The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-25

when he was at the periadores bunga-
low Tor dinner, how he had made a mar
Vicious good shot at the snake. and rldded
himself OF an intolerable nuisance.
You oughtn't 10 have done that" said
the periadore smoking his cheroot and
smiling upon che boy.
them"
Maybe. but they have their uses" said
the periadore. I'm. kill a cobra or tic
poiopg{a quick as anybody; but | would
not XIII harmless raIsnake, which Is
poisonless and which, my lad, has been
cleaning out the rats and mice from your
bungalow for years. To put IL mildly, II
was not only cruel but a mistake. Mari
gold, your predecessor, cherished old Ma
cog. lie used to tell me The brute was
boss OF the house, and that, If Magog We're
not worth living
Yes. but the beast was so familiar
coming out at dinner to hang there-ask-
All right old chap" said the periadore,
ITS your bungalow, not mine.
Within week of the night when Ralph
shot at the snake, there came one of those
tumultuous rain storms which are never
seen anywhere except in the tropical rainy
seasons; II is mistake 10 try 20 picture
in words one of these storms Yoii~ read
of them often. but, If you have not been
through one, you never could imagine It's
horrors Try and picture 10 yourself the
Gay OF Judgment, with the whole heavens
tumhling In, Ike a failing roof, on top OF
you, with all the navies of the world fir
ing turret guns at you, with all the light
hlng OF the skies concentrating upon you,
with not soul. while or black near yol
without single tongue to cry "Here!'
when your tongue cries Help without
a hand TO reach out to touch your-try and
picture yourself a scene IKE mat and YOU
have some idea of the roaring tempest in
which Ralph. one lonely night in his bum
galow on the mountain, went to bed and
sleDt-slept utterly Tired out from work.
ing. UP the mountain with the periadore
and the coolies to strengthen the dam
which guided the hill stream from its nat
ural path to irrigate the low-lying land.
Ralph's bedroom was off the sitting
room, under the same ceiling cloth. and
his bed lay close to the wall. He was ut
terry tired but he dreamed. and in his
dream somehow Magog the snake was
mixed UP. He dreamed the snake was
following him revengefully; he dreamed IL
came UP to him, running; ne dreamed II
caught him; he dreamed that he fell
down; he dreamed that the snake eolled
and struck a his chest. He woke up wit h
the yell of nightmare-half chicken, horri-
| bic. And IL was truel As he awoke Ma
cog, the great snake, dropping down from
the ceiling, fell on him and swiftly glided
away out of the door
Ralph was on his feet instantly, and
found himself drenehed In persptra ton For
moment he could not understand. Then,
above the noise Of the thunder, above the
crash of The rain, he heard another sound.
He heard the roar of released waters the
roar of great rocks and tons OF earth
coming slipping. sliding, dashing down the
mountains landsiidel And RlIf6h knew
that his bungalow was right in the path Of
the escaped waters.
He was out Of the place In his piamas
just n time TO reach high land and see
his bungalow swept away. De Silva stood
beside him, shiveTing and praying.
"Ahl honorable sir" said De Silva 81
tod you, you killed the luck of the bung=
allow; Magog, the snake"
81 did not, cried the trembling boy. at
lived and warned me, or l should be dead
now"
But Magog was seen no more