Arizona republican., 1899-02-20

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 which were va~y destructive to tht
 corn, both before and after sproutiug
 roamed about foc several hours
 and becoming tired, at last I sat down
 to rest upon a strip of smooth grass and leaned against a pile of bouldeTs | I had magazine in my pocket. and took it out to read It was delighrfulIy warm and sunny. I sat longer than
 had intended, and presently began tC find it difficult to keep my attention fixed upon the article I was reading. ]
 closed my eyes two or three times, and
 as often reopened them, and at last
 the magazine slipped from my hands
 and fell into light doze.
 How long I slept I dc not know, but
 I was awakened by a sensation as ot cold water being poured across my
 wrist. I moved my hand involuntar- fly, and with the movement came d low buzzing whirr that brought me to my senses like lightning, though fortu- rate1y not to my feet
 Opening my eyes looked in the di- recti0n of the sound, but without nov ing a muscle of my body. 1 SAW what | expected Close beside my left wrist, and coiled up Tn neat spiral, was the rattlesnake. His broad wedge-snaped head was erected venomously, while his rattles buzzed from the center of the coil. His gaze was directed a.t my hand which I had sieepily moved at the chill contact of his body and he was evidently in two minds, whether to strike or retreat.
 was not unused to rattlesnakes. for we frequently met them about the farm and I knew I was in the most imminent peril. did not lose my presence Of mind however, and all my faculties cleared to form a plan of es- cape. I did not believe that the snake would strike while I remained motion less, and was calculating whether by a quick turn and roll in the opposite direction I could not arrive at a safe distance from my enemy. when I was horribly startled by a Eustling of paper and another warn 'ng Wlirr directly be- side my right shoulder
 While asleep I had gradually slipped down, so that I now lay at full length upon the grass. As I cautiously turned my eyes in that direction I saw sec ond snake, a small one, o2iled up on the page and ready for action.
 I was horror-stricken at this sight, for it seemed that I was hemmed in on both sides. But even then I cast my eyes upward and saw protruding from a crevlce in the rock esbove half the body of third Of the hideous crea- lures. More than that, there were two or three other heads and necks just visible here and there about the chlnks, directly above me. The cid bouiders must have been their winter retreat.
 At this discovery l turned deadly sick and I believe I should have faint ed had I not braced every effort ot the will against it. The snakes ceased rat tling after a little, and strengthened cut their coils, but did not move away Another fell with q heavy flap close to my ear. In my inflamed imagination I seemed to see serpents everywhere One actually did drag his cold body across the back of my hand, and an ether began to bask in the sun at my feet I dc not know how many snakes really were assembled around me, but there could not have been less than half a dozen.
 As the minutes passed without my receiving the expected bite, the first horror and deadly fear subsided, and began to think of plans for escape. thought that the snakes would return to their dens at Eightfall. but could I remain absolutely moticnless for so lcng time? I doubted it.
 Suddenly the snakes threw them selves into coil. as if by common i'm pulse, and began to sound their rattles most viciously. In another minute I heard batter of feet upon tue hard cattle track leading up the hill Next moment Pharoah appeared, snuffing the air, his nose covered with earth, showing how he had escaped from inn and the bristles on his back standing up stifiy
 As he approached I noticed that the snakes on the stones turned and crept inwardS as if alarmed He did not hasitate an instant. but charged right down upon the reptiles, champing his jaws and uttering the most ferccious snorts. As he neared me, the rattlec at my right sprang from its coil in his face-sprang and struck, and bur ieG it's fangs so deeply that it hung for a moment suspended. But this only increased Pharoah's wrath Tossing his head he set his foot upon it's body and tore it from it's hold, then proceeded tn trample it to pieces, without in the least regarding it's frantic hissing and attempts to bite
 Next he made furious plunge right across my body at a second This one did not wait for him, however. It1 turned tail and made Off as fast as pos 5Ible, with Pharcah ill hot pursuit It tried to Wriggle into small hole be- heath rock, but Pharoah caught the end Of its tail and drew it, hissing and sGuirming, from it's refuge. Without paying any attention to it's struggles, he set his foot upon it's head and pro ceeded to kill it.
 The rest of the horrid creatures had quite disappeared, and I judged it safe to rise to my feet. As soon as Pharoah saw me rise he tTotted toward me with srunts cf the most friendly meaning, F if he really comprehended the ser vice he had done me. And I. in return, -ried to show my gratitude by the only sort cf caress that he apprceiated-I scratched his back with stick
 I watched Pharaoh with much solici- -ude for several days, but he showed l lo i'll effects from the poison exce,pt | css Of appetite for time And I am ;ure that after this event there never vas more favored and pampered pig. | Frank |, PO1l9rlk in S9lf T3ke Trih |