The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-08-30
An Amateur Snake-Charme1'
Ev
49,
Ev BRADLEY GILMAN.


Arab owner, he had appeared slug
gish and harmless; but now, feeling
that he was free, he appeared lively
and vicious.
AS the escaping snake glided swift
ly down the street I hobbled after,
looking for some club or stone with
which I might attack the dangerou;
creature
Suddenly I started with new alarm.
There vas indeed peril, and possible
death impending over one or more
human beings. Near the end of the
wall, leaning against tree, I saw a
lame woman whose crippled figure
was familiar to every tourist in Hell
wan; in her arms was a baby.
Her husband placed her each morn
ing, with the wizened little child, at
some favorable corner, there to re-
main through the day, to beg from
passers-by. To-day it was her i'll
fortune to be placed under the tree
directly in the path which the cobra
was following. In few moments
he would reach Ler.
My heart beat rapidly; and, un-
mindful of my lameness, I impulsive-
ly started forward on a run. The ma
tives about me hal too little intelli-
gence to render effective aid. The
cobra glided on, and at intervals
lifted mis- head into the air, expand
ing his hood, and turning his fiat,
evil head to one side and The other,
as if daring any one to bar his way.
I suddenly became aware that
somebody was moving across the
street straight toward the reptile.
Then I recognized the young Ameri-
ca girl whom I had seen in the fore
noon. I stopped in astonishment.
saw the girl wave one hand warn
ingly toward her mother-who stood
spellbound on the sidewalk-and
then hurry on toward the serpent.
Could she oe mado Or was she
ignorant of the reptiles presence
and path ? No, her gaze was direct
ed straight before her; and now 1
saw that she held some object in her
hand. The next moment she raised
the object to her mouth, and hearl
the soft music OF the narmonica.
At once comprehended the mean
ing of the girls conduct. She had
read about the power of music over
serpents, and had seen Arab show
men exercise it's influence. She was
now bent, in her self-reliant, daring
way, and in her pity for the helpless,
crippled woman, upon trying to di-
vert the excited, threatening reptile
from his path.
I could not repress cry of alarm
as I saw what she was attempting;
but I was too far away to interfere.
could only look on, holding my
breath in anxiety. I saw her go up
to within twenty feet of the cobra's
path, then drop to one knee, and
there remain, playing and waiting,
as steadily as if she had done the
thing hundred times before.
The cobra raised his head and
stopped; he spread his hood wide.
He swayed his head back and forth
two or three times; then he moved
slowly up out of the depression or
gutter in which he had been gliding,
and advanced toward the girl.
I knew that professional snake
charmers often draw these deadly
creatures from some lurking-place in
a house, but they always have
saucer of milk ready, interposed be-
tween themselves and the serpent;
and the creature, in it's fondness for
milk, is led to eat, and then is cap
tured or killed.
But there was no object here in
terposed between the reptile and the
girl. What would happen when he
reached her, gliding so slowly now,
and yet with nervously darting head
and fickering, forked tongue. dared
not think.
did not believe that her strength
would quite hold her up in her i'm
pulsive purpose; therefore I was not
surprised, although I was horror
stricken, when I saw her shrink back
as the fierce creature drew near.
Certainly she trembled, she tottered;
and the cobra was not five feet away
from her!
At that moment I heard faint
scream from the terrified mother,
who seemed-like so many people in
Helwan-to be an invalid, as she
dropped in a heap on the sidewalk;
and I groaned in helpless sympathy.
Then came a new and unexpected
episode in the drama. The Egyptian
Snowman who had the mongoos was
{ zing at the extreme end of the
white wall; and the mongoos-being
now fully rested-was walking Sc
dately back and forth at the end of
his tether, with that appearance OF
calm self-possession and conscious