The Van Buren press., 1896-11-21
THE BEST SNAKE STORY.

l. u
The beauty of the best snake story il
the world is that there was really nt
snake in it, which is more than can be
said even of the Garden of Eden.
It had been very hot that summer OF
the ranch. Men work in the fields Of
California with the thermometer at III
degrees, while they fall down of heai
apoplexy in the streets of New York
and Chicago at 90 degrees. That is the
maxim they preach to the stranger in
the west, and it has truth in it; but it is
Il mistake to suppose that even in Cali.
fornia men work in the fields in com
fort in such a temperature; and thai
summer the thermometer had gone
very near lis degrees. So we We're
grateful enough to get away into the
hills for spell, with a wagon and &
tent and the usual outfit of pots and
pans, three of us, white men, with
Louie, the Mexican (whom we called in
the yernaeular the Greaser), to mind
the horses and make himself generally
useful. Our programme was to fish the
rivers, shoot deer, and possibly a griz-
ely bear, discover gold mine and &c
back 10 the ranch with prospective
fortune.
We had just pitched our tent. DOVE
on the plain for weeks before we had
been sleeping out on our yeranda, bu'
the air of the hills had a nip in it by con.
frast. 1t was late in the afternoon, bui
there was still plenty of sunshine. fol-
lowed Louie round shoulder of tn.
hill, going to fetch water at little
stream tumbling from somewhere
among the snowy peaks that capped the
zone Of frs on the great mountains
above us. These mountains had. al
some time or other, sent down littl.
avalanche of small rocks, that lay
heaped on our left as we walked. Tn.
scene was the most peaceful imagin
able.
In an instant a succession of small
incidents sent the peace 10 limbo
Louie dropped his pannikin with a tink
ling clatter, crying; "Sancta Maria.
in a voice of terror. At the same mo
rnent | heard the dread rattle of
snake. and saw its length CLEAN undel
Louie's feet and vanish among thu
rocks.
"sancfa Maria.' he tottered bacl
into my arms, his dark face livid Will
fear.
what is it. Louie? Did the snak'
strike you?"
''In the foot" he said; yves"
Let us get back TO camp. Quick
lean on me-"
whats the good. boss?" he asked
"Im a dead man" Nevertheless h.
came with me, leaning on my shoulder
and making lame walk oft.
Down in the plain we had no rattle
snakes. For miles about the ranch Their
were no rocks for them, and though
there were plenty of ground-squirre
holes we never saw snakes about them
The thought of such things did no
enter our heads, and Louie, weary of hi
boots, had kicked them off, with tn
stocking feet on his quest for water
A word explained to the boys wha
had happened.
'Stryehnine's the best" said joe
Peters, who was our authority on tn
question of snake bites, which he ha
studied in Australia; but we haven
got IL; so we must do what we can wit
this. But its a poor chance" he adde
in a whisper, as, to save time, h
knocked the neck off bottle of brandy
Drink it, Louie" he said; never min
cutting your lip; get it down-that'
the chief thing
The Mexican's teeth chartered as W
forced the neck of the bottle, but h
drank a great gulp without winkine
The liquor, or pickle, either, to score
the throat of a Mexican has yet to b
found.
Jim Kelly, the Irishman, was sac
ding the freshest of our horses. TO rid
NJ best speed into Lindsay, IL mile
away in the haze of the plains, for tn
doctor. In minute he was poundin
away along the hills. Fix up a ligh
as high as you can put it if it's dark b,
fore We get back" he shouted as h
went.
We pulled the sock off the Mexican
foot. Already. it was swelling fas
with a purpiish tinge round a tiny blu
spot. from which the smallest imagir
able drop of blood had welled
ANY good cauterizing it?" l sul
gested
"Not mag" Jock said, shortl,
GO on with the brandy and keep hir
moving; that's his only chance"
The MeXiean's face was dreadful I
see; he called, in his terror, on ever
saint in the church; but he declared D
suffered no pain. Jock, improving tn
occasion, began relating in low vote
10 ne anecdotes of all the snake bite
he had known. Zone boy I've seen tina
did recover" be said; "and that wa
from The bite Of a brown snake, and