Year: 1878

denly emerged from the other entrance to the
spot, and had started back with loud excla-
nation, utterly ova6come by what he beheld.
The monstrous serpent-which 1 at once
took for a species of anaconda-was slowly
extending it's Shiny length towards his prey,
his neck seeming to stretch like mass of
rubber out of the rightful folds on the rock;
for the head and neck elongated, yet the hor-
rible coil did not decrease. His short forked
tongue darted forth vengefully, and his wick
ed dull eyes snapped with diabolical eager
ness, yet he steadily came on.


Serpent and girl were hardly sixteen yards
apart, and the girl still lay as lifeless to all
appearances, as if the vital spark had fed


For heavens sake, save her--drag her
away!" yelled Wilson.


In his excitement he drew his revolver, and
fired shot at the head of the snake, which
had no effect.


The sound of his voice and the crack of
standing like one paralyzed. With spring
OF two stood between the serpent and the
girl, the attention of the former luckily a
trile distracted by Wilson's rash shot.
acted quickly, as the case seemed a desperate
one.


A thrill seemed to 60 to my fingers end as
I touched the form Of the girl. Sc was won
drously beautiful; yet she lay as motionless,
every moulded contour of her figure in re-
pose, white and rigid, classic as marble
statue Of innocence itself.


took the inanimate form Of the girl in
my arms, and rushed away from the NAV of
the huge snake. In my excitement l could
not help shuddering at the frightful presence
OF the huge serpent. Few would willingly
be near such an object, and whether by intu-
ition OF superstition ] know not, there seem
ed to be a fell fascination, horrible, but irre-
sistable, in the creatures presence. rushed
past Wilson with my burden. torrent was
at hand. laid my frail burden on mossy
bed, while Wilson came to the spot oppor-
tunely, bringing with him hatful of cold
water.


A gentle application of this the first time
produced no effect. A second and third
more violent, seemed fruitless. She lay like
one dead, we became alarmed. Was she
really dead? We bore her to the boiling tor
rent, and poured the icy water on her pure
forshead. All of sudden she seemed to
return to the possession of her senses. She
started up, stared at us in alright gazed
about her, and then seemed to be trying to
recall to memory the cause of all that had
befallen her. All at once she clapped her
hands to her face, and with wild shrek of
terror she fell into my arms, crying out:


''Por Dios le anacondan'


Then she tainted again. The frightful en-
counter with the serpent had absolutely
crazed the poor girl Water was again ap-
Piled and this time she awoke with less diff
fculty than before. We watched the dark
eyes unfold with no little apprehension. She
regarded us with the same vacant stare.
said as soothingly as I could:


''Dont fear, Senorita, YOU are among
friends.''


She seemed to gather her senses and take
courage.


Aftor a little while she was enabled to ex-
plain to us that she lived in the neighborhood
with her father and family, and that she had
strolled out among the mountains further
than usual on the present occasion, that she
had sat down to rest, and that all of sud
den her appalled, vision encountered the ugly
head of the serpent advancing toward her
She screamed and tainted. We had arrived
OH the spot moment later, and the reader
knows the rest.


We told her we were English travellers
that we could have no greater pleasure thar
to befriend her, and that we would see he
home. This we did. and, having received



we started to look again after the serpent
We found our way to the opening among tn
rocks by the same route as before. Th
snake had left the top of the rock, and hi
mass of coils were folded mostly at the soutl
side of the cleared space; while his BRASS
head, with it's muddy yet twinkling eyes, an,
it's Sharply forked tongue, lay just where tn
girl had lain when reached her.


II ha animal aitbar c,1nninp birocolf n
plotting more mischief in state of delibera
tive repose-perhaps both. In size this wa
the largest specimen ever saw, and as larg
as any description I ever heard narrated
And regarding the size of the reptiles as re
lated by adventurers, yarn-stretchers, an
even by the ma ajority of enthusiastic natu1
alists who have a passable reputation for vel
acity, let me advise. the reader to allow fo
several breadths in them, especially hai1
breadths and those made out of the Who'll
cloth.


The monster was in my excited fancy th
largest snake l had ever seen. 1t was, ma
safely say with every regard for verify, g
large around as mans body, and this in b
ante breakfast condition. We stood lookin
at him with distended eyes, as he lay in tt
sun, his back in the light cleaning like bu
nished brass. His was case that admitte
of small delay. Should we attract his after
ton, we might not be OBJECTIONABLE TO his pa
ate for a repast.


''Hist % says Wilson: ''let's get in front
him if we cam


so as to get good chance at his eyes?'


''Yes; creep after me-still ! He's in &C
mirable position


We found ourselves on the top of th
rocks at the opposite side of the inclosur,
The monster had not stirred. AS we raise
our rifles he began to twinkle his wicke
eyes at us, seeing us for the first time. Eve
as we raised the hammers of our weapons b
began to wriggle, preparatory to a motto
toward us. Evidently he thought he shoul
not be cheated out Of his breakfast after al


''Now, my boy, and look alive as soon
you fire! One, two, thr-''


Bang went both our pieces simultaneously
The smoke rolled out. We ran along tt
.'oad till we could see the effects of our shot
Both bullets seemed to have taken effec
The creature had drawn back as if stunne
with the blood flowing from his head, an
his eyes apparently demolished. It was on
for moment, and then-well, I never befo,
had an idea of the ferocity of sudden motto
he drew his immense length together, al
then, like a black thunderbolt, let himse
fly into the air, at the cloud of smoke with
force that made the joints and folds of h
coat to snap. Then lie fell back and cor
menced to writhe and twist, uttering pee
liar, vengeful hiss, and cry like an infant
While we reloaded, rage and pain seem
to get the mastery over him. He began
strike himself with his fangs, thrash abo