Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-07-20

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rection where the moving shadow ind
Gated to his blurred vision the positio
of his enemy But on the resumption O
active hostilitites, he would begin agai
his painful ascent.
"ow-w-w-ch." sounded a howl fror
above.
Looking up at the cry, Anna discernet
among the clustering leaves of the blacl
oak a huddled figure, with raccoon-likl
eyes, peering down at the MOUNTING
snake. to escape from which he had. ii
fact. climbed the tree.
Willie" she shouted, Jump The
snakes comingl Jump"
"Ow-w-w-chi" he continued TO wall
The snake stopped, confused, craning
its head upward at the new compiled
ton, then downward at its known adj
versary. Its hesitation would make
Willie's escape practicable. If he could
conquer his crazy fear
Willie, break off a limb = beat it
back! | can run!"
The snake undGlated few inches far
Their The reiterated cry was Willie's
only response Annals quick eye saw
another chance
There's that big limb of redwood
You can reach it. Swing across. It's
easy. You must" stamping. 20, Will
lie, do it! Do it,"
Her sailor father had often re-
proved Anna for her delight in climb
ing and swinging from tree to tree by
means Of her long arms and practieed
hands.
1T ISIS not goodt for you to be
monkey, mine Anna" he would say
Little girls need nefer to go to the
masthead. Thou hast no call to be a
sailor Be only a grave kindchen. and
help our goodt mother wit the dishes"
His admonition would dissolve in ar
unrestrained roar of laughter as she
wickedly Skinned" up the porch post
70 coign Of vantage on the yine-coy-
cred roof.
But she could not climb the tree
where the snake still clung There was
the neighboring redwood, huge irthed. |
smooth-boled. with limbs out Of reach |
yet the lowest bough almost touching |
the limb on which Willie crouched. me
chanieally clutching the body of the
tree, but dumb with the horror of his
situation.
Anna hurriedly piled up large rocks I'M
der a thick, broken branch-stump of the |
redwood which was at least eight feet |
from the ground Four times she leaped |
and fell back, wounding her
tough little feet She noticed blood
stains on the rocks as she heaped them
with a broader base for her fifth at
tempt. The snake rested. waving his
head downward as if in query Fortu-
nately he was full and sluggish.
Once more Anna crouched and shot .
upward. Her right hand caught the
projecting stump. her left easily fol-
lowed. Clasping the deceased trunk of
he tree in her slim, muscular legs, hang
ng also by her hands, she dropped her
head backward to take observation.
The snake hung out, also. toward her
rom his tree, then resumed his delib-
crate climbing Evidently the task
vas neither easy nor TO his liking.
Anna hitehed breathlessly up toward
he coveted limb. Reaching It, she took
,ut her ack-knife-inseparab COM
cut a wedge from
short limb above her. and broke of
he weakened branch. Recovering her
she reached out with this fiex-
BILE club. but could not touch the snake |
low reused to accelerated activity
Holding her weapon between her
eeth, Anna worked her way nearly TO ,
he end of her tough support Throw
lg out her right hand. she was able to
atch the big limb, at the base Of which
Willie, almost insensible. still hud-
led. Then she swung pendulum-like.
y her hands. increasing her momen- /,
I'm. At the right moment she released .
he redwood hough and flung her light )
ody full upon the young oak Grasp
lg the limb with both hands. she hanled
erself up beside the terrified boy.
The snake, shaken by the tumult
bove. wavered and stopped As a rule.
rattlesnake, conscious Of defense,
lakes a good fight; but here the condi-
ons were unusual and confusing. On :
vel ground where be could have coiled.
nd where his sensitive under surface
)uld have slid comfortably over smooth
irth, he would not have shirked
,mbat when cornered. Now. with his 4
lemy mysteriously above. his one idea I
,emed to be escape.
Willie iabbered an idiOtic welcome.
He can't strike until he gets clear
ere" Anna treasured him. He can't
ILL.," L.
Her rapid blows still further dis
aged her antagonist. He bit vicious y
at the stick. touching it more than
ice; for the rattler's strike is deadly
Wifi despite his languid locomotion.
At last Anna. settling herself firmly a.
] the limb, raised her club with both =
ands and delivered slashing blow or :
lie neck of her foe, breaking. as they
lterward found. his yertebral column.
The darting head hung limp; a pro-
-essive loosening ran through the mot