The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-03
a STRANGE INCIDENT.

strange incident that impressed mo
very much, and have now the chance
to relate it. AS I have said, II was
not more than a month ago that was
country, where the main occupation
was herdIng Of thousands OF cattle
and sheep.
Grandfather had regular men to do
the work of herding and these men
had 10 camp and sleep out at nights
all the year around. as they cannot
come back number of miles while
herding, because II is such "a diff.
cult task. having nothing to do
used to accompany these men Oh their
Journeys.
1T was on ono Of these trips that the
incident I am about TO toll happened
The moon was full and shone in
splendor over rocky cliffs down into
canyon where we had camped for
the night. All the men wero asleep
around the fire. but Il was hot that
night and | preferred TO sleep in the
dark away from the fire. lay there
the silver shining oval. musing how
nature had fashioned such thing,
and wondering IT, as some estronom
ers say, 1t Is Inhabited or whether
maybe some inventor would soon in
vent machine that would reach IT
All these lmsginings were passing
through my mind when suddenly my
attention was called II something
that was cold and glossy which caus-
ed a SILVER TO run through me. The
cold streak was on my rlgE. wrist II
turned and one glance satisfied me
My whole frame trembled Sudden
terror seized me. could not sneak
There seemed to he lump Of some
thing In my throat could not even
open my mouth: what should do? a
low and devilish hiss answered my
question. ! was all alone, ten feet
away from my compa and II was
my opinion in my terror. that II 4
moved or yelled the huge rattIesnake
for that's what It was-would pierce
my flesh and would be dead before
they could give me treatment
could not move, but II ] had dared
to-what must be the result sum
moned enough courage TO look down
at tho snake again IT WAS of the
diamond head tyne. the most danger
ouE and poisonous of rattlesnakes II
was probably about seven feet in
length.
Its long. sinewy neck was resting
on my wrist and its eyes seemed like
two red Goals As was still look
ing they forced me or charmed me to
keen my ewes riveted until I almost
fell back with horror
There II was with its cold neck ur-
on my hand, and Its eyes cleaning up
into mine, ! gradually became calm
after turning my eyes away from IL.
and began to see plainly how til. maj:
ter stood ! went SO far as to ohuckIe
to myself II the plan I had In mind
would work out we'll This was NY
plan: heard some one say that a
traveller in Africa once met lion In
ambush Like flash he whipped eff
his travelling hat and went on his
hands and knees Then putting the
hat in hs mouth began swinging side
ward The lion. about twenty feet
away. looked at him with a sense Of
fear ana nstonshment, and did nor
advance step to devour his Prey.
The man seeing his present move
ments would not put the lion TO
flight let out the most unearthly
wells and screams, which even
frightened himself. The lion with MS
mouth open and his eyes almost out
OF their sockets, reared upon his hind
feet, roared end leaped into the jun
gle beside him
But part OF this didn't suit me.
would have to get on my hands ana
knees to do the trick Here I was
laughing to myself with a rattlesnake
81 my side. ! glanced at the snake
again. II tongue was moving In its
mouth faster than when looked at
II the 1rst and second times. ! wond-
cred Does it mem to bite, soon, or was
II my laughing that aroused It? Once
Its sticky tongue touched my hand,
and again that terror that FIRST seized
me came back TO me. Then ] groaned
when felt 1T move mp my arm about
an inch. 7 gave up all home when II
moved some more up my trembling
arm. When heard 81 Kissing I NOV
Il little, and thinking II would strike
] yelled with all my might NY Yell
Ing awoke sleepy man near me. He
jumped ur with his rifle in his hand
and asking what was the matter. |
hrokenly said. "rattiesnske." ] did not
notice until ! heard shot from his
rifle that when I yelled ] had knock
ed the rattlesnake off by arm to about
three feet away.
All the men now awoke when they