The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-11-12

wall deprived OF tho power OF speech
/ wondered where the serpent was
and how near to my body was his dis
gushing head. and the folds which can
crush a stag 70 death In an instant
My God! ! have touched a snake!
rang out the voice OF Casey. and I
felt him reel against me In the dark.
mo wonder the old nuwab used TO
say that his treasure couldn't be
looted He has kept It guarded by
serpents and We are In their coils!'
We stood together. our hands touch
ing and our hearts almost stilled by
terror. Shut up IN n chamber with a
lot OF boas was terrible enough. and
when We knew that these monsters
could see In the dark and were noise
less In their actions our fears in
creased until we were fairly pnralyzed
with It.
We searched our pockets and !
finally fished up from one corner the
stub OF lucifer which / handed to
my companion. who took it with O
cry OF thankfulness
| held my breath as he drew It
along the wall aud. at the same time
raised my cooked pistol eager to
send bullet through the head OF the
nuwab's treasure guard. Where
would we End the serpent and how
large was hep
The little flame leaping up seemed
to shine like star amid the gloom.
but in an instant 1t went out like the
others had done. But that short
| period OF time was enough.
Looking down on US from hole in
the WALL with one-half OF his glistcn-
ing and spotted body out was q
serpent OF the constructor species
large terrible. and loathsome The
forked tongue darted in and out with
in few feet of our heads and the
little eyes shone like diamonds in
their malignant glee
! l saw that the snake was banded
with gold band. which encircled the
neck just back of the head. thus fix
ing the question OF ownership. for
| the old nuwab had banded every
living thing in his palace; why not
tho Shiny guard OF the treasurer
When Casey saw the serpent he
gave one unearthly shrek and stag
gered down the wall leaving me.
stood there with weakened limbs and
cold sweat on my forehead. felt
as 1t were. the hot fetid breath OF the
reptile on my checks and when
recoiled as an act OF self-preservation
l thought l was falling down into
some bottomless pit.
Not q sound had followed Casey
shrek. felt for another match. in.
tending in moment OF forced cour.
age to send bullet through the men.
acing head. but found nothing of the
kind. crept down the wall to d
corner stopped and picked up some.
thing at my feet only to drop it for
it was a lizard. which stung me ere
let it go.
All at once the voice OF Casey rang
out calling on God to help him.
The sounds fro % every drop oil
blood in my veins and started over
to where he was to quiet him. when
recoiled. for heard the breaking oil
bones and knew that the serpent had
the poor fellow in the fatal coils!
| Desperation at last brought action
to my nerves and senses l resolved
to face the terror to take the initia
tive. and thus armed l crept down
the wall with one hand thrown on,
and in the other one OF the short but
razor edged and bediamonded knives
which had picked up at my feet.
Where was the slayer Of poor
CaseyP
Seeing nothing in that gloom,
crept on and on until all mt once my
hand came In contact with something
horribly smooth. 1t was the body o
the boa!
My hand could not span the girtt
OF that terrible form. but l believed
from the sudden wriggliug that hat
touched 1t near the head. In fact
when moved my hand again it cam,
in contact with the gold necklace. ant
then with the fury OF demon spail
Indian knife.
/ felt that blade go through flesh
and bone with the keenness OF kris.
With my blood at fever heat and my
nostrils filed with tho suffocating
odor which emanated from the SER
pent / did not stop for second. bu
cut away for life.
felt that everything depended or
what was ut and worked that knit,
with all my might feeling the fold,
give way. and the gold band at las
fell to the floor with ring.
/ knew from the contortions OF tn,
huge body that tho head was of. ant
staggering back with a gasp fel
against the wall.
When came back to life l fell
some air on my cheek. and then |
streak OF light which came from
certain spot showed me the interio
OF the place. looked about me al
instant and then shut my eyes
In one corner lay the crushed bod.
o. Casey and across the floor reach
ing from wall to wall. stretched tn
| spotted length of the terror of tn
nuwab's treasure-house the severe,
head three feet from the trunk.
. My first thought was escape. Tn
, light came from the hole in the wall
|, and drew myself up to it squeeze