Year: 1863

to explore lis dark recesses. We left it with but
a limited knowledge Of its first chamber. To


this place accordingly made my way the best
l could for Notwithstanding that was pretty


well acquainted with the locality. yet l had
some difficulty in finding it, owing to the in


creasing darkness and the binding hail; and
when 1 did succeed in reaching it, it proved
but a poor shelter for my beasts, for neither the
beating storm nor the sting of the lash could
induce them to enter it. Exasperated by their
stubbornness (although afterward l did not
wonder at it), slipped of the harness, and
left them to shift for themselves. Taking my
blanket, buffalo-robe, and provision bag out Of
the wagon, entered the cavern without hesi-
tation; for I was assure you, glad TO get
anywhere out Of the storm.


The night was intensely dark, the wind
whstled through the thick branches of the
cedar trees, and the rain took the place of hail
and fell in perfect torrents. | therefore pre-
pared to spend the night in the cave, and.
spreading my robe down on the dry leaves
that from time to time whirled into it by the
wind until they now lay nearly a foot deep,
united my provisioning and made hearty
supper on jerked buffalo steak and pilot bread,
although it was so extremely dark that could
not see my hand when raised to my mouth
After finishing my lonesome meal, l CROPPED
around until l found my blanket, and then
wrapping myself up hunter fashion, to keep
out the suakes and tarantula, l rolled over on
my bufalo-robe, aud soon dropped off to
sleep.


How long slept I know not, for my
dreams were frigbtful aud my rest uneasy, and
l suddenly found myself awake with the cold
sweat standing in great drops upon my fore,
head must confess that at that moment
experienced an instructive dread of some un-
known underlined danger. A mortal terror
fastened itself upon me, and although fully
awake, found myself as unable to move as
when, in my Sleep had endeavored to fly
from the phantoms and hob goblins that seemed
to fit around me. l lag perfectly still, trying
to think, calmly, and endeavoring to reason my
self into the belief that had eaten too hearty
supper, and was laboring under the influence
of hideous nightmare In few moments l
became conscious of the power of motion, aud
slowly turning my face toward the entrance of
the cave, saw through a small opening 10 the
blanket, that the night was gone, and the
storm with it, and the sun was shining glori-
ously bright and at the same moment heard
a sound that sent q cold chill quiyering to my
heart, and curdled the very life blood in my
veins. Again l made an effort to move,
and again that once heard -neyer-to be-forgotten
sound went forth, this time accompanied by q
hundred others. From above, around, on all
sides, came that clear, whizzing noise, until the
depths Of the cavern seemed to echo it back
with redoubled violence Mercifu Heaven
mentally exclaimed, as the horrible truth sud
denly flashed upon me. The cause Of the seem
ing obstinacy of my keen-scented mustangs
was explained at once was in den CT
mountain rattlesnakes, surrounded on all sides
by the venomous reptiles; and at the very
entrance to this den lay two of the largest Of
the species that had ever seen, even iu that
country, noted more for the enormous size of
its yenomous insects and reptiles than for any,
thing else. The rattlesnakes had issued from
the interior of the cavern, whittier they had
been driven by the violence Of the Storm and
which in all probability, had been their abode
for years. Called forth again by the light of
day and the warm rays of the sun on the morn.
ing after the storm, they found me at first
voluntary tenant, and afterward an involuntary
prisoner in their loathsome den. l now dread
ed to make even the slightest movement, lest
one of the many monsers-which | knew by
instinct, as well as By the sense OF hearing, to
be close by-mght strike the unerring blow
and sink its deadly poisonous fangs through the
blanket and thin clothes which | wore at the
time, and end my earthly existence in a manner
which l need not assure you would have been
very disagreeable TO me. But what was to
do had hoped to soon see them leaving the
cave; but hours passed BY, and yet no such
joyful sight greeted my eyes. There, like sen
tinels guarding prisoner, lay the two great
monsters that had first noticed, seemingly as
immovable as the rocks that hung over them.
In another instant, however, their position
changed. l had been steadily gazing through
the opening in the folds of my blanket, which
l still kept wrapped around me, until accident
ally, the glance of ny eye met that of the
largest of the serpents, and became so firmly
riveted to the spot that found it impossible
to turn them away.


The snake suddenly threw himself into
coil, elevated his head, and riveted his glitter
ing eye upon me with such intensity as 10 send
the cold chills chasing each other down my
back and yet could not withdraw my gaze
from those keen, glowing points, they seemed