Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-01-03

ltS ueiu W ulSS usW. ubvIuS Suo PT0y
now securel, the hunter drew Il forth
from the coil. which had never moved
In the slightest But on drawing Out
the snake what was OReilly's horror
TO discover that the coil was not one
snake but tw0 ssd the sseoad and
larger reptile, now for the arst time
showing Its head. was hurrisdly
getting ready 70 strike.
Strike It did. and II Wa only the
multitude OF the weedstslks In which
II lay that ssvsd the nsturalist's hand
from the deadly venom In his long
training - a snake hunter quloknsss
OF thought and action grows to DO
second nature with Mr. OReilly. A
leap backward carried him out Of
range The next thing was TO capture,
II possible, tho second snske. for ths
hunter had no thought Of letting any
chances ss,aps him Holding bis
writhing captive in his left hand, and
gripping his stick firmly with the
right he pressed Il over the neck Of
the second reptile. But this WAS .
powerful copperhesd. II easily glidsd
from beneath the stick, biting At II
savsgcly. and made straight for Us
prosecutor. Then changing IL mind,
II swsrved and glidsd away In the IN.
derbrush. More than ever determined
not to lose this specimen. VReilly FOL.
lowed. trsmping down the weeds and
calling q the top ofhis voice:
flasher! Lasheri Hslpl Copper.
headsi Come In here quickr'
A crash In the underbrush told the
scientist that help was coming, but Il
would be too late for the capture Of
the copperhead. A few yards Of was
refuge for the snake. A large rock
rested partly over another and smaller
one, leaning against II at an angle Of
forty-tivs degrees to the ground, thus
leaving an opening behind the smaller
rock. Into this opening the snake
darted is head. At the sight Of his
quarry thus escaping, the pursuer grew
reckless Dropping his stick he threw
himself down upon the ground, reached
forward with his unoccupied hand and
grabbed the fugitive by the tail But
he had not calculated on the shape Of
the rock crevlcs and in Q moment, TO
his dismay, he saw the Cat head Of the
enemy twist up from another opening
between the rocks and Alowly near his
face
Once, twice, and . third time the
savage reptile struck at his face, and
the last time Mr.. OReilly thought
that he felt drop Of venom flung
from the fangs to hia check But the
snake couldn't reach any further.
Still, 1t was an alarming position. II
0Reilly let 90 the snake would be
upon him before he could get to his
feet Ills position was not only pain
full but very firing, and he felt that
he could not hold out long. The cap.
tive in his left hand was writhing and
winding about his arm, and, worst OF
all. Lasher had evidently missed his
direction. as to judge by the sounds,
he was crashing underbrush con-
siderable distance away. The hunter,
now o captive himself, shouted to him
again, and after what seemed o long
time the young man burst through the
bushes and ran to the PROSTATE
O'Reilly, only to leap back with q cry
Of terror lie had all but touched the
copperhead In the naturalists left
hand.
"What's that you've got there" he
cried.
So great was O'Reilly's relief that he
grew facetious
That's IN African rhinoceros," he
replied, "and that thing in my other
hand Is polar bear. Can't you see for
yourself? II you're through asking
questions OF great scientific interest
perhaps you'll open that bag and help
me cage my menagerie."
The young man got tho frst-caught
copperhead into the bag, after which
he tlattened his gun barrel down over
the other snakes head, Fearing, how
ever, that this would kill or injurc the
snake, the scientist told him to raise
the gun. At this the reptile turned
back on Its own length and made for
the hand that held it. Lucky it was
Tor OReilly that 1t had not made this
move before. Upon seeing its head
coming he let 60 his hold on the tail
md took up his stick to be ready. On
came the snake right out Of the hole
Ind commenced to coil for spring,
iirectly In the open within shadow Of
Inc rock. But 0'Reillys snake stick
'orestalled it, and slid in over Its neck
inst behind the head. Then It was
.roppcd into the bag with Its compan-
on.
That ended the snake hunting for
jhc day. The two specimens are now
n Mr.. 0Reilly's collection in this city.
Even without them for mementoes he
will not be likely soon to forget how
10 was caught between two copper.
reads and Tor short space held cap
i've with death only short inch from
1is face.-N Y Sun.
Was Supplying the Deficiency.
In his youth and inexperlence II co.
,rrrnl 10 him fhnf ha n,irbt NTH