old
ellow!" he tainted.
As Nellie rushed down the road to
he pasture bars she encountered n
wo-horse hay-rack loaded with the
he paraphernalia ofhay-making and
With three men on board; neighbors
eturnlng from cutting hay on dis
ant meadow.
She hastily summoned them to her
They arrived on the ridge lust in
ime to hear Fred's last CRY, and see
lover plunge desperately to the res. {
Ne. (
When Royer's sharp teeth closed in &
ne snakes body, he swept one coil s
'om about the boy, and turningI like f
flash attacked the dog, kissing Q
ngrily. G
Rover sprang back in alright. but, g
till true to his young master, he i'm t
lediately charged upon his foe with c
enewed vigor. But here the terror Q
5ricken spectators came to their /
enses; and while one pounded the an- c
acious cannibal with pitch fork he n
ad brought with him from the wap- II
n, another seized the axe Fred had o
ropped, and cut him into a dozen t
leces before he wonld let go his wise i
ke grip upon poor Fred, who now I
" like one dead. s
The boy was taken home. and by t
ieir united efforts was finally restor- il
to consciousness. He looked fl
round the room, at his nearly fran d
C mother; at his father, pale and
seated beside the bed; took A
) long breath as his strength and
cent squeezing he had been subject
to would admit. and asked in a b
DICE scarcely above whisper: p
Am | dead, father? Did he get Il
way, Mr.. Burton?" turning to the !
scucr, who was rubbing his arm, =
IIich was numb and powerleas y