The progress., 1904-12-31

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snakes. They were coiled into one nm.
distinguishable mass of yellow and
black. Not an inspiring sight. could
only see one head and neck. It was
small and dat. not swollen to the huge
size depicted in natural history books.
We returned TO our seats by the fire.
the genial heat dispeile6 tEe chill OF the
room and In . few minutes 1t became
uncomfortably warm.
I'D open window" said Fletcher. as
we moved our chairs slightly farther
away from the blaze, "but the ther'
mometer outside ie two below zero. and
the room might cool OF with unpleasant
suddenness. But If you like l."
A Startling Surprise.
He never finished the sentence.
Glancing at him saw his eyes were
glaring wildly, his mouth open. his face
white. | followed the direction Of his
gaze.
Across the polished floor toward the
fire a big snake was dragging its slow
length. Our eyes turned to the box.
When Fletcher had carelessly shut 1t
the lid had fallen on q protruding
bunch Of blanket, leaving an open
space Of perhaps two inches. Through
this space the second snake was even
now gliding forward.
We sprang to our feet. AS we did 80
the snake on the floor halted, coiled
itself and raised its little head about
IS inches above the ground. As 1t did
30 the folds Of Its neck swelled and
broadened before our eyes, into the
horrible "hood" whereof everyone has
read.
At the same moment the second
snake slid to the floor. and. emulating
it's companions pose, coiled. facing US.
We had both made an instructive nova
for the door. But the second snake now
lay directly in our path. The nrst
reptile uncoiled and drew toward US.
1t took us perhaps one-tenth OF a
second to jump to the top Of Fletchers
broad study table.
From this temporary coign Of van-
tage we watched the two reptiles
crawl nearer the hre. warm themselves
lazily, and, each minute grow more and
more lively as the heat from the
blaze crept through their chilled bodies.
you've got paper weights and .
heavy inkstand and pair of shears on
this table, said at last, moving about
q little on my uncomfortable perch.
why not lombard them. just rs we
used to stone snakes when we were
boys?"
mo. for goodness sake. don't do
that" cried Fletcher THAT pair Of
snakes is worth $500. I've a better
idea"
ITO bolt for the door and shut
them in?"
mo; we'd have to pass close-to them
to get to the door. They're too lively
now for US to run such risk. We
must wait up here till the fire dies
down. 1t may be an hour or more
before the room is cold again, but as
soon as 1t is they'll grow torpid, and
we'll be in no danger from them"
I'm the meantime. I suppose. we're
to perch here like a-cat treed by q
fox terrier?" suggested. "The idea
doesn't appeal to me-"
ut doesn't make any especial hit
with me. either" rejoined Fletcher.
but like it better than being snake
bitten. The king cobras bite issabso-
lutely sure death. you know. There
is no antidote. No. we've got to walt
here, and we may as we'll make the
best of 1t. Have another cigar"
For ten minutes We sat Turk-fash-
ion, on The table top. smoking and
watching those two snakes, which. by
now, had begun gliding about the
room In q tour Of Investigation.
All at once the humor Of the situa-
ton broke upon US, and We burst out
with q simultaneous roar<of Laughter.
It was too absurd to think Of . couple
of fairly prominent New Workers
spending q winters morning on top Of
q table.
Tragic Interrupted.
But our laughter stopped abruptly.
as through its pcals penetrated q high
pitched baby voice from the hallway
outside.
what you laughing at papa'" called
the voice.
It was Fletcher's four-yesr-oid boy:
his only child and the darling Of his
heart.
Before either of us could speak OF
fairly take In this new complication.
the doorknoh ratified under the uucef-
tain clutch Of tiny fingers
Let me In. papa! Please let baby
I'M" pleaded the cosxing little voica
II can't open It."
Fletcher groaned aloud. HIS facs
was like that Of q corpse.
Go backi Go away at ouce!" be
thundered: but his horror and agita-
tion rendered the words . mere unin-
tslligible below.
Baby evidently took It tor . huge
joke
You sound Ike Q big Hon. papa"
be laughed. TN coming into the
lions deni"
Poor little chap! He wss trying 10
force HIN Wv into . placs fsr more
frsueht With death than ths dan q
sny African uop-
~ this elme - had tuth sSc0svgUd
cur vuocoa
20 back. deorI" cAllsd YlsfcAsr, IN
Q lower vutUs. ~pspa's vsTy busy.
8ut The wurds w9e drowned u the
rattle Of tha inob. and. whfls ~ dzvv
b 60D brssths q droad. the hn1dle
f0 - - 81 eum9Ho0 a.