The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-09-09

ton of the sea serpent. In fact 1t ap
pearsIto be like Proteus, whose distin
gushing characteristic was the faculty
of transforming himself into different
shapes.
"Our snake was like any ordinary
everyday snake, except, mind you, in
size. Its head was shield shaped ano
only very little wider that its body; its
Jaws were enormous and armed with
four immense fangs. They were
placed we'll in front and must have
been fully ten or twelve inches longe,
than the other teeth, with which its
jaws were thickly studded. Its nos
trils appeared TO be placed somewhat
on top of the head, as every time il
raised its head above water it blowed
or "spouted," as we see whales do,
only with much more vigor than any
whale we have ever seen.
1.-The tail was vertically tlattened
and compressed, and thus we'll adapt.
ed for swimming. The diameter OF
its body at the thickest part, which
was almost the middle, must have Deen
fully ten feet, tapering to about SIX
ieet diameter at head and tail; and,
Judging from the length of our ship, 1t
must have been fully 100 feet long.
Its skin appeared to be covered with
large and very thick scales, or shields,
and from head to tail it was very pref
tiIy marked with bands of pale yellow
and very dark green; however, it
would be better to add that these colors
were so happily blended on the under
meath that it looked as if a line of pale,
very pale, sea green, was the color
from head to tail. Its eyes were placed
well on the side of the head, and, in
color, looked as if two enormous rubies
had been placed there.
"Now, as this monster approached
the scene of the late conflict, its motion
was rapidly accelerated, and its head
kept about six feet above water. The
scales on the side of tie head appeared
to stand we'll out as does cobra's hood
when the serpent is very much
alarmed.
'"The small fish, small as compared
with this monster, scattered right and
left, the only laggard being the huge
shark, which must have been wounded
by the alligator. This unfortunate was
seized in an instant by the snake, and,
being lifted well out of the water, he
was shaken as terrier shakes rat,
for.fully one minute, when we saw the
head and tail part of the poor shark
drop into the water, the middle section
disappeared down the serpents gullet.
"The breeze having gradually fresh
ened we soon ran out of the muddy
water, and the last we saw of this huge
serpent it was finishing its breakfast
in a very leisurely manner
Such is the history written, particu-
larly this history of sea serpents. I
looked upon Captain Peabody and he
looked upon me. So far as sea serpents
went saw that it was not in his gen.
tie nature to damn with faint praise.
tried to divert his mind from the
subject and to ask him about other
things-other snakes. lie commenced
to tell about the fifty miles OF poor,
cheap, tawdry little snakes, and then a
blue eyed, golden haired little fairy of
six happy summers came tearing into
the cabin like a mad little firework. I
asked Miss Claire, for that is her name,
what she thought of the snakes, and
she gave answer unreservedly:
Great, horrid beastsl" she said.
"How long were they, little girl9'
"Oh, they were long, so long," and
she looked around the cabin to find
long enough to compare
them to. And failing she strobe along
the carpet ten mighty strides, and,
looking Up triumphautly, gave that
distance as their length.
Mrs. Peabody, sweet faced lady
smiled. She preferred to have Claire
and the Captain tell the story. The
Captain continued.
"There was no current" he said,
land but little wind. There was no
sea, just an oily swell. And after en-
tering that snake pack-I don't know
what else to call it-as far as the eye
could see there was twisting. writh-
ing maze of serpents.
Then night came on, and blue,
glossy green and velvet black they
coiled and swan, and every track was
a flash of golden fire."
The captain did not say that, but an
other Ancient Mariner did, and the de-
scription fits what he did say. When
the shadows fell, he says that the sea
was alive with phosphorescent light
from the myriad of water snakes
flashing through the blue.
Daylight came again, with the ship
her same languid progress
And all around the snakes were coil
ing. All colors and most all sizes. he
says. He fred rifle at one and saw
the water stained with blood, but the
others swan on, unheeding and un.
fearing.
To get away from snakes for awhile
] asked the captain about weather. He
told me about typhoon, with low
lying clouds and tumbling seas and
how his ship was decorated with COM
posants during a thunder storm in
those far away seas.
Uncle Sans Debt.
WASHINGTON, Sept. ]. The debt state
ment issued this afternoon shows net