Arizona republican., 1898-09-24
4 FIGHTING SNAKE.
A 2usnacious fsoccasin Boldly Af-
 lacks I've Fsca in aoaf.

Fishing one day in 3 bayou Of inc Pearl river, with oHe ocnipailion, w-e sat in opposite ends of long, light beat, which tapered equally at both ends, but did net come to sharp poin,. 1t had but three seats-one at each end and middle seat. When change Of position was desired, VIC sunk a light paddle in the water and quietly pro pelled the boat by strokes under the water 50 as to make no sDlashing.
 My end of the boat had turned to- ward the nearest bank, which was dis tant about thirty feet, and lying asleep or 3 log at the waters edge 1 noticed a HaOccasia Of very fair proportions.
 Signaling to my conn npanion, I point e& to the snake, that he might hold the boat steady while l tried shot at it with q small pocket pistol--a 22 cal iher--that we always carried on our trips, and in the use of which constant practice had niade me very expert. The snakes head was not visible, so I con- cluded to try 3 shot at the thickest part Of the body, which showed clear on the highest part os the log, presenting $ fair mark that l could hit nine times in ten shots, hoping to break his spine. My pistol was single shot, which WAS usually nc disadvantage in shooting at shakes, as they always took to the Wa ter if net disabled at the first shot Taking Q very careful aim a5 the fair mark presented by the snakes body Cn the log, I fired.
 The boat must have moved slightly just at that moment, for my shot struck one-half inch lower than intend ed. Instead Of going through the snakes body, it went between it and the log, and nluss have felt very much like hot iron, judging by his actions.
 After a quick q'liYer and fu]l length sqrirm. he began to blow his back and spit like an angry cat.
 This Has so very unusual that 1t amused us very much, and we sat laughing heartily for q 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 cut in cur di- rsction, and plunged into the water, but did not disappear. Threshing through the water like mad. he made straight for me wifh an air of business that cured my attack Of laughter promptly and elfes.ually.
 WAS paraiyzsc with fright, but could not belieTe that the snake was really coming to autack us, and sat looking at his approach, expecting every moment that he would dive or turn aside.
 But he did neither. Straight or he came until he Was buo 3 faw feet from me as I sat in the boat. and then I ra- covered my powers O. locOmotion and most ipgioTiously fed. Thera was no choice Of routes, so stTaigh. down the lCng, slender boat I dashed toward the end my companion occupied, clearing the middle seat with a jump that near y drCve the bottom cut. BIy. o0mpan- ion had started up with startled cry to Look out" and had srasped Q 1 heavy paddle lying in ths bottom Of ilhe boat, but seeing me bearing down on him in wild flight. that WAS car- tain to 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 foot ball tackle hold just above the knees, and together We fell with crash against the end seat, my head striking with such force that 1 was d3zed and ren- GeTed almost unconscious. SpringiES to his feet my friend snatched LID the paddle and ran to the end Of the boat that l had fled from, and found the snake still in pursuit, although the beat lad moved some distance from the impetus given by the sudden arrest ing Of my flight Not until he had re- ceived blow that almost disabled him did that pugnaci0us serpent retire from the attack. lie then swan back to the bank and crawled ort CT the very log on which first we had found him.
 When l had sufficiently recovered from the knock on the head and gath cred my scattered wits, we held q council Of war, and there vas a divis- ion in ,he camp.
 The man who Waa ret snake-timid w8s in favcr of goi1g right Tn and whipping out the enemy with cur pad dies: while the nl4a who was nest de- cidedly srake-tilaii WAS in favor Of 2 general and immediate retreat from the unpleasant, and, 3o him, uniCrtunate location. EVe finally compromised ny landing the boat st g point some dis dante lrosn -t:ic enemy, and the able bodied contingent went to the attack alone, while tllo sick and wounded | stood guard at the boat The snake refused to retreat to the water, aud was killed with 3 long pole while ssili shcwin; fight. This is no exaggara- ticn Of 5he attack of the only moccasin that I ever sa'm ''caTVy the war into Af- rice. '-Lewis Hopkins in Forest and Stream
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 THINGS SEEM DIFFERENT NOW.