Year: 1864

sss~>
gives the following graphic account Of anad
venture with boa constructor.


At the earliest possible moment afss. oul


camp had been pitched, hunt was set aloot
and Captain Grant, myself, and some atten


dants were soon making our way to .stht


patch" There were no animals there whe1


we arrived, except few hippopotami, anc


we we're, therefore, obliged to wait the coming


of some more palatable game. Our patience


however, was'severely taxed and after {


long delay, we were about to " bag' q hippo


potamus, when one of our attendants, perch


ed in tree about half mile distant, begar


waving his blanket. This was signal thai


game was approaching, We Immediately


drew .into cover, and awaited the coming o


the later.


We were not delayed long, for presently Q


long column of animals, from the the elephant


to the hoo doc, appeared in view, trotting ai


good pace to the river. Their fanks were


soon presented to US, and each, selecting his


object fred. McColl shot fine young buff


falo COW, whilst Captain Grant was equally


successful with a hoo doc, and several spears,


cast by our attendants, stopped the career Of


two different animals of the herd.


At this juncture, however, occurred an un-


expected adventure that finished our sport,


at least for that day. 1 had sprung forward,
Immediately after firing, in order to obtain
fair shot at huge elephant that wanted


to bring down on account Of his immense
tusks. / got the desired aim and pulled the
trigger of my second BARREL At the moment
of my doing SO wild cry of alarm. uttered
by one Of the blacks, called my attention.
Glanciug around, my eye chanced to range
up into the foliage of the tree beneath which
Captain Grant and myself had lain for sever.
al hours previous. NV feelings may possibly
be imagined, as beheld an enormous boa
constructor, whose hideous head and neck,
projecting some distance into view, showed
that he was about to make fatal spring.
His direction was certainly toward me; and
as he flashed from his position like thunder
bolt, gave myself up, for ere aid could reach
me, fold after fold of the monster would have
crushed my strong frame into quivering
pulp. fell. seemingly caught in whirl
wind of dust, and strange indescribable
scuflie ensued. In the midst of this terrible
strife, suddenly became conscious of the
presence of a second victim, and even after
the time has elapsed since then. still -reed-
iect with what vividness the thought shot
across my mind, that this bond victim was
Captain Grant, my noble companion. At
last after being thus whrled about for sever
al seconds, each second seeming to be inter.
there ensued lull stiffness as of
death, and l opened my eyes, expecting to
look upon those unexplorcd landscapes which
are seen only in the country beyond the tomb
Instead of that, saw Captain Grant level
ing his rifle toward me. while, standing be.
side and behind him, were the blacks. in
every conceivable attitude of the most intense
suspense.


In a moment l comprehended all. The
huge serpent had struck ayoung buffalo cow.
between which and him l had unluckily
placed myself at the moment of firing upon
the elephant. A most singular good fortune
had attended me, however, for instead of be-
ing crushed into a mangled mass with the
unfortunate COW, my left forearm had only
been caught in between the buffalo's body
and single fold Of the constructor. The limb
laid just in trent of the shoulder, at the root
of the neck, and thus had a soft bed of flesh,
into which it had been jammed, as it were,
by the immense pressure of the serpent's
body, that was like iron in hardness. As
saw Grant about to shoot, a terror took poss-
ession of me, for. if he refrained. l might
possibly escape, after the boa released his
folds from the dead cow. But should be fire
aud strike the reptile, it would in its convul-
sions crush or drag me to pieces. Even as
the idea came to me, Ibeheld Grant pause
He appeared to fully comprehend all. He
could see how was situated, that was still
living, and that my delivery depended on the
will of the constructor We could see every
line on each others face, so close were we,
and would have shouted, or spoken, or even
whispered at him, had l dared. But the
boa's head was reared within few feet of
mine, and the wink of an eyelid would per
haps settle my doom, SO stared, stared like
q dead man, at Grant and the blacks.


Presently the serpent began very gradual
ly to relax the folds, and after retightening
them several times as the crushed buffalo
quivered be unwound one fold entirely. Then
ne paused. The next iron-like band was the
one which held me prisoner; and as felt it
little by little unclasping, my heart stood
still with hope and fear. Perhaps upon being
freed, the benumbed arm, uncontrolled by
my will, might fall from the cushion like bed
in which it lay. And such mishap might
bring the spare fold around my neck or chest,
and then farewell to the sources of the Nile.
Oh now hardly, how desperately strug-
gled to command myself! Iglanced at Grant.
and saw him handing his rife anxiously. 1
glanced at the negroes. and saw them still
gazing, as though pertri6ed with astonish-
ment. IgfaDced at the serpent's loathsome
head. and saw its bright, deadly eyes, watch
ing for the least sign Of life in its prey. Now,
then, the reptile loosened its fold on my arm
q hairs breadth. and now, little more. un-
til half an inch of space separated my arm
and its mottled skin. | could have whipped
out my hand. but dared not take the risk
Atoms of time dragged themselves into ages
and minute seemed eternity itselfi The
second hold was removed entirely, and the
next one was easing. Should l dash away
now, or wait a more favorable moment? l
decided upon the former; and, with lightning
speed, l bounded away toward Grant, the
crack Of whose piece | heard at the same in
slant. For the first time in my life, was
thoroughly overcome; and sinking down,
remained in q semi unconscious state for sew
eral minutes.


When fully recovered, Grant and the