Year: 1879




The slightest cry-the feeblest movement
on her part-would insure her destruction.


The creature had its gaze upon her, and
the moment she should stir it would doubtless
thrust its horrible head against her face OF
neck and make her feel the fatal bite Of It's
poisonous fangs!


Scarcely daring to breathe she lay, keeping
even her eye.lids steady, while cold perspi.
ration bathed her brow, and her heart beat
loud and fast with wild terror that almost
deprived her of consciousness


Meanwhile, outside the tent she could hear
the voices of her father and the guides, as they
moved to and fro, ignorant Of her periloua
position. =.


Would they never come? Vainly she lis
tened for her fathers approaching footstep.
Several times she saw his shadow cross the
threshold of the tent, and once she beheld his
arm but he did not enter.


Suddenly the serpent elevated bis head
higher than before. The beating other heart,
the heaving of her breast, which she could
not suppress, had probably reused the crea;
ture to action. Slowly the head was thrust
forward, then its shiny touch was on her
fesh-it lay nestled on her suhits throat /! In
few moments she would probably feel its
horrid fangs!


Just then her father looked in the tent.
He saw the serpent at once-at once realized
the peril of the child. An involuntary cry
escaped him. The Hindoo guides were soon
at his side.


They looked hopelessly at their muskets
and their knives. They could neither cut
nor shoot the serpent, lying so closely against
the girl, without mortally wounding her.


For them to attempt to seize the creature
with the hand must also prove fatal to the
young woman. The moment they touched it,
it would bite her throat.


What was to be done? How was the SER
pent to be removed?


Notone of them could think Of any plan, and
the old captain wrung his hands in silent ag-
ony, believing that the fate of bis child was
sealed.


Suddenly Henry Melton made his appear
ance at the door Of the tent. :.


The guides and the captain, in their terpi-
dation and alarm, had forgotten him. He
might have escaped, had he so wished.


The moment he beheld Sylveen's situation
his eyes cleaned with cold steady glitter.
The girl lay on her back, her right side to-.
wards the door of the tent. In this position
her throat, with the head of the serpent nest.
ling upon it was distinctly revealed.


Henry raised his left arm, as a sign to the
party to make no noise. With his right he
drew his pistol:


"Hold u whispered the captain, seizing his
wrist eff you fire at that serpent you will
kill my childp'


81 will save her." answered Melton.


"My God cannot risk it! Your bullet
will fail-it must fail, with the serpent right
on her!


81 have no fear, sir" answered Melton,
calmly.


Helooked so confident that the captain, who
had heard that he was a crack shot from
some of the midshipmen aboard, let 60 his
wrist


Then kneeling, Henry leveled bis pistol
straight at the serpent's head, which still res
ted on the girls throat!


There was moment of fearful suspense.


The guides shook their heads solemnly, be-.
leiving that the young worhan's doom was
sealed and the captain was about seizing
Henrys arm again, when a fiery streak OF
fame leaped from the pistol, followed by q
sharp-ringing peal!


Pale as death, the captain now rushed to
pick up his daughter.


Henry smiled.


The serpent lay dead on the ground, its
head crushed by the bullet, which had not
even grazed the throat of Sylveen! ,


"He has saved your" cried the old captain,
straining the girl to his bosom.


Eyes, papa! Oh, papa, now save him,
tooW


The captain did so. Henry was pardoned
for his temporary desertion.


In the course of time he became an officer,
and married Sylveen.