The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-08

hat is at work." and 1 trusted his
WORD. for dared not look around lest
should brighten the snake. Now while
the snake was looking at the quick
moving hat. which didn't frighten him
py nearer approach, but only excited
MS curiosity. / myself commenced to
move slowly backwards from him.
lnch by inch. as 1 backed off, the dis
lance between me and the copperhead
grew greater and greater, so that to
my great JOY he stayed Just as he
was. Passing behind my friend the
hat-waver. I made a detour through
the woods. and came in again on the
old road at the other side of the snake
so that L was hidden from his view by
tine moss-covered stone, which arched
over the mouth of the hole where he
lay. During this time when the snake
couldn't see me. my progress was as
rapid as possible. but when I got with
dn a couple of yards of the stone I
stopped. Looking at the hat-waver. /
asked. lis he still in position ?" He's
Just as he was" said he.
: Now was the necessity for caution.
and believe 1t. L was careful not to
brighten my prey. Almost as slow as
the shadows which the sun threw
down from the roseJbush above him.
my stick and l moved on imperceptibIy
toward him. / could hardly see anv
movement myself. Still, the stick Is
surely going towards him. Now / see
him. and the stick is over the stone:
dts shadow is on hand. Hair-breadth
'by hair-breadth ii moves up to his eve
and passes off over his nose.
The stick itself is only six inches
above him. 'He can hardly draw back |
now L think TO myself, before / |
bring down the stick on his neck" The |
PRESERVATION ran down my back with |
pent-up excitement. The copperhead |
was almost mine; yet might lose him |
even now. only three inches OF his neck |
was IN view. and in an instant he |
might draw back into the hole. He
might act quicker than 1.
Here goes" said to myself. and
down bobbed the stick across his necl
close behind the head. pinning him TO |
The ground. He opened mis- Jaws to bite
I In vain. and sent the greenish venom
'ouirting from his fangs. With nv
aSht hand and one knee I kept the
stick in position. With nv left hand
ore away the stone which arched over
he hole. and then took him by the
leck; and by slowly pulling, drew him
" degrees from the burrow. / was in
Iced almost as much surprised as he |
vas at the successful outcome OF NV
.ttempt
One OF the most difficult snakes TO |
atcn is the common water snake of |
his country.
Between the bays OF Newark ana .
sew YORK. there runs southwards from |
ersey City a long narrow peninsula
'hich is separated from Staten island
v the XIII Won Kull. On this penin-
ula the towns of Greenville and BAY
me are built To the west OF Green I
lie. facing Newark Bay. is a consid-
rable stretch of unoccupied land. for I
he most part sandy and bush-covered | !
Iere is great hunting ground for | r
makes Garter snakes fairly swarm.
1ders are numerous. and In the ponds | Z
nd swamps water snakes are TO be .
'und in plenty. There is one pond \
ing near the Morris canal particular n
well stocked with water snakes. on | a
he side is long fiat OF bare sand y
hich Is elevated five OF six feet above | p
alter level. and on the edge OF this G