Year: 1879




happened to meet in Denver and. as a
natural consequence, the conversation
turned on early experiences and adven-
lures. As both parties are noted hun
ters and guides. their stories related
principally to the killing of unusual
game or the finding or losing Of some
mountain trail. intermixed with person.
al adventures and hardships and other
interesting incidents. But the story
that produced the most thrilling effect
upon the auditors was a snake story.
and as both parties vouched for the truth
thereof. it would be highly iudecorous
in hews reporter to suggest any doubt
as to its literal correctness. And thus
the story was told by The Major =
= Jim and l started out in the mountains
early one morning after black tailed
deer. We had no luck up to noon, and
then found ourselves on the side Of a





PERCEPTIONS mountain. The trail was
wide and plain and we soon came to a
spring that had burst its way out Of a
solid rock. Here we both stopped TO
get drink. used the cup first, and
then handed 1t to Jim. He drank and
then stepped of sideways to look down
the side of the mountain and in the val
ley. AS he stood thus his shoulder
reached to a level with a shelf Of the
rock which projected forward some little
distance over the trail. As | rose up
from the spring something attracted my
attention to this rocky shelf. which was
only a few inches from Jlm's neck and
exactly on level therewl To my
horror | saw thereon an immense rattle
snake. The horrible reptile was all
coiled. his eyes were swapping, his
forked tongue protruding and everything
indicating an Mediate spring. jim
stood perfectly stolid and utterly uu'
CONSCIOUS Of the slightest danger. Any
motion on his part, even the slightest,
knew would be instantly fatal. What
to do | could not think. | dared not
call or shoot Everything depended
upon his remaining perfectly still. AT
ter a seconds furtt reflection (and the
time seemed an age ! dropped softly
down so as to he out Of sight Of the
reptile. l then moved like shadow
toward my unconscious friend. Breath
lessIy [ watched him for fear that every
second he would make some slight
movement of head or body, and any
motion knew meant death. Soon l
was near enough to feel that could
get a firm hold. Without another
thought or TIE slightest word OF warn
ing tlen grasped Jim by the arm aud
side and brought him heavily down with





a crash upon the trail and among the
fllnty rocks. As did this l saw what
seemed fash of light dart out from the
rocky shelf, which l knew to be the |
stroke of the reptile. But my trends
neck was not where tine snake had
hoped, and jim was safe


Aud what did Jim say when you
slung him down IN that style p asked
one of the auditors.


He commenced cursing me in the
meanest sort of way replied the Major.
till | made him stand up ana look at
that shelf in the rock. When he saw
that. and the snake as we'll, and saw
too how near he had been TO horrible
death, he turned around and took my
hand, but he uidn't say anything more
because he couldn't speak. But then
we understood each other, didn't we,
Jim?'


You bet, Major replied Jim, and
I've always felt kind O. bad because
never have been able tO do YOU as KIND
a turn as that YOU did to me, but l don't
give up meaning to keep trying, MAJOR