Telegram-herald., 1890-02-17

might saeouutrr fae he'd 80 hfs un-
Welo9rs sisltsr asll - svere from
uDe O. lpe eath sappre,sea emotion
GS ] larrea kin ever 50 little and kepf
s@ylng. ~ ork eaSy f1nstY got tie
ol4uAets clear on one side ana gent. y
llfsee tssm away frem BE boy lie
lad turned Win his sllft, trousers
and Stockings Oh Aad - TIE nrehght |
s@s protr13ing from The eff trousers
lsz sly inches % the ral OF sn4se
tipped s7th ~ rattle The reptile
Which h2d so4ght his present quarters
Tor warmth evidently dld not Ike TIE
sensation " the oOla ar On the ex-
posed extremity. for there was immedl-
stely an ugly Srlggllng movement under
JelliSons clothes. znd the snakes Isll
disappeared upward clear a the rattle.
With 49, bis nerve and ooolness, the
suspense Was telling on Jeliison. HIS
face showed whIte in the hrelght and
tie cold sweat stood in big drops Oh Lis
forehead The snakes head is up 70
my shirt collar nos. he gAsped Take
your hunting knife ana rip my clothes
open on the right side His cold body
A. taking al the strength out of NE.
Work quick and dont mind the risk oi
cutting me.
My hunting knife Was as sharp a.
razor, but ] strapped Is a little on my
boot 70 give u an extra fine edge. and,
working so as not - disturb the snake.
began az Jellisons right shoulder and
cut clean through his clothes from the
shirt collar 10 the bottom OF the left
trousers leg Then stepping round 20
the Otfer side and holding the garments
80 as they would serve as q shield. laid
them over on tho left so as ~ leave
Jollison's body exposed. A huge rattle
snake lay the whole length Of the mans
! body, its tail resting on his instep. and
is big triangular head reposing tn the
hollow Of his throat The reptile on
/ being uncovered. curved his neck a
little by drawing up nis body SO as 10
look behind and sec the cause OF its be
| ing disturbed. then threw itself half in
coil, assuming the form OF the letter
| 3. with its head turned backward to-
ward me. Ii then lay wholly on the
Body Of Jellison. remained perfectly
| Itill. except 20 take position so that /
should not be between the snake and
the fire, and there waited.
The reptile kept his position for
awhile, and JellisOn was beginning 20
feel the chill OF the frosty air. so that
his body shook in spite OF himself. But
the cold was telling on the snake like
wise. and the warmth OF the fire ap-
pealed TO its feelings. As kept quiet IL
ceased 70 regard me, and began TO move
slowly toward the blaze, and presently
slid entirely of the body OF the man
and glided over the blankets toward the
! fire.
by tho time the snake was length
away had caught Jellison by the
shoulders and pulled him up standing.
/ threw a pair Of blankets over his
/ shoulders. for he was shaking as with a
! Fl Of the ague.
Now. old man said, you're all
right. Hold still till kill the snake
-H-h-hold on said Jellisou, his
teeth clicking be shivered with cold
and the reaction from his nervous ten
sion. 'N-n-no m-m-msn kills that
snake but m-m-me"
. p to THIS point no snake had ever
been treated with greater consideration.
and we had deferred TO its prejudices at
every stage OF the proceedings. The
reptile-a mountain monster over five
feet long lying in coil near the
fire. basking comfortably in the glow,
but keeping its eye on rs al every turn.
Jellison picked up a revolver, and ap-
preaching 20 within a few feet Of the
snake. fred six shots into the coil as II
it did him good TO do so. BY the time
he had emptied the pistol the snake vas
dead, and pretty thoroughly cut 10
pieces. The rest OF the boys had slept
through ali that had been gong on. but
at the sound OF the first shot they came
tumbling up in hurry, with their guns
in hand. ready for Indians. The bust
ness was over. however, and there was
nothing for them 70 do.
"Jellison spent the next day in cam p.
with a needle and thread trying TO get
his clothes sewed together. He said FOR
weeks that he could feel that snake on
his body whenever he laid down. and no
dreamed Of It nights He was with rs
for several months after, and 70 the
last asserted that he had never got
warm al over. but had always cold
streak on his body where the snake had
lain. Clarence Pullon, in y. Y.
Ledger.