Evening star., 1922-06-11

LOOK out lot that snake, IT,.
yelled.
But he only laughed, remarking
that I could not scare him out of his
drink in that way.
The reptile checked itself for n in
slant. Quick as q wink. cooked my
fowling piece, and. bringing up in
sort of a half-gun, half-pistol fash
ion, let that reptile have an ounce
and an eighth of No. 10 birdshot
much more quickly than it is posi-
BILE to mention the fact.
My brother nearly jumped out of
his boots as it dawned on him like a
flash that I was really not joking
about a snake coming his way. We
considered it afterward as quite a
little adventure, for 1t might have
terminated somewhat differently. AL
though this exceedingly dangerous
reptile does not as a rule attack man,
yet it will strike, and bite If it be
suddenly and Unexpectedly cornered,
as this one was.
OUR we'll known black snake. which
~ belongs in the group composed of
the "constrictors'-the dreaded boas
being conspicuous among them-will
sometimes attack person without
any provocation whatever. \ year or
so after the above happening / was
passing along through a pine wood
near Latin's Rock, a wonderful To-
cality, about three miles from the
Stamford post Office, in Connecticut.
Stamford was but a little village IN
those days, with a population around
5000. Being out to add specimens to
my bird collection. 1 had my gun with
me. The path led into pine wood
OF low trees which stood rather close
together, with their lower limbs sew
eral feet above ones head. Suddenly
I felt a heavy thump on my left
shoulder, as If some one had given me
a friendly blow with his open hand.
In an instant 1 realized that it was
caused by a very large blacksnake
that had Intentionally fallen upon me
from off the lower limb Of one of the
pine trees as l was passing. In a
trice it coiled itself several times
rectly In front of my face. Here 1t
slared at me in the most vindictiVe
manner, Tightening its coils more and
moro as it extended and withdrew Its
tongue. 1 let go my gun and In
stantly grabbed his snakeship Just
below the head with my right hand.
After some pretty stiff Juggling and
pulling 1 succeeded in freeing my
self from its coils and landing it in
a compartment Of my collecting kit
where it coy Id not escape.
This casefs quite unique, SO far as
I know; that is, where such a small,
or relatively small, constructing snake
attacked a man. But this is not the
end of the story, for I have the more
remarkable part of it yet to tell 1
STAYED out in those pine woods until
long after dark, with the hope OF get
ting an owl, or perhaps a good speci-
men of a flying squirrel, or some
other night-loving members OF the
fauna of that part of the world. 1t
was near bedtime when 1 Joined the
family circle at home again. MY
specimens were soon cared for. and
the big blacksnake was placed In
wire rat trap, which was put next
the wall under a side table In the
dining room.
OUR family was composed OF my
" mother, my aunt-her sister-and
her grown daughter. my two brothers
and an uncle, the late Rev. Richard
NJ. Abercrombie, an Episcopal divine,
who was paying us brief visit My
maternal grandmother was also with
us, so the group was rather a large
one.
Uncle was noted for being very de-
vout, and before retiring the family
held prayers, each kneeling' down by
a chair in the dining-room. We were
used to 1t, my brothers and I, for 1t
was almost universal custom In
those old days in New England.
On this occasion we three boys
happened to be SO placed that each
had a good view Of the rat trap. with
my blacksnake in 1t. Uncle's prayers
were long and fervent. and seemed
to me to be particularly so. Pres
emily I appreciated the fact that my
brothers were endeavoring to attract
my attention and have me look over
toward the rat trap, which I soon
did. To my horror, my snake was
making his escape into the room, hav-
ing flattened himself out so he could
pass between the wires.
More than half Of his six feet three
was already out and stretched along
the door. My brothers were doing
their best to restrain their excite
ment and laughter, ana hoped uncle
would finish hia prayer before the