The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-10
THE EEL PLAYED POsSUM.
1t Filled n WatersnalSe With Disnp-
pOintment, Rage and Chagrin.

1t Filled Watersnal6e With DiSnp-
pOintment, Rage and Chagrin.
Chester ON. " Letter. Chicago Inter-
Ocean
''There are smart cells and big water
snakes in the sluggish waters of the Wall
kill river, where it flows through the
Drowned lands said a veracious Goshen
man, 'and the big water snakes are very
fond of the smart cells Fond of them as
food Smart as these cells are they find
their smartness usually unavailing when
one of these big snakes get on their trail,
but once, at least an eel was so partic-
ularly smart that 1t outwitted a snake
that had started out to dine upon it, and
I saw the trick done.
Il was fishing in the river when l saw
great commotion in shallow water near the
shore. 1 rowed quietly over 10 where 1 got
better sight of what was going on. and
saw one of the big waikiki snakes with
one of the smart Waikiki cells by the neck
trying to get the eel ashore, so it could
manipulate it better and swallow il with
greater ease. The eel was Directing most
strenuously to this plan, and making fran
tic efforts to escape. Twice It squirmed
and wriggled itself loose from the laws
of the snake, and scooted for deep water.
but each time the snake recaptured It.
The snake was about five feet long, and
1.-THE snake at last got the eel half wav
up on the bank, when the eel souirned
loose again and tried to escape. The snake
was now mad ell over, as / could plainly
see. 1t recaptured the eel and shook II as
dog might shake a rat. 1t yanked the
eel this time clear out on the bank. and
wound itself about 1t until the eel was
wrapped in it's folds from head to tail
Then it drew itself together, and I give
you my word, could hear the cells bones
crack in the snakes embrace Having
squeezed the eel until it didn't seem to
nave any more life in it than a piece of
string, the snake dropped it on the ground.
glared at it, and circled round it several
times, as II gloating over its victim and
then flashed away into the rank weeds
that grew farther back on the bank. It
mad hardly disappeared. though, before II
came back again, touched its nose hero
ana there along the cells body, as if 70
make sure that the eel was really dead
and then gllded back into the woods again
The snake had no sooner disappeared
the second time than the eel, much 10 NV
amazement, raised dts head cautiously
gazed saround and took in the Law of fine
land in all directions, and then wrigeled
itself into the wafer and was out of SIGHT
IN less than no time. The eel had been
piaylRg possum as sure as appIeiack
Inc smart and tenacious eel hadn't es
N"PSu d SecOhu 100 soon, though, for il had
scarcely Owed and disappeared, when the
Watersnake came gliding back again ac-
companied by another snake, probably ATS
mate When the snake that had cantur-
ed the eel discovered that its prey vas
gone, 1t at first stopped and glared about
as II 1t couldn't believe its eyes. for /,
LETT the eel apparently as dead as anv-
thing could well be. Its establishment owe,
the snake dander rose up until if was
about the maddest creature 1 ever saw II
lashed its tail furiously Kissed and worked
IT'S red tongue in and out like little fasbas
OF lightning, and tircled round and round
the spot where the eel had lain as If r.
would like TO tear the ground up. The
other snake, which It was plain enoneb
10 me the first snake had gone to fetob
to share the eel with it, didn't make am,
demonstration, except to give its host sn,,
eral very significant looks, which the bost
seemed 10 understand for 1t plunged int.
the river, swan across, and pulled itselS
on the other bank, where il curled itsois
up, the most detected and dlsapDointed
looking thing imaginable. The other snake
turned and went back into the weeds ana
l haven't any doubt that il never believed
but what 1t had been fooled by the ON
that invited IL to come and eat eel for
even Waikiki water snakes. smart as tbe,,
know Waikiki cells 10 be, never had any,
idea that the eels knew enough to nlay,
'possum." F'"y