The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-10-22

Our warning cry as we sprang to our
feet seemed to break the spell that
bound him, for, with an agonized
howl, Rover swerved to one side and
sprang far out into the river. Where
he sank the water was churned into
foam by the lashing tails of the alll-
gators as they fought over their prey.
Then the ripples gradually died away,
and a few fakes of blood-red foam
were the only traces left of the trag-
edy.
We fell back on the raft overcome
with terror at the poor dogs fate
but n strange fascination compelled
us to turn our gaze on the hideous
and dangerous reptile that had forced
Its companionship upon us. There 1t
lay. coiled up on the logs not more
than fifteen feet from us, its small, fiat
head reared above the huge coil, and
waving to and fro with rhythmic mo-
tion that seemed almost TO hypnotic
us. II was only by strong effort of
will-power that we at last averted our
eyes. and turned to look about us.
The lightning that had revealed our
grim companion must have been the
last flash of the storm, for the clouds
had cleared away, the stars had come
out and were already beginning to pale
before the advancing light of dawn.
With lightencd hearts we turned
again to look at the python and found
to our horror, that he had moved up
nearer to us. He was nearly ten feet
in length. and at least nine inches
through the thickest part of his body.
Unarmed, we were no match for him,
In our rear were the river and the
alligators; we could retreat no farther
unless we wished to share the fate
of poor Rover.
So overcome were we by a sense of
our helplessness and the horror of the
situation that believe IL the python
had advanced any nearer, we should
have jumped from the raft to be torn
| to pieces by the alligators. But Just
then we heard loud shouting. and
looking downstream we saw ma
tive fishing-boat, manned by a crew of
Withholding, half-naked Burmans,
skimming toward us under the inn
pulse of a half dozen long, paddle
shaped sweeps.
We would have welcomed anything
In the shape of rescue party. even
had We known them to be cannibals;
and as the boat grated alongside the
raft, we sprang forward with the in
tention of boarding her at once. But
we started back in alarm as the py
| thon gllG~d up TO the boat and slid
over the gtmvale into the gternsheets.
The men, instead of showing any fear,
seemed to rejoice in the advent of this
strange passenger; and It was only af
ter protracted welcome to his snake
ship that they again turned their at
tention to us.
In pidgin- English the men at the
helm invited us to get in and go ashore
with them to their village, which was
now plainly in sight among the trees
on the farther bank. But the pres
ence Of the snake, and the longing
greedy looks the men cast on our raft,
made us hesitate, and as we hung back
a hearty British cheer startled us, and
we turned round just in time to grasp
the gunwale of cur gig and steady her
alongside. Then the boatswain and
four others of our shipmates tumbled
on the raft and fairly Rugged us in
their joy at finding us alive and well.
The Burmans had showed off with
their python as our boat came along
side, and we're already we'll on the way
to their village. AS we lay back. wait
ing for the flood-tide to set, that we
might get the raft off and tow 1t back
to the ship, the boatswain told us how
the native fishermen make domestic
pet of the python or subba-gyee, as
they call 1t, and use him as barometer
when they go dshing. He will remain
coiled up comfortably in the bow of
the boat until storm is coming on,
when he promptly slips overheard and
heads for the shore. The fishermen
then make sail and follow him with all
possible celerity.
The pet subba- gyee is fed on a diet
of rice and eggs, and lives in the house
very companionably with the cat and
the baby. This, of course, explained
the situation as far as the snake was
concerned, but It did rot in the least
mitigate the horrors of the past night.
And to this day, whenever partake
too freely Of an unusually heavy sup
per, the subba-gyee and the aligators
are generally part and parcel of the
dream-horrors that visit my restless
couch. We towed tho raft back to the
ship, and the skipper was so pleased
J to have us all back safe and sound
! that Phil and | escaped with a very
, mild reprimand.--Yo Companion.
; "wfId Animals" of England.
cOrespOudent thinks that some IN,