Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-06-12
SAVED BY A MAIDSTONE.

Mind how you go pOkln round
'mong ther rocks and bushes, or
you'll come to yer DEATH" was the
impressive warning of an old "Crak-
er" woman from whom Paul Myratt
had obtained shelter the previous
night, and as he was about to resume
his journey.
An employee of the Smithsonian,
experienced and fearless, though still
young, he was exploring the mount
ain regions of North Carolina in
search ofnovelties in geology, fauna
and flora, and smilingly questioned
inreturn:
"In what shape, my kind friend?"
"Waal, ther mountinns, 'specerly
Their out-ot-ther.way spots, am jest
,erlive with rattlesnakes and pilots,
and Their bite am always more deadly
at this time of year than any other"
Eyes, l know that is the popular
belief with regard to August, though
very much to be questioned. Blind?
When the skin they are shedding is
over their eyes, not otherwise fancy.
But have no fears about me. lam
accustomed to them, and shall not
be, deferred from adding a few rat
ties to my collection if chance offers
for large ones"
'"Thar be plenty on 'em monstr'us
Jest monstr'u u.s." was answered with
a shudder, for long life in the To-
'cality had not in the least diminished
her fear.
Bidding his kind friend farewell,
Paul Myratt took little path that
led still deeper into mountains. But
he did not neglect the warning, and
cut a stout, ash staff, though having
much greater faith in it's weight and
toughness than any power of it's pc
culiar hypnotism as applied to any
species of the Cratalus horridus.
Easily killed We're the few he
CHANGED upon, for the stories of num-
bers found are much larger than the
reality, and he sauntered carelessly
along, knocking off IL fragment OF
rock, picking n flower, watching the
birds or listening to their song until
the westerning of the sun gave warn
ing of the nearness eff night.
"Not very enticing spot to
camp" he unused, as he looked over
the rocky surroundings. the multi
plicity OF dark, wide seams and cav
ernous openings, most unquestion-
ably the home of scaly enemies oil
mankind. "Ah, a town within easy
travel. That is favorable and time.
ly, and l was not mistaken, there are
mutterings ofthunder in the distance
and the wind and clouds indicate q
storm.
Carefully noting the direction, he
gathered up his bundle of travelling
conveniences and started. Soon hi
reached a bold bluff, and was com
PEELED to travel along it's brink unit
he could discover some path thai
permitted descent. But suddenly an(
fearfully his footsteps were arrested
first by the sight Of an easle, a CIR
sketching. with her long brown hair
of the peculiar shade that readil,
melts into gold, floating uncovered
and then by the fearful vision of al
immense rattlesnake that had crawlet
from an opening undiscovered t,
near her feet, and was coiled tor it
deadly stroke!
He shouting in warning, but hi
voice was lost in the reverboratin,
echoes; he detached and threw a frag
ment of rock, but it fell short of it
destined mark and dropped into [
yawning chasm; he ran with all hi
swiftness, but, the distance was mucl
too great for him to cover in tim
to save the unconscious girl from tn
poisonous frangs. For one strok
of his stout staff he would have give
all OF his earthly possessions; now i
was as useless to him as the tree frou
winch 1T had been severed.
lie saw the snake strike, its effort
to get loose whan the curved teet
became entangled in the dress tn
white hand fall. as to brush ava
some unknown intruder, saw it bi,
ten, that and the arm, again an
again, and then as the girl realize
the horror of her situation. hear
the most agonizing screams. }
A little later Though it seemed t
the young naturalist al the lapsin
of hours) he reached the spot OF tt
terrible combat disabled the loatl
some and furious reptile with sil
gle blow, flung it far away, and raise
the fainting girl in his arms. White
than lily, and as helpless as
crushed one, she lay there, with hs
lips trembling with sobs, bosol
6eaving convulsively, and eyes fixe