The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-02-20
sIMoN's NEMESIS.

PAhCAN .
The grey wolf of North America is
not often an enemy that man has any
great reason to fear When he is espec-
elally hungry which is chiefly in the
winter season, he will band together
and hunt anything.
But when l tramped through Green's
Timber 1t was not winter time, and l
knew of no reason why wolves should
be hungry. Green's Timber is the
name given to a particularly thick
piece of jungle forest near the banks
OF the Snake River in Idaho. was
thrusting my way through the brake
and thinking of anything but wolves,
and particularly of the dear girl whom
L had walked some miles to see that
morning, and of the many sweet things
we had said to each other. Any Ire
leaven was dear girl, and Ihad known
1t for long time, but she hadebeen my
dear girl for only week, and naturally
my head was full of her as 1 tramped
cheerily homeward When | saw
longcoat grey form steal away from a
glade as l entered it l scarcely marked
the occurrence. was in no killing mood
stop Mr.. Wolf with bullet from my eX-
press. But when l heard the fall of
soft pads behind me little later
turned in astonishment to see the great
beast tracking me with stiff tail and
tongue hanging out. l saw the brute's
blazing eyes and muscles stiffened for
spring. barely had time to draw
pistol and fire. When it wanted scarce
ly an hour to sunset another strange
thing happened to dispel my confidence.
had left the forest and had already
made some way into an extensive
prairie through which my road lay,
when there fell upon my ear the unmis
taxable yelp, yelp of a pack1in full cry.
looked round and saw close to the
edge of the forest a swiftly moving
patch of dots that knew well enough
represented thirty or forty wolves COM
ing on with characteristic eagerness.
They We're two miles away as the crow
flies, but about four miles back upon
my trail, which I could see plainly they
were following. In less than half an
hour they would catch me up and there
was no place of refuge within reach
except the swatnps! The swamps that
lie along the Snake River are a terror
to all who know them In them the
poisonous Crater moccasins live and
thrive like mites in a cheese. Unlike
most snakes, this reptile is credited
with a spiteful responsiveness that
makes it far more dangerous than
others of its kind. According to all
accounts, the man who entered the
swamps ran the continual risk of being
assaulted and even pursued by the
deadly reptiles, and it was ouruniversal
practice to give the place wide berth.
But with so certain and imminent a
danger behind me I was ready and al
most anxious to take the risk.
There was deep wading and some
swimming to be done. Once, when I
clutched a tussock of grass to steady
myself snake reared its head within
foot of my hand and Kissed vei1omous-
ly. A howl of disappointment told me
that the pack had arrived at the n1arg-
in and dared go no further ! had ter
rors enough for that day and was
particularly glad to reach hone--about
o'clock. 81 thought you We're lost"
said Simon, my chum, with a scared,
white face that gave me q considerable
shock. He looked more terrified than I
had right to feel. and l told him so.
He spoke with eyes averted; as he
per they chartered like castinets.
When I changed my wet gar
ments for dry ones, and when a
steaming hash had been placed upon
| the table, I began to relate my adven-
! ture
spoke but briefly of having seen
Amy. Only a week ago he had seen al
most as much of her as +, and 7 had a
suspicion that her engagement to me
| was sore subject When I mentioned
| her name I noticed that he appeared to
have difficulty in swallowing his sup
| per. I accordingly hurried on to tell
about the wolf in the wood What a
strange thing he said, turning away
his head and speaking constrainedly.
| 81 suppose the beast was mad. Been
eating stale flesh, likely"
| Then I told how / had seen the pack
| on my trail four miles behind. He got
up from the table, with clenched fiste.
"How did you get away he asked.
| told him the rest.
| What! Came through Moccasin
Swamp" he calculated sit swarms
with snakes. No man has been through
| it before" His voice broke into wall,
and he threw himself into chair. 1t
stuck me that he spoke as though he
was disappointed at my escape.
Suddenly he put his hand to his head
| and sprang into the air, while a piercing
Shrek filed the room. I'm bitten, I'm
bitten! You brought it home he shout
ed, and to my terror / saw a long, black
body hanging from him, its fangs buri-
ed in his neck. Simon had leaned his
| head against my jacket that was hang
| ing to dry, and the snake must have
been in one of the pockets.
| The reptile was quickly dispatched but
Simon's case was quite hopeless. The
fangs had almost entered the jugular
and few minutes sufficed for the poi
son to reach the heart.
Ere he died Simon blurted out a
strange confession. He recited his love
for Amy and her preference for me-
Jealousy he said, had taken possession
Of him; he had last night rubbed my
| leggins with valerian, an infallible
attraction to wolves. Only the swamp
could save me from the pack, and that
was almost certain death by snakes ]
| had passed safely through the swamp
| I,ro.nl,+