The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-02-02
THE BEST SNAKE STORY.
\ Yarn About Imagination.
From Afacmilzan's Magazine.

in the world is that there was really
40 snake in it, which is more than can
be said even of the Garden of Eden.
It had been very hot that summer
on the rancho. Men work in the fields
of California with the thermometer at
10 degrees, while they fall down OF
heat apoplexy in the streets OF New
York and Chicago at so degrees.
That is the maxim they preach to the
stranger in the West, and it has truth
In it: but it is mistake to suppose
that even in California men work in
the fields in comfort in such tenn
perature; and that summer the ther-
mometer had gone very near 115 de-
grees. So we we're grateful enough to
get away into the hills for spell,
with a wagon and tent and the usual
outfit of pots and pans, three OF US,
white men, with Louie, the Mexican
whom we called in the vernacular the
Greaser), to mind the horses and make
himself generally useful. Our pro
gramme was to fish the rivers, shoot
deer, and possibly a grizzly bear, dis
cover gold mine and go back to the
ranche with prospective fortune.
We had just pitched our tent.
Down on the plain for weeks before
we had been sleeping out on our ve-
randa, but the air Of the bills had a
nip in it by contrast. 1t was late in
the afternoon, but there was still
plenty Of sunshine. followed Louie
round shoulder of the hill, going tc
fetch water at little stream tumb-
hing from somewhere amongthe snowy
peaks that capped the zone Of FIRE on
the great mountains above us. These
mountains had, at some time or other,
sent down a little avalanche Of small
rocks, that lay heaped on our left as
we walked. The ssene was the most
peaceful imaginable.
In an instant a succession OF small
incidents sent the peace to limbo.
Louie dropped his pannikin with a
tinkliug clatter, crying ''Sancta Ma
ria in voice Of terror. At the
same moment I heard the dread rattle
Of snake, and saw its length CLEAN
under Louie feet and vanish among
the rocks
ssSancta Maria = he tottered back
into NY arms, his dark face livid with
fear.
What is it. Louie? Did the snake
strike you u?''
In the foot he said ; Eyes
'sLet US get back to camp. Quick,
lean on ME.
What's the good, boss ?" he ask
ed. ssI'm dead man. Neverthe-
less he came with me, leaning on my
shoulder, and making lame walk Of
it.
Down in the plain we had no rattle
snakes. For miles about the ranch
there was no rocks for them, and
though there were plenty of ground
squirrel holes we never saw snakes
about them. The thought of such
things did not enter our heads, and
Louie, weary of his boots, had kicked
them off, with the long spurs, and
come with me in his stocking feet on
this quest for water.
A word explained to the boys what
had happened.
:stryehnine's the best, said Jock
Peters, who was our authority on the
question of snake-b bites, which he had
studied in Australia "but we haven't
got it: SO we must do what we can
with this. But it's poor chance, .
he added in whisper, as, to save
time, he knocked the neck off bottle
of brandy. Drink it, Louie he
said; never mind cutting your lip !;
get it down-that's the chief thing. y
The Mexican's teeth chartered as
we forced in the neck Of the bottle,
but he drank a great gulp without
winking. The liquor, or pickle either,
to scorch the throat of a Mexican has
yet to be found.
Jim Kelly, the Irishman, was sad
ding the freshest of our horses, to
ride at best speed into Lindsay, IL
miles away in the haze Of the plains,
for the doctor. In minute he was
pounding away along the hills. 'Fix
UP a light as high as you can put it if
it's dark before we get back he
shouted as he went.
We pulled the sock off the Me1i-
can S foot. Already it was swelling
fast, with purplish tinge round a
tiny blue spot, from which the small
est imaginable drop of blood had