The morning times., 1896-07-05

the gloom, and as the sun was nearly over
head it was not as dark asat first appeared.
| So down, down he went, step by step, the
coulness and dampDess increasing until Ii,
| had nearly reached the bottom.
Tuen suddenly two unpleasant things hap
pened all at once. One of tile steps gave
way under lis foot. and at the same in
| slant. right under him, something began
| Ia whiZ and sing. With a start of horror
| he recognized the noise; it was the warn
ing whir OF Il rattlesnake's tai. Instinct
lively lie clUtched the walls of the well and
STAINED to hoid his place; but the II. .ght
made him weak and the giving way of the
step left one foot without "A support. OF
| course lie looked down. and through the
dull twilight SAW just below HIM On the
bottom a huge coilinr body aleaming ycl-
lowIsh rs il suuirrncd and increased the
noise of its rattles.
Then with desperate energy he tried TO
mount. but partly on account of fright and
more owing Ia II lack of sufficient foot
hold he found himself helpless. The shake.
doubtless hurtby its fail from I he legs hove.
was mad. and was striking upward with
vicious force. The least slip on Fosters
part would let him down within reach of
those terrible fangs. His heart pounded
his ribs.
Many Il b.g rattiesnake had Foster killed
and under ordinary circumstances the sight
or sound of one would have made no i'm
preston upon him. Now it was quite diff
rerent. He could not climb. try as lie would
and to fall was certain death. The mere
thought of his situation was enough to un-
nerve him. but, with true grit, he chung TO
his position.
At first he did not think Of calling for
help, and when at last he found Y Oice
hp nd to .sf, IN.
before ii could reach the mouth of the
well. Again and again he screamed
Justify. each time trying harder TO fling
his voice above ground. The snake grew
more furious, striking faster and faster.
and the odor of its venomous mouth was
strangely repulsve. Foster felt that his
end was near; but. like all truly brave
persons he was Determined 10 live us
long as possible.
His elbows acted under the strain of
holding up, aud his knees were enduring
n like torture. A few minutes longer he
could hear il, and then down he must
20. How he did Shrek and yell and
bawi for help! Meantime the furious
rattlesnake had found out Just where lie
was and was making frantic efforts to
reach him. II was a huge thing. fully
seven feet long. with clumsy body and
wide jaws: but it displayed surprising
HttNLtS anu dttresS. Every bloW seemed
To come nearer and nearer Ia Fosters
hare feet, yet lie could not snatch them
away.
Strangely enough In the midst OF this
danger. Foster could not help remem-
herring how often his father had warned
hlm against attempting to do foolishly
risky things. like climbing high trees and
going INTO dark mountain caves. At this
moment he felt that if he were once more
safe out in the sunlight on solid ground
nothing could ever tempt him to make
another venture into a dangerous place.
And while he was thinking, he kept up
his strenuous yelling; but who would hear
him?
Suddenly all was dark the we'll no longer
caught n CLEAN from the sky. Fosters
heart almost quit beating. He heard 4
sCurfling sound above him, as of some large
body descending. Stni he yelled for help.
New I've got ye safe" growled n
heavy voice in his ear. and at the same
time a horny hand Clutched firmly the
collar of his jacket.
Immediately rope was tied hard and
Fast under his arms. Presently he be-
gan to ascend and It last he was Snatched
out upon the ground into the full blaze
of the sun. A neighbor who had come
to borrow Clevis Of Mr.. Grimes, hearing
Fosters cries had saved him.
Never" said the old man to me. 'have
l. senCe that air day. ever tried no 'speri-
ments wi ole wells an sich."
MAURICE THOMPSON