Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-09-10

.z.uu,.uzu-
nick suddenly put all his strength into bis
strokes, and the cedar skiff fairly flew
through the brown water. "Tom" said he
Tom johnson, here is a chance for big
ioke on the boys"
"Fetch the snake ashore and throw /. On
'em?" cried johnson.
That's the ticket, old man. Gollg,
won't they howlr and in . few moments
the boat was close alongside the reptile. In
stead of diving his snakeship carried high
head, necessarily wagering from side to side,
as if in thought Of trying some other line of
escape, but still glided along straight for
the wooded island on the lee Of which were
all parties to this affair." His arrowy tongue
cuivered in and out continually, and as tie
old boys reached him they saw that he was
indeed a big fellow, some six feet losg,
motted in very dark brown patches, with
wicked looking, yellow, fattened head.
''Maybe it's rattlesnakc," cried Acor-
nick in alarm.
s'Rattlesnake be hanged-the rattlesnakes
we're eli killed off these islands years ago.
It's Just some harmless snake. Let drive
at him with tho oar"
Instead of doing so Acornick struck the
snake smartly few inches behind the head
with the iron rim of a landing net. tca1-
lapsed instantly, wallowed as if fatally hurt,
and in few moments was lifted into the
boat and tucked completely into the net.
While the two boys, who knew next to
nothing about snakes, were discussing his
markings, sagely and secretly admiripg
one another for the prodigious courage they
had displayed, the reptile writhed little,
but remained apparently well and truly
killed.
s1'Il bet you So it's water snake" said
Acornick.
''I'll bet you slot isn't. I'll bet you it's
land snake. I'll bet you $40 it's garter
snake or else milk snake"
Cor maybe a hoop snake" suggested
Acornick in propitiatory voice, as fstag
gered by the confidence of his (Johnson's)
assertions.
"No matter what it is" said johnson,
feeling the triumph of superior knowledge,
"it'll be grand joke on those lazy fel-
lows"
Then Acornick deposited the landing net
in the bow, threw coat over its mouth to
keep the snake inside and turned for the
camp with glee.
'I'l take the OARS now if you like" said
johnson, and they changed places with
more ease than might have been expected
from two such wide men, casping one an
other Just in the middle of the skiff and
shifting past adroitly the next instant.
sPut out the spoon, why don't you?" said
johnson as he took the oars. "We've only
got two bass yet.''
GAIL right. Maybe we'll pick up 'lunge
on the way in."
A 'lunge is always a Georgian bay posi-
biity, but to take one is luck like finding
tI've 90 himr' cried Acornick, in a few
minutes.
.Well, hang on to him; don't make such
an outrageous fuss about it'' These two
brethren of the gentle art lost few oppor-
tunities to hector one another.
sI've got him and he's sockdolagerr'
cried Acornick. Away behind tho boat a
white streak leaped twice into the air.
"It's a 'luupe-a whale of a 'lunge,"
cried johnson. "You'll never land him in
che world. I'll bet you hat you don't"
'Pull out into deep water-out, 1 say
give me chance-Pn take your bet-ten
hats if you like-pull out-out from the
shore. Wha are you loafing with those
oars fora Gracious how he puls!''
Just then something meandered down the
bottom of the skiff from between Johnson's
feet.
s-The snake! the snakes alive" cried
Acornick. Johnson made stamp at the
reptile and missed. Acornick, bothered by
the 'lunge, could not seize anything to
strike his snakeship with, 30 he violently
thrust his feet straight at the creatures
open mouth and forky tongue. At that
the snake turned back toward JOHNSON,
who seized stretcher and, striking clever
ly at the reptiles head, laid it out limp
thau h,o ;y,l
the net ard placed it again in the bow.
"Lost the 'lunge!' cried Acornick, haul
ing at his slack line IN disgust.
s'Ten hats" said johnson. "Number |
seven and quarter. Rogeen's best"
sSnakes we're barred. I'd look we'll pay
ing ten hats in these circumstances. You
should pay for the 'lunge. You would
have the confounded snake, cried Acoraick.
'Ip
eyes, you.p
81! I'd have him?"
eyes, you. Always going fooling with
snakes and things"
sfI?n
eyes, you, STRIP
"Well, that's god oae. Wasn't it |
that"-
ssOh, never mind. Anyhow it'll be q
good Joke on the boys"
eyes, if you don't blab about losing the
'lunge. Oh, by gracious" cried johnson,
s'if only I'd had the luck to hook that
'lunge."
By this time they were close to the shore
of Governors Island. and might have been
heard by the boys had these lazy fellows
been on the alert.
Without hooking another fish they soon
reached the landing place. and lifting out
the snake in the net laid it for moment
on the fiat rock, while they hauled up the
skiff very quietly SO as not to awaken the
bows.
When they turned ashore the snake had
crawled out and was making at great
rate for the interior. Once more they
struck him limp and then they marched on