The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-09-11
MAN GUARDED BY A RATHER
RepuIsive Pet Of Florida and
Trapper.
washington Post.)

no pleasant idea, but nevertheless a
fact" said the collector and dealer N
wild animals, birds and reptiles, but
he went on, the most reasonable rea-
son for keeping a snake pet was given
to me by a Florida hunter in whose
hut. down on the banks of Indian riv-
er, 1 orce spent > Wv nights.
Il had been directed 10 Jim Anderson
and found him, late one evening, after
waiting for several hours at the
broken down, deserted landing. about
fifty yards from his place, a log shack.
not preposSessing in appearance on the
outside, but when We had discussed a
mess OF fish cooked 10 a turn, a delicious
vension steak, with sweet potatoes on
the side, and had seated ourselves in
front of just enough fire TO keep the
chill OF the evening out, with our pipes
going, II was not half a bad place, after
all. The walls Were hung with skins of
bird and beast, and oitogether, 10 the
city man, the interior had a strong
iavor of that kind of life we are wont
TO read about in the story books.
1t was one of my first personal trips
in the business. 1 have made many
since then, Blu none SO full of nan
or interest Anderson was not an I'M
couth mar and could talk well. He
knew every track and every haunt in
az w. 49, q IAt SNdlt, W IN
those days, was but little disturbed
by the tourist. He had lived there for
twenty years, and preferred the life
TO anything the outside world could
offer him. And he is living there still.
for l get contributions from him con-
tinually.
SAW SNAKE NEAR HIS HEAD.
We'll, TO get to h story, we were
leaning back in the rude, homemade
willow chairs, and l was listening to
the yarns that Jim was spinning about
alllgators n bear when my eve was
attracted by something moving in hi.
chair. Turning, to my horror, l saw
IT was a snake In the half light l
could not tell what kind, but the mo-
ton of the reptile was unmistakable
as it drew itself slowly along the up
per part of the chair. not more than six
inches from his ear.
Il knew enough about the business
not TO yell, in fact l doubt if could
have uttered a sound at first. for
was frozen TO my seat. | was trying
to think what to do when Anderson
turned and LOOKED at me. He seemed
puzzled for a moment, and then the
sound of the snake against the chair
must have attracted his attention. He
turned his head slowly. and then raised
MS hand. An immense rattlesnake
drew itself over his shoulder and down
his hand and arm, then to his knees,
where it slowly coilded, and with it's
terribele head slightly raised, fixed its
beady eyes on me. All this was only
the work of half a minute. To me it
was a week. Anderson, who had again
turned to look at me, while one hand
roster on the coils of the snake,
chuckled.
You're a nice fellow to be down
here talking varmints,' he said, and
to get a skeeer on you just at the sight
of a RATHER. Why this old fellow is as
harmless as a blackSnake and more
affectionate by far. Exceptin' the
dogs, he's the only companion 1 have
a regular for the last ten years
Naturally 1 felt some reinsurance,
but the very presence of a r~attlesnake,
even now, has a terrorizing effect on
me, and / never handle them in line
of business. But, l did not like to
show that / vas so very much afraid
n shook off the first feeling to some
extent. But Anderson knew what was
the mater, and, rising while the snake
hung from his arm and dropped to the
floor, he went to a cupboard and pro-
duced a jug. the contents of which had
an excellent effect upon my shaken
nerves.
QUICK IN DEFENSE.
The snake had coiled upon the rug
and was quietly watching us. AZ we
neared the fire again Anderson stopped
about six feet from the reptile and
told me to pretend to strike him. I
raised my land and at once the terri
BILE rattle was sprung and kept up an
incessant whirr. I turned and literally
ran across the hut, and Anderson
laughed. Sit down. he said, and pay
no attention to him. He can't hurt and
will stop the rocket in a minute. Then
I'll tell o his story and mine
Ten years ago that tina snake
| saved NV life had hpQn 1iyino haro
peaceably enough for nigh onto ten
years, and never had any trouble with
any u one man That was Dick
Boston. I never knew if that was his
right name, but whatever it was, I will
not likely ever know the truth. Bos-
ton happened here one day and found
me in the hut. I was at work on some
skins and the day was hot, so 1 had
not gone out. I looked up and saw a
shadow in the doorway. The man
stepped inside, and said:
"I recon it's all right, mate, I don't
mean no ham. I just want a bite O.
something and a place to lie down
away from h varmints for a while.
STRANGER CAME TO THE HUT.
81 saw he was friendly, and told
him to sit down and he could have
something to eat and drink, and rest as
long as he liked. I thought, perhaps,
he was some hunting chap, though he
did not carry the loo with him much,
and he had no gun nor nothing. But
/ was asking no questions just then,
and soon had a good bite O. grub before
him, which he ate like a famished
thing. 1 gave him a drink, and that
was a surprise like to him; he took two
and then three. Then he walked over
to the bunk, stretched out, and was
asleep in half a minute.
81 looked him over, and the more
looked the less I liked him. He had
an ugly face and was dirty. Alto.
gether, l sized him up as a bad lot, AND
some sort of misgivings came over me
that I might have trouble with him
Well, to make a long story short, wher
he woke up he was friendly enough
but his talk wasn't kind. He curset
a heap, and I saw he knew nothing
about the country. When l asked hin
how he got there and what he wa.
doing, he said he had walked, and tina
he was there for his health, but / saw
there was something behind it all h
did not want to tell.
Then he asked me about myself
and I told him how I had hunted her,
for years and sold skins and things
He asked me IL there was any none,