The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1905-06-22

sSSStrude Oh its way to The ocean.
IheSe forests are still the haunts of
Wild beasts, the remains of the great
throngs that used 10 swarm about the
base OF the mountains, having their
homes in the dark caverns and wild
glens where the sunlight never pene-
trated.
Hardly any save the feet of the hunt
or press the messy carpet of these for
ests now, but the wild denizens there
OF are becoming less numerous every
year, and the time is not far distant
when, like the savages who once made
their homes here, they will be gone
forever.
With this touch of a prelude l come
to the story set out to tell.
One day in midsummer l set out on
q fishing excursion into these wild
woods. 1 knew of a stream that was
famous for its trout. and in anticipa-
ton saw myself returning hit night
fall with a huge string of the speck-
led beauties.
Taking rude path which had been
cut out by lumbermen some years be-
fore, and which led along the bank Of
the stream, ] followed it TO its end be-
fore l cast 4 line into the water
knew that thus far the stream had
been repeatedly fshed over. and that
there was little use for me to try my
luck there. Once i'm the deep solitude
of the forest, where the echo of the
woodlands AK had never been heard.
L felt sure of meeting abundant sue
cess.
found that in these expectations l
was not mistaken. No sooner had |
cast my line into the stream than q
half dozen of the finny tribe were
struggling to catch the bait
For hours | went up on the stream.
having as gloriuos sport as ever de
lighted the heart of fisherman.
1t was not until the hour of noon
was well past that / began TO think
or giving over my work and turning
back.
had already in hand a fine string
or trout. Taken altogether, they were
noble fellows, and made about as big
q load as 1 wished to carry back over
the rough way which lay between me
and the end of the logging road.
with a sigh, | ceased the sport. and
doing up my fishing tackle. | clam
bered up the steep Dank which Dor
dered the stream, and sitting down at
the foot of large hemlock, proceeded
TO count my treasures and to take lit
tie rest before setting out on my re-
turn.
The day was warm and was more
fatigued than had thought; and after
finishing the count l lay back upon
the earth, and before was aware of
what l was doing l had dropped off
into a nap.
How long | had slept 1 knew not.
but L was awakened at length by a
sound that sent Il thrill through my
entire being such as l had never ex-
perienced before.
1t was the Ominous warning of q
rattlesnake.
know not why it was, but even in
the midst of my fright had the pres
ence of mind to lie perfectly still. The
sound told me that the snake was
close at hand, and that the slightest
motion on my part would be a signal
for my destruction.
The first frightened glance I gave
ABOUT me showed the hideous reptile
close by my side. Two-thlrds of its
length lay in glistening coils. and from
the centre the head uprOse to an at
titude of nearly two feet from the
earth. Its eyes We're glstening like
Goals of fire. and from its wide-open
Jaws the long forked tongue protrud-
ed. showing that it was fearfully en-
ragged.
What had aroused it to such n pas
sion ] could not conceive. for as vet |
had not made the slightest motion
whereby to anger it.
You can imagine the fear which per
vaded my entire being A terrible death
stared me in the face from which there
seemed no possible way of escape.
dared not fix my gaze upon the
snake for even moment at time.
| was afraid of being charmed by it.
and / knew that if brought under this
Daleful influence my doom was sealed.
But at length / became conscious that
the serpent was not trying it's hypnotic
influence upon me. It's eyes seemed to
be fixed on some object beyond.
What could it be? SO far as knew
there was no other living creature
near us.
But ! was not long kept in suspense.
A deep growl fell upon my ear. start
ling me almost as much as the shrill
rattle Of the snake had done when it
awoke me.
In this new surprise / forgot my
caution. and that any movement on
my part might hasten my destruction,
and so turned my head to see whence
this new danger came AS | did 81
my eyes fell upon huge bear stand
ing within dozen feet OF me.
In moment ] comprehended why
II ws5 that ! was indebted TO the
presence of this new visitor. Bears
are extremely fond of fish. AMI, being
possessed of ~ Keen scent. brAin he'd
fbcen attracted Nhither by my \trout.
upon which he lodged TO make Yeast.
lhOv x..o,o ~ ~. = - EI.N.,