The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-21

stood within yard OF the reptile in a position
sufficiently dangerous to make him cautious. fol-
exceedingly dense that he could not move with
celebrity In any direction. Although the snakes
head WAS in the middle of the COLA very awk.
ward position for catching-the hunter never
theless brought down the stick over its neck. in
f oSs rnb sy It to the
able to shoot out its head beneath The stick fully
toward the hunter. Quickly taking advantage OF
this by jerk OReilly transferred the stick to the
new and better position in which the head was
now placed. The dexterous transfer was not,
however. quicker than the snake. for 1t bit the
now on the snakes neck, and as with his right
hand and knee the hunter held IL there firmly,
he quickly reached in with his left hand and
OF his thumb beneath the under jaw sufficiently
far down to escape the clasp OF the fangs and
turn its head to bite him Having the prey T now
securely the hunter drew II forth from the coil
which had never moved in the slightest. But
on drawing out the snake what was O'Reilly IS
horror odiscoyer that the coil was not one snake
but two; and the second and larger reptile, now
Tor the nrst time showing Its head, was hurried
strike ~ did and Il was only the multitude OF
naturalist's hand from the deadly venom. In
his long training as a snake hunter quickness OF
thought and action grows TO he second nature
with Mr.. OReilly. A leap backward carried him
out OF range. The next thing was TO capture. IL
possible. the second snake. for the hunter had
Holding his writing captive in his left hand.
and gripping his stick firmly with the right. he
pressed It over the neck OF the second reptile
But this was a powerful cOpperhead, II easily
glided from beneath the stick. biting at it saw
aigely, and made straight for its prosecutor
away in the underbrush. More than ever deter
mined not to lose this specimen, O'Reilly fol-
lowed, trooPlng down the reeds and calling at
,Lasher Lasher! Help! Copperheads! Come
crash in the und brush told the scientist that
help was coming. but IL would be too late for the
capture Of the fleeing copperhead: A few yards
ed partly over another and smaller one. leaning
against II at an angle OF As degrees to the ground
rock. Into this opening the snake daTted lis
head. At the sight OF his quarry thus escaping,
the pursper grew reckless. Dropping his stick
he threw hlmselfdOw upon the ground. reached
forward with his unOccupied hand and grabbed
the fugitive by the tail; But he had not calcu-
moment, TO his dismay, he saw the Nat head OF
the enemy twist up from another opening be-
tween the rocks and slowly near his face.
Once, twice, and third time the savage rep
tile struck at his face, and the last time Mr..
O'Reilly thought that he felt u drop of venom
hung from the faRgs to his cheek But the
an alarming position. II ORellly let go the
snake would be upon him before he could get 10
very firing, and he felt that he could not hold
out long. The captive In his left hand was
writing and winding about his arm. and worst
OF all. Lasker had evidently missed his direction,
az, to Judge by the sounds. he was crashing
underhrush considerable distance away. The
hunter, now captive himself. shouted 10 him
again. and after what seemed "A long time the
young man burst through the bushes and ran to
the PROSTATE O'Reilly, only TO leap back with
cry of terror, He had all but touched the cop
perhead in the naturalist's left hand.
Whats that you've got there Z" he cried.
SO great was O'Reilly's relief that he grew
facetous.
That's an African rhinoceros," he replied.
" and that thing in my other hand is polar
bear. Cant you see for yOuTselff IL you're
through asking questions OF great scientific in
terest perhaps yon'll open that bag and help me
cage my menagerle."
The young man got the tirst-caught copper
head into the bag. after which he hattened his
gun barrel down over the other snakes head.
Fearing, however, that this would kill or injure
the snake, the scientist told him 20 raise the
own length and made for the hand that
that it had not made this move before,
L pom seeing its head coming he let go his hold
on the tail and took up his stick 10 be ready. On
came the snake right out of the hole and COM
lnenced 70 coil for spring. directly m the open
within shadow OF the rock. But OReilly's snake
stick fOrestalled IT, and slid in over It's neck Just
behind the head. Then Il was dropped into the
bag with It's OmpaniOn.
That ended the snake hunting for the day.
The two specimens are now in Mr.. % heilly's
collection In this city. Even without them for
he will not be likely soon TO forget
how he caught between two coppeTheads
aud for a space held captive with death only 4
short inch from his face.