The morning call., 1892-03-23
SAVED FROM DEATH.

people. But though one rattlesnake may
not make the flesh creep, whole nest Of
them will sometimes rouse the strongest
nature to pitch of uncomfortable fear.
Tom Wilson and 1 were still in our teens
when we could boast of having dispatched
as many rattlesnakes as we TAD fingers and
toes. 1t was quite common experience to
shoot or stone to death one Of the Yen0m0uS
reptiles.
We were great lovers Of the woods and
the chase, and for boys Of our age we knew
probably as much about w0Odcraft as many
an old veteran. Our experience, however.
was confined chiefly to the low, marshy
hummocks and everglade swamDs Of Flor
ida. and We explored new fields nearly
every week in those dense, lonely places.
During these hunting trips We would fire.
QueBtiy lind the rattlers c0lled up behind
punches OF saw-palmetto or clumps OF span
ish bayonets. After the first start a. dis
covering danger So close to US we would
deliberately 60 TO work and kill the reptile.
Then. calling ont, we would say:
Another RATHER added 10 the list.
"All right, keep tally Of it, would be
the commonplace reply
But one day we had an experience with
the rattlerS that always eft a vivid impress
sion upOn our minds. We had carried our
small canoe across the low, swampy lands
until we entered one Of the winding lagOOnS,
which was connected by a series OF small
lakes and narrow streams with the great
Okeechobee itself.
We were after pelicans, wild turkeys,
egTets, or any other valuable game. We had
slept out II the woods TWO nights already,
and we were anticipating several more undl5-
furbed slumbeTs beneath the starry skies
before returning home.
While exploring one of the dense hum
mocks on the banks Of the lagoon we heard
a noise in the UNDERTAKE. which attracted
our attention. We were on the alert at once,
and cTouching down in the low bushes we
waited for fur her Developments.
Lie low" whispered Tom, II see some
thing"
l, toe, caught glimpse Of something
black moving about IN the dense woods, and
nv heart beat high with expectation. We
did net know just what the game was, for
we could only catch a glimpse Of its big
black back but il made noise enough for
whole drove OF bears.
Bears and deer are frequently met with in
the everglades, but We had never been
fortunate enough TO run across one OF the
former. As rule. they are small aud shy
creatures, and they seldom attack a man
unless provoked to ii.
We waited impatiently for the creatures,
for now we could see there was more than
one, 10 approach nearer. They seemed TO
be moving about aimlesSly, searching evil
IDENTIFY for food.
Suddenly Tom threw down his rife and
laughed heartily. as he exclaimed:
Pshaw! old TaZ0r-backs."
r ZOr- backs is the term applied to the
halt-Wild hogs which roam about through
South Florida in droyes, picking up a living
from the berries, grass, roots, insects and
reptiles. They are all branded and owned
by some one, and fine is exacted for every
one killed
We were so mortified at our discovery
that VI had a Sfr0nv inclination Kill
or two. There was r big drove and when
they discovered Us they stood ready to run
away should We show any movement to in-
ture them.
picked up stick to shy at them. They
wont do any harm"
Chagrined at our i'll luck we strobe
through the hummOck TO higher ground,
leaving the hogs 20 continue their feeding.
We were weary with our travel and when
we discovered rise IN the swamp and a
high key or mound ahead Of US we started
toward 1t TO rest.
The top of the mound was about fifteen
feet in circumference and several feet
higher than the surrounding country. The
top of IL was nearly bare, and ii made
warm, sandy bed for Us to sprawl on as We
ale our dinner. The sun was Up high. and
"" enjoyed the rest immensely.
Tie hogs seem to be following u.s."
/ remarked. as we watched them roaming
abOnt in the swamp. "We'll nave to drive
them back pretty soon, for they'll scare ali
OF Our game away"
Yes" answered Tom, slowly, but see
thati Isn't that a rattler?"
He pointed toward the foot of the mound,
where coled up behind a palmetto bush
was huge rattlesnake. The head was
moving about uneasily, as IL seeming dan
ger.
II discovered him first" Tom continued.
"and he's my game. Ii l miss him, you may
take the second Shot"
Without rising from his seat he picked up
his rifle and took CELEBRATE aim at the
reptiles swayiDg head. Tom was an ex-
pert marksman, anu the bullet struck the
RATHER just below the thick-set neck.
The snake gave wild jump into the air,
and then thrashed about IN the bushes near
the base Of the mound. Kissing and rafting
at great rate.
''Thafli fix him." remarked Tom, coolly
reloadiDg his rife.
Yes, bnt there's his mate" / said, land
he's FOR me-"
reached for my rife to kill the second
one, when our attention was attracted by a
general stir all around the small mound.
Instead OF two Tattlesnakes, there must
nave been al least dozen, crawling around
the wounded one, Missing and rafting fear
fully.
MY, gracious, we're in whole den of
fhem! L shouted, jumping to my feet
Come. we must get of here"
we crawied around TO the other side of
the mound TO sneak off into the swamp
again, but we stopped in horror wnen we
louno that there was perfect circle of
SNAKES around as They seemed to be COM
Ing from hldlng-places on every side. aud
we were completely surrounded by them.
They had not discovered the location of
the danger, but the alarm had been sounded,
and the rafting and Missing was something
10 ffighten the stontest-hearted man.
We QrOpDpQ down on the sand nd ra
NAMED as quiet as mice, hoping that the
reptiles would not discover us. The noise
Continued Tor some time, and then seemed
TO die out. We were beginning to feel
easier, when The mate OF the wounded rep
tile cIamied up the side Of the mound, with
eyes and tongue flashing frightfulIy
We could conceal ourselves 40 longer. for
the snake was nearly close enough to strike
We Jumped up, and as the rather tried to
coll Tor spring We dashed its brains out
with our rifles. But in doing this we made
ourselves the center of attraction.
Tie rattlers directed their snaky ewes
toward Us, and more than a score OF heads
were raised threatening]y at US. They did
not begin the attack at once, but crawIed
around and around the mound, watching us
carefully, and keeping up their everlasting
Kissing and rafting. For five minutes this
continued, and then one snake approached
closer to US.
1t was terrible scene. and our hearts
sank within our bosom5. We could see no
way of escape, for no man could get outside
of the circle OF reptiles without receiving
several bites which would prove fatal.
We determined to club those that APP
preached too close, and not excite the 9TH
ers by shooting into their midst We dis
patched tile forward one, and then placing
our backs together We waited for the others.
The circle gradually narrowed. and we
could see that the willy serpentS intended 70