The times., 1898-10-02
A FIGHTING SNAKE.
A Moccasin That Boldly Attacked
Two Men In a Boat
(From Forest and stream. }


(From Forest and straam)
Fishing one day in bayou of the Pearl
River, with one companion. we sat in op-
poSite ends of a long. light boat which
tapered equally at both ends but did not
come 10 sharp point IL had but three
seaJs-one at each end and middle seat.
/ When change of position was desired.
we sunk light paddle in the water and
quietly propelled the boat by strokes un-
der the water. SO as TO make no splash
ing.
My end of the boat had turned toward
the nearest bank, which was distant
/ about 30 feet, and lying asleep on a log
at the waters edge / noticed mOccasin
OF very fair proportions
Signaling TO my companion. I pointed
10 the snake. that he might hold the
boat steady while / tried a shot al il
with small pocket pistol-a 22-caliber-
that We always carried on our trips. and
in the use OF which constant practice
| had made me very expert. The snakes
| head was not visible, so / concluded TO
try a shot at the thiekest part of the
body. which showed clear on the highest
part OF the log. presenting a fair mark
that could hit nine times in ten shots.
hoping to break his spine. Ny pistol was
single shot, which was usually no dis
/ advantage IN shooting at snakes. as they
always took TO the water II not disabled
at the first shot Taking a very careful
aim al the fair mark presented by the
snakes body on the log. / fired
The boat must have moved slightly Just
at that moment. for my shot struck one
half inch lower than intended Instead
of going through the snakes body it
went between it and the log and must
have felt very much like hot iron, judg-
ing by his actions.
After a quick quiver and full length
/ fif-F0a -u hr.~r~ -
spit like an angry cat
This was so very unusual that it anus
ed us very much, and we sat laughing
heartily for a moment or two. expecting
every instant that the snake would take
TO the water and disappear
Suddenly the snake swung round with
it's head stretched out in our direction
and plunged into the water, but did not
disappear. Threshing through the water
like mad he made straight for me with
an air OF business that cured my attack
of laughter promptly and effectually-
| was paraIyzed with fright but could
not believe that the snake was really
coming 70 attack US. and sat looking al
his approach. expecting every moment
that he would dive or turn aside
But he did neither. Straight on he
came until he was but few feet from
me as / sat in the boat. and then l dis
covered my powers OF lOcOmOtiOn and
most inglOriously fed. There was No
choice Of routes. SO straight down the
long. slender boat I dashed toward the
end my companion occupied. clearing the
middle seat with a jump that nearly
drove the bottom out My companion had
started up with startled cry 10 Look
outr' and had grasped heavy paddle
lying in the bottom OF the boat. but see
ing me bearing down on him in a wild
flight. that was certain 10 carry Us both
over the end of the boat into twenty feet
OF water. he dropped the paddle, stopped
low, and caught me with an approved
fcot-back tackle hold Just above the
knees, and together We fell with crash
against the end seat. my head striking
with such force that / was daZed and
rendered almost unconscious. Springins
TO his feet my friend snatched UP the
paddle and ran to the end or the boat
/ that l had fed from. and found the snake
/ still in pursuit, although the boat had
moved some distance from the impetus
/ given by the sudden arresting OF my
/ flight Not until he had received blow
| that almost disabled him did that pug
| nacious serpent retire from the attack
/ He then swan back to the bank and
| crawled out on the very log on which
| first We had found him
When I had sufficiently recovered from
the knock on the head. AM gathered my
| scattered wits, We held a council o. war.
| and there was a division in the camp
| The man who was not SHake-tiuif was
| IN favor of going right in and VI i9pins
| out the enemy with our heavy paddles;
| while the man who was most decidedly
| snake-timid was in favor OF a general
/ and immediate retreat from the unpleas-
7 ant and 10 him. unfortunate location.
I We finally compromised by landing the
/ boat al a point some distance from the
I enemy, and the able-bOdied contingent
went 10 the attack alone, while the sick
and wounded stood guard Al the boat
/ The snake refused 10 retreat 10 the va
/ ter. and was killed with a long pole while
/ still showing fight This is no eXaggera-
/ ton of the attack of the only mOccaSiIA
4 that 1 ever saw carry the war into Al
rica."