The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-03-07


ands. which are infested
with snakes. They range in size from
the giant python 10 the deadly KARAT,
and the residents OF the Islands have
many thrilling experiences. One such
is described by Mr.. w. A. Fraser In
the Canadian Magazine:
A member Of Mr.. Fraser's party,
named Dunlop, had occasion 10 visit a
Mr.. Savage. a balf-caste landowner on
the other side OF the island. He went
In boat, and while the coolies were
bringing ia his traps went up TO the
bungalow.
He was sitting in a big chair on the
veranda talking TO Savage when he
felt something drop from the leaf roof
to his shoulder. He started leisurely
10 rise 10 see what had fallen when
his companion cried out
Don't move! Keep perfectly still"
Dunlop knew what that meant, and
he obeyed. a full grown cobra lay
across his shoulders.
Savage stealthily took Burmese
sword from the wall and catlil.e crept
toward Dunlop. When he was within
striking distance he paused and raised
the weapon high in the air TO cut the
thing In two with one swift downward
stroke.
But that one little pause gave him
opportunity not only TO see what must
be done, but 10 reflect upon it. The
snake lay in such "A position that little
or none Of it's length projected beyond
the line Of Dunlop's shoulder. The one
blow then which would be effective
must be so surely struck as to sever
the head OF the snake entirely from its
body. and yet so nicely gauged in force
as not to wound the shoulder on which
the serpent lay. Too little force might
only wound the cobra. leaving him still
vitality enough 10 strike; too much
would surely cripple Dunlop.
All this passed through Savage's
mind in an instant, as he held the
weapon poised. Then his nerve. rat
tied and tugged at for sixty years until
il was weak. failed him. and the sword
clattered from his fingers to the floor.
whincd In broken voice. and reelcd
back against the wall. where he stood
staring with weak eyes at the sahib
and his burden.
Dunlop neither moved not spoke; his
only safety lay in keeping perfectly
still-motionless 1t might be minutes
or n thousand years; they would have
TO wait until the boatmen came. What
would happen then he could not say.
He could feel the clinging, pulling
thing on his shoulder. There was an
undulating pressure telling him that
the head Of the snake was swaying
back and forth just above his neck.
Then the song OF the Madras boat
men as they came swinging along with
his luggage. broke upon his ear. Those
coarse voices. carolling in time with
their measured trot. were angel voices.
But Dunlop fell to wondering what the
bran-muddled coolies would do. IL
Emir Ali. his trusted servant saw the
thing. it might be we'll: he had nerve
and judgment, even close to that of
sahib.
Emir Ali was In the lead. When he
came to the steps Savage jerked out
an expression that called his attention
To the tableau. Gathering his longhee
tight about his loins, Emir Ali slipped
along the veranda like shadow.
grasped the fallen sword, and, poisng
his black 1.-THE body for swift. strong
stroke brought the sword through the
air with swishing cut that laid the
cobra in two neat pieces almost at
Dunlop's feet