Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-11-11

could see in the dark and were noise |
less in their actions our fears in
creased until we were fairly paralyzed
with it.
We searched our pockets aud
finally fished up from one corner the
stub OF lucifer, which l handed to
my companion who took it with
cry OF thankfulness
l held my breath as he drew it
along the wall aud at the same time.
l raised my cooked pistol eagor TO
send bullet through the head OF the
nuwab's treasure guard. Where
would we find tho serpent and how
large was he?
The little flame leaping up seemed
TO shine like a star amid the gloom
but in an instant il 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 glisten-
ing and spotted body out was
serpent OF the constructor species
largo terrible. and loathsome The
forked tongue darted in and out with
in u few feet of our heads and the
little eyes shone like diamonds in
their malignant glee.
| 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 treasured
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. l felt
as 1t were. the hot fetid breath OF the
reptile on my checks, and when |
recoied as an act OF representation
l thought was falling down into
some bottomless pit.
Not sound had followed Casey S
| Shrek. felt for another match. in.
tending in a moment Of forced cour-
age to send bullet through the men,
acing head. but found nothing of the
kind | crept down the wall to u
corner stopped and picked up some.
thing at my feet only to drop it for
it was 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 e every drop Of
blood in my veins and started over
to where he was to quiet him. when l
recoiled. for heard the breaking of
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 | crept down
the wall with one hand thrown out
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 ut once my
hand came in contact with something
horribly smooth. 1t was the body OF
the boa!
My hand could not span the girth
of that terrible form. but believed
from the sudden wriggling that l had
touched it near the head. In fact.
when l moved my hand again it came
in contact with the gold necklace ant
then, with the fury of demon despair
and revenge. / hacked away with the
Indian knife.
| felt that blade go through flesh
and bone with tho keenness Of a kris.
With my blood at fever heat and my
nostrils filled with tho sufIocating
odor which emanated from the ser.
pent did not stop for second. blu,
cut away for life.
felt that everything depended on
what was at and worked that knife
with all my might feeling tho folds
give way, and the gold band at las
fell to the floor with ring.
knew from the contortions OF the
huge body that the head was off. an,
staggering back with a gasp l iel
against the wall.
When | came back to life | fell
some air on my cheek. and then t
streak of light which came from ,
certain spot showed me the interior
of the place. looked about me al
instant and then shut my eyes.
In one corner lay the crushed bod,
of Casey and across the floor reach
ing from wall to wall, stretched tn,
spotted length of the terror of TIL,
nuwab's treasure-house. the severed
head three feet from the trunk
My first thought was escape TIL
light came from the hole in the wall
and drew myself up to it squeeze.
!, my body through and dropped ON tn
other side.
There | found door leading
knew not whittier but did not sto
,, TO ask. ! threaded the corridor
passed up TO the sunlight in the nu
wabs palace and fell headlong. un
conscious on the street. My escap
from the palace was miraculous an,
for three months the surgeon had
= mad patient but after the plunderin
= = of the palace by the enraged soldier
in return for the massacre of Gavin
pore, | came back TO reason. an
again took my place in the ranks.
Not for long time could be in
duced to speak OF the adventure i
the subterranean chamber. The yer
horror OF it seemed 10 CONCEAL m
blood when required to it, and thos
: who afterward went down TO th
chambers found no jewels at all. b,
7 on the floor OF the scene of our FOOLS
raid they discovered the bones
Casey and near by the long skeleto
of the nuwab's sentry.
1t was supposed that those left
. | oh Of tho pal,oo bud ,.a,nayot l,