Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-21

when I make promise I always like to
keep 1t to the best Of my ability. This time,
am very sorry to say, had IN q MEASURE
to break my word.
But let me go back to the sto:y AS 1
was sitting there Ngando touched my
shoulder. When looked I'D he asked me
why 1 was so sad. ! told him and he seem
ed to feel very sorry. Suddenly he mo-
toned me to follow him I did so. and
after walk of five or ten miles In the
forest he pointed out to me thick wall
OF vines growing around a clump of trees.
| tiptoed and peeked through the vines
Cotled up there in the midst of the shelter
ed house was the most beautiful coulacan-
ara that l ever set eyes upon. Perhaps
you don't know what coulacanara Is
We'll, It's snake, and this one YVES eight
cen feet long II 1t was an inch. This sort
Of snake Is very strong, and 1t can
easily knock man down by patting lin
appointed with Ngando's suggestion.
/ hadn't thought of getting such an elon-
gated pet for you'll had intended that its
body should be more In place. Still, when
I saw how pretty it I determined TO
capture it. especially when thought what
good time Alice and Jessie would have
curling and uncurling 1t and winding 1t
around their fingers. But how to capture
ii was the question. The natives were
afraid and refused to help unless shot
1t first, but I knew you'd rather have it
alive.
THE next day I started out, and armed
with only Il idnCS anu CulIdSS Iuc tWO
natives refused to accompany me until
assured them that If they didn't | would
chop their heads off then and there. When
we reached the vine-covered house of the
coulacanara I cut an opening In 1he side
with the cutlass in order to get good
view. There the reptile lay, coiled up IN
the most beautiful curl you ever set your
eyes upon. Fortunately for me the snake
was asleep. slowly tiptoed up to 1t, and
before it could awaken pinned 1t to the
ground with my lance Then let one
of the natives hold the lance wFiie rushed
into the den to grapple with the body. Then
we had some lively times, ! can tel you.
The couloanara's tall got the best of me
once or twice, but finally 1t grew tired, and
then called in the other native to sit on
1t to keep 1t still while / decided how to
take the snake home. knew that as soon
as the lance was removed and the head
freed the reptile would attempt to devour
us all. so sat down on a log to think the
matter over.
Here Uncle Tom stopped and III his pipe
After a few minutes he went on.
Where was II Oh, yes; when l am in a
thoughtful mood. as perhaps you have no
ticed. / always put my hands IN my poch-
cts. Well this time had no sooner done
that than felt something way down in the
bottom of my left pocket. and what do you
suppose it proved to be7 Nothing more or
less than that big muzzle you bought two
years ago to put on your Newfoundiana.
course In less time than 1t takes to tell
had muzzed the coulacanara, and. twisting
its body around the lance. we managed 10
carry 1t back to the cabin. was delighted
to have brought 1t back with me, and ex-
pected to have a great deal OF fun tanning
Il and teaching 1t all sorts Of amusing
tricks That night I left my captive in
large canvas bag I had provided for 1t on
the foor Of the hut. and swung my ham
mock In the loft overhead.
Here Uncle Tom paused again, put both
hands in his pockets and seemed TO nave