Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-08-10

IN THE COILS Of A
] DEMONSTRATORS.
ny o. p. KINGSLEY.
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pueblo" (village) of Bayanan. Here
/ acted in the capacity of sanitary in
spector of the La Carlota Sub-Dis-
trict of Negroes. The territory in
cluded In my district was many miles
In extent, but owing to the fact that
the greater portion was wild, and
inhabited only by rowing tribos of
Visayans, whose haunts lay far in
the UNEMPLOYED interior, my work was
confined to the small settlements To-
Gated within radius of forty miles,
many OF these being extremely diff
cult OF access on account of the dense
tropical growth and the unsettled
condition of the country.
AS l sat in my Office one pleasant
morning, contentedly smoking a ci-
gar and contemplating with pleasure
short trip I had planned for the
afternoon, sharp rap on the door
brought me back abruptly from my
reverie. At my invitation a native
entered, bearing letter, which he
deposited upon the desk and with
drew. A glance at the address
showed me that it was from the Chief
Inspector Of the Department. The
contents, which l rapidly glanced
over, directed me to proceed without
delay to a little "barria" called La
Paz, situated some thirty miles in
land, to investigate a reported cpl
demic of smallpox raging in that vi
cinity among the natives.
Realizing the gravity of the situa-
ton, should the report be true, l de-
cided to start at once. i had never
visited the place before, and was not
sure Of the exact distance or the diff
ticulties liable to be met with en-
route; for these reasons / was de-
sirous of having plenty of daylight to
travel by. Hastily collecting the
necessary equipment, together with
my revolvers and ammunition, 1
crammed the things into my saddle
bags and stepped out just as the
horses were brought up-one for my
self, the other for my old servant
Juan, who was to act as guide and
Our route for several miles lay
along well-beaten trail, which would
have been pleasant enough for ordi-
nary travel had it not been for the
fierce heat Of the sun. Soon, how
ever, we reached the Rio del Sangre,
the bamboos along the banks of
which afforded a delicious shade,
though the river-bed was practically
dry. My guide now informed me that
by following the channel we could
shorten the distance by several miles,
and l therefore turned my horse up
stream, glad enough to keep In the
shade.
AS we advanced toward the inte-
rior the scenery became more wild
and picturesque, the vegetation rank
and luxuriant, the trees meeting in
many places and forming a series of
leafy tunnels. The only sound was
the dull thud, thud, of our horses
hoofs, hardly audible in the soft riv-
er-bed, with an occasional shrill cry
from a monkey who had discovered
us from his leafy bower, or the lazy
autter of gaily-plumed parrot as it
changed It's position.
Advancing in single file, owing to
the narrowness Of the river-bed and
the many distractions that were
being met with in the form
Of roots and fallen tree-trunks, l was
soon some distance ahead, and, en-
tering space comparatively clear Of
distractions, spurred my mount in
to a gallop, as the sun was rapidly
sinking towards the horizon and l
was anxious to reach my destination
before dark. Rounding a sharp bend,
my horse, with a wild snort, plunged
heavily, wheeling sharply to the
right. Being unprepared for such
1 was hurled headlong
from the saddle, striking upon my
head and shoulder in the soft, mud
dy riyer-bed. My face was smeared
with the filthy, ill-smelling muck, my
neck felt as though 1t. was broken,
my brain was in dizzy whirl, and
my eyes were blinded with the odor-
Gus mud.
For a moment did not attempt to
move. Although l was aware Of a
curious movement beneath me, sup
posed / had been thrown upon some
roots, which were slowly giving way
beneath my weight.
Suddenly my attention was at
tracted by a. strange Kissing noise
which sounded quite close to me, and
which, in my dazed condition, I was
at a loss to account for. Meanwhile,
the movement beneath me increased
rather than diminished. This was
unnatural, and 1 rolled over
with the intention of reaching firmer
ground, but found that my right leg
was entangled in something. At my
first movement the mysterious hiss
ing increased until 1t sounded like
escaping steam, and the movement
beneath me became so violent as to
partially raise my body from the
river-bed. Dashing the mud from my
eyes as best l could, threw out my
hands for some available support. My
right grasped mud. but the left
hold of a cold, Shiny, wrig-
Cling body. And then the truth of
my situation dawned upon me, liter
ally freezing my blood with horror,
while the most sickening sensation |
have ever experienced passed over
me. l lay in the folds of great boa
Had been in the best of physical
unarmed | should have
been no match for this great reptile,
and situated as 'was-practicaily 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 was
pinioned with my right, and strug-
gle as would, could not free them.
In frantic rage l clutched the Shiny
coils, to fling them from me; but
only to be dashed down with stun
ming force.