Evening star., 1896-12-21
RACE WITH A BLACKsxakr
A Story Told to Appreciative Grouu
mt Snfcker,a Gnn

A story Told to Appreciatiye Groups
mt Snfcker's Gan.
ohe day during the summer several
natives. as well as a few "boardin' men >,
were amusing themselves by telling tai,
stories In the post Office at Smokers Gan.
While 80 engaged Old Man Nubbins dron-
ped In. chewing tobacco like a threshirr
machine, as usual. He listened awhile. and
nnaily. after copious expectorations. asked
Ever hear about Busby's race with a
black snake?'
NOW, Old Nubbins had local reputation
as yarn-spinner to be upheld, and, al
/ though the story was familiar enough to
some, there was a chorus of
NO; tell us about it,
The patriarch chuckled at the reminjs-
cence. and went on: "Busby lived bout five
mile up the pike, and a good bit of his lar d
was along the foot of the mountain. He
used to pastur his horses in a field right
along there. which was separated from his
house by two other fields, though he always
oruv the animals along the pike to ge. 'em
IN ana out the pasturage. Well sir, he
near OF. Seems that he had a bad scare
from one when he was a boy, and he never
could git over his feelin of horror at n.
sight OF EN-. An he always KEEP out their
way-when he could" and the old mar
shook. with the laugh he couldn't keen
down.
What happened to him. Mr. Nubbinsg'
asked the dude. much Interested.
After recourse to the splt.oon the mar
rator continued: "One Sunday evenin' after
supper he went over to the field o cf. one
OF the team, as he was goin' to the meetfn'
some miles up further. The sun had got
behind the Blue Ridge and II was a sort of
twilight where the horse was. After cbas-
in him about a bit, Busby was lust gojn'
to round him up. when he heard a rustic
oeaind oed ann MIN; He CIV a quick glance back.
up and almost on him. Well, sir, Rusby
let out yell that most scared the old nag
to DEATH and took out across the ~eld like
quarter horse.
Over the fence he fairly few. and as
he made the jump. he saw out the corner Of
his eye that turrible snake right behind
him. Gentlemen. Busby wasn'I Young
man, but he burnt the wind. tell you. He
TUX the second fence with only one hand
touchin. and he went across this field only
hittin' the high places, and every time ne
cut quick glance behine him. there WAS
Mr. Snake right with him.
"Busby was praying as he made tha la Of
fence. and when he went over it he struck
the groun' a-runliin', but the snake was still
with him. Busby was beginnin to Civ out,
and ne thought II he could only reach the
porch the pesky thing would leave him, but
he stumbled and fell. and the last thing he
see before hittin' the groun' was thar big
black snake, and he felt it fall across him
-dS piS as renee rall II seemed to him.
Busby closed his eyes. broke out in a cold
sweat, and held his breath, waiting for the
bite. but, as he felt none, lie cautiously
opened his eyes and looked at the snake.
Then he set up quick and began to beat at
1t like as II his arms was fails, all the time
a-cussin most shameful"
Old Nubbins couldn't go on for laughing.
or maybe he was slyly holding the denoue,
ment just out of reach, in order to arouse
his listeners to a fever heat 1t did the
last anyway, and the dude asked eagerly.
did he kill the snake. Mr. Nubbins? ?"
Nav" chuckled the raconteur: 'he
called his boy to bring out the gun and
shoot his fool head on. cause he had al the
time bin runnin' away from the bridle hang
ing on his shoulder"