Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-11-02

Asfounded ~ the Deed.
.'T was once On cunning trip during
the month Of August in the hammocks
along the lower st. Johns river. Icame
TO hotel on the river bank that was
keeping open for the little business
brought to it by the river traffic. Back
of the hotel was fringe of pines, and
beyond the pines was reach of barren
country covered with a growth of blue
palmetto and gallberry.
Among the persons staying at the
hotel were two young men whose in
terest in the region centered in those
things which pertained TO natural his
tory. Both We're well dressed. Their
hands were white and smooth. In town
they might have been taken for bank
tellers. One morning. before the sun
had taken the chill ont of the air. one
of these guests. in a pair Of rather gem
teel top boots, wandered for a consider
able distance through the low palmetto
scrub In his path no found rattle
snake twice as long as the orange wood
stick with which he walked.
'sThe chill of the night air was still
in the marrow of the reptile, and it was
an easy matter for the young naturalist
to clutch the snake just back Of his jaws
and hold him IN a firm grasp with the
thumb and circling foretinger of the
right hand. Carefully lifting the body
of the snake with the left hand the nat
uralist started for the hotel with his
greatly valued prize, carrying his orange
wood cane under his left arm.
'There is nothing else that so warns
the cookies of a rattlesnake's heart as
the vertical rays of the sun, and before
the young naturalist had made half the
Journey to the hotel. the captive snake
had managed, unobserved, 10 twist bis
tail about his captor's thigh. Thus an
chored, he gave an ablebodied pull,
which was the naturalist's first intima-
ton that the snake was putting off his
sluggishness. With bis left hand the
man was about TO unwind the coil from
his thigh, but he foundthat if he let so
the snake at its middle the muscle OF
the reptile would be too much for the
right hand grasp at its throat, which
was the only safeguard against stroke
from its deadly fangs So he frightened
his grasp upon the neck and quickened
his pace toward the hotel
1.-THE sun mounted toward the zenith
and his rays became warmer. They
gave strength and quickness TO the cap
tive reptile. Instead Of steady draw
from the tightening coil around the
mans thigh came series of angry
writings which severely tested the
strength in the hands and arms unused
TO endurance. With each convulsion a
change in the tint reflected from the
monsters scales ran like "A thrill from
its head to its tail, and then came the
warning rattle that nobody has to hear
a second time in order that he may
know its meaning. The flag ON the
cupola of the hotel hung limp IN the
hazy distance. The orange wood stick
had fallen from beneath the arm of the
young naturalist A numbness was
taking possession of the muscles in his
arms and wrists. He knew what that
meant. Meanwhile thediamond marked
reptile was warming mp for the strug-
gle. His eyes from pits of molten lead
had become deep set diamonds His
angry writings were fearful to see. de
was venom incarnate
''It was looking exceedingly serious,
not to say desperate, for the young nat
uralist. Cheerfully would he have put
aside his enthusiasm in the cause of
science and cast the reptile from him,
but that he could not do. The RATHER s
tail was coiled tightly about his leg,
and if the man had loosed his hold upon
the neck and middle of the reptile It's
fangs would have made their deadly
mark upon him while yet the coil was
unbroken His life depended upon his
reaching the hotel before the strength
in his arms gave out, and bow much
strength he had left no knew not, for
the numbness in them had driven out
the sense of feeling. Again he quick
ened his pace.
''It must have seemed an endless jour
ney to the young naturalist as he hurried
along, his eyes fixed upon the writhing
monster, except when they were raised
for an instant to glance at the flag hang
ing above the hotel; but at last he was
within the grounds. His friend rushed
forward from the little group on the
veranda, but turned and ran back when
he saw the look ON the young natu-
ralist's face. In moment he appeared
with strong cord and cane, which
he had caught up in the hallway
While be was tying slip moose in the
cord neither Of the men spoke, but it
was easy to see that both knew there
was no time TO waste.
s'As the moose was slipped over the
reptiles head and frightened by means
of the cane a CONFUSION stronger thar
any that had preceded it drew together
the benumbed hands which held the
writhing creature. and they yielded TO
the force that drew them toward the
coil. which now twice encircled the
mans thigh.
"'I've got him, said the nar who
held the moose.
q Well, kindly untwist his tail Ny
hands are a trifie tired, said the other
This service was done quickly, and
the two young naturalists went to their
rooms with their captive
Among those who had stood speech
less while these things were going Oh
was Rattlesnake Bob, local snake ex-
pert from up the creek As the young
\ 4 IL, 4e-t,.