The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-08-08
Ale. Iay in the folds Of great boa-

: me. lay in the folds OF great boa
CONSTRUCTOR
Had l been In the best OF physical
condition, ,unarmed l should have
been no match for this great reptile.
and situated as l was-practically in
a semi-conscious state--I must sure
ly fall an easy victim.
The thought Of my position made
me frenzied. / attempted to regain
my feet. but now my left leg waa
pinioned with my right, and, strug-
gle as would, could not free them.
In frantic rage I clutched the Shiny
coils. to fling them from me: but
only to be dashed down with stun.
ming force.
Again and again I tried to wrench
myself free, but all in vain. with
cienched fists l beat the great body,
and endeavored to tear the creature
to pieces with my nails, but the thick
scales were as proof against my at
tack as armour-plate. Meanwhile we
rolled over and over in the river.
bed, as with strength born of des-
peration l fought the loathsome mon
ster, which was slowly crushing the
lie out OF me. The thought of nv
pistol flashed through my mind, and
ielt for my holster, but Il was emp.
ty; l had placed the weapon in my
saddle-bags. Frantically l endeav.
ored to tear from my body the ever
tightening folds, but, struggle as I
would, 1t was Of no avail. 1 was
fast becoming exhausted, a dizziness
seized me, and the trees and shrubs
seemed to be tumbling and whirling
about In wild conclusion. Suddenly
my strength seemed to desert me al
together, and I ceased to struggle.
while just above my face. swayine
now to the right, now to the left, was
the snakes head, like a pendulum of
death, whose every stroke was bring.
ing me nearer to destruction.
Strange thoughts fitted across my
mind; Incidents of boyhood life long
since forgotten were brought viyidly
to memory, and l seemed to stand
again in the old homestead with nv
friends about me, though all were
strangely silent. AS / watched, the
scene began to melt away like
mist.
A binding flash, accompanied by a
deafening report; the rush of dark
body over me; then all was darkness.
When next opened my eyes my ma
tive guide was rapidly unwinding the
now lifeless serpent from my body,
while on the ground beside me lay
blood-stained dagger and a pistol,
still smoking. Having freed me from
the reptile. Juan brought water and
proceeded to remove the worst OF
the filth from my person. The cold
water also served to revive me, but
lay helplessly upon the soft grass
while my guide recaptured my horse.
This done, Juan assisted me into the
saddle and supported me until q
settlement was reached, where l re-
mained at the house of friendly ma.
tive until / had recovered somewhat
from the effects of encounter. NV
nerves. however, remained in q
wretched state for months; my
dreams were haunted by great dra-
gons and hydraheaded monsters, who
chased me over river and jungle.
Just as they were on the point of
crushing me to death would awake
with a wild yell. bathed in cold per-
spiration and trembling in every
limb, but by degrees this wore of
until became my natural self.
Juan, good fellow that he was, Sc.
cured and preserved for me the skin
OF the reptile which so nearly made
an end of me. 1t measured fourteen
and half feet in length and eleven
inches In circumference. In due sea.
son l had 1t mounted as little souve.
mir of my sojourn in the Philippine
Islands, and with the revolver and
dagger which put an end to it's ca.
reer.--The Wide World Magazine.