Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-03-22

native, furious with rage, would have
thrown himself, I believe, headlong on
the serpent, but that ! restrained him;
and leveling my rife, | again essayed to
bring the prolonged conflict to a conclu-
sion.
Acting under my instructions, two OF
the seamen engaged the reptile from
one side, whilst on the other steadily
worked the crank of the Winchester di-
recting shot after shot at the qulvering
coils, which, like steel springs,
seemed to be constantly changing
their position. Notwithstanding my
proximity TO the mark, however,
and although deemed deNterous
in the use of a rifle, none of the shots
inflicted a disabling wound, and the
obstinacy and courage displayed by the
creature as it faced its foes and refused
to retreat, was something wonderful.
During all this time poor Barry lay
as one dead at the foot of the tree: but
the boa having somewhat changed its
position in the course of the fight, |
directed two Of the sailors to go and
pull way the body. This, at last, one
of them succeeded in doing in the smoke
and confusion, but he had carried ii but
a few feet when the reptile, realizing
that its prey was about to escape IT.,
Swerved over and lunged its head for
ward, striking at the sailor.
Dropping his burden on the ground,
the sailor drew his long sheath-knife,
and as the boa's head touched his breast
he buried the blade almost to the hilt
in the creatures muscular neck. The
boa, however, gripping the man by the
shoulder, with a movement SO rapid that
the eye was unable to follow 1t, instant
ly enyeloped the brave fellow in its
powerful folds. There was a perceptible
culver throughout its enormou length
as the muscular action of construction
was set in motion. In another instant
the crushing OF bones and flesh would
have been heard when, Selling a short
spear from n of the natives, Nermejho
severed at a blow the prehensile tail Of
the boa, about two feet up. In a moment
the great coils relaxed and it turned
upon its new adversary. Kissing with
awful fury, it struck again and again at
the naturalist, who met it every time
with a savage stroke OF the harp spear
head; and then, seeing that it moved
with difficulty, and that the loss Of IL
tail had deprived it Of much of its pow
er, the natives and sailors rushed in and
dubbed il to the ground. A moment it
writhed there, and then, stepping up to
it, | placed the muzzle of my Winchester
against the ugly head and fired. Thus
ended one of the toughest fights have
ever known a boa or any other kind Of
serpent to make. 1t literally fought I'M
til it died when once brought to bay.
I'VE carried poor Barry back to the
launch, where he lay delirious for some
days. His shoulder was terribly LAGER
ated by the serpent's teeth, and he was
so badly wounded that it was weeks be-
fore he recovered from his terrible eX-
perience,
During my s%ojourn in the Brazils
and India ! have seen many Of the
largest reptiles, among them the gigan-
tic python; but never any which ar
preached in size, strength or gameness
that which | shall always maintain was
the Father Of S~erpents, and which gave
US such a battle royal. that night on the
banks OF the Solimoens iver.'-Austyn
W.. Granville, in Chicago journal.