Year: 1866




pitched, says the late captain Speke, hunt was set
afoot, and captain Grant, myself and some attend
ants, were making way to ''the patch There
were no animals there when we arrived except few
hppopotami and were therefore, obliged to await
the coming of some palatable game. Our patience,
however, severely taxed and, after long delay,
about to bag" hippopotamus when an
attendant perched in about half mile distant,
began waving his blanket. This was a signal that
game approaching. We Immediately drew into
cover and awaited the coming Of the latter.
We were not long delayed, for presently column
of animals from the elephant to the hoodoo appeared
in view, trottng at good pace to the river. Their
fanks presented TO u.s. and each selected his
object and fired. McCol shot fine, young buffalo
cow while captain Grant was equally successful with
hoodoo, and several spears cast by attendants,
stopped the career of one two different animals of
the herd


At this juncture, however, occurred an unexpected
adventure that finished sport at least for that day
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 tbe desired aim, and pulled the trigger Of my
ond barrel. At the moment of my doing so3 wild
cry of alarm, uttered by of the blacks called my
attention. Glancng around, my eye CHANGED to range
up in the foliage of the tree beneath which captain
Grant and myself had lain for several hours previous
Ny feelings may possibly be imagined as | beheld an
enormous boa CONSTRUCTOR whose head and neck pro-





about to make a fatal spring.


His direction certainly towards me; and, as he
flashed from his position like a thunderbolt l gave
myself up for aid could reach the folds of the
monster would have crushed my strong frame into
quivering pulp. | felt seemingly caught in a whirl
wind of dust, and a strange indeseribable scufle
sued


In the midst of this strife suddenly became con-
seious of the presence of sec5nd victim, and even
after the time that has elapsed since then, still reco
lect with what vvidness the thought shot across my
mind that this second victim was captain Grant, my
noble companion At last, after being whirled about
for several seconds each second seemed be intermn
able there ensued lull stiffness of DEATH and
opened my eyes, expecting to look upon those uncx-
plored landscapes which only in the country
beyond the tomb. Instead Of that saw Capt. Grant
leveling his rifle toward me- while standing beside
him the Blacks in every conceivable attitude of
the most intense suspense.


But in a moment l comprehended all The huge
serpent had struck young buffao-cow, between him
and which had unuclliy placed myself at the mo-
ment of firing Upon the elephant 4 most singular
good fortune had attended me, however, for instead
of being crushed into mangled mass with the unfor
tunate COW, my forearm only had been caught in
between the buffalos body and single fold of the
constructor.


The limb laid, just in front of the shoulder at the
root of the neck, and thus had soft bed Of flesh into
which it was jammed, it were, by the immense pres
of the serpents body, that it like iron in
harness.


AS saw Grant about to shoot, terror possessed me,
for if he refrained, might possibly escape after the
boa had released his folds from the dead COW. But
should he fire and strike the reptile it would in its
convusons crush or drag me to pieces. Even as this
idea came to me beheld Grant pause. He appeared
to comprehend all. He could see how was situated,
that still living, and that my delivery depended
on the will of the constructor. We could every
line on each others face, so close we're we; and l
how I+nAO rod to
him, had l dared. But the boas head was reared
within few inches of mine, and the wink of an eye
lid would perhaps settle my doom, so stared, like
dead man; at Grant and the blacks


Presently the serpent began very gradually to relax
his folds and after tightening them several times, as
the crushed buffalo 0uivered, he unwound one fold
entirely. Thus he paused. The next iron-like band
the one that held me prisoner; and as / felt it.
little by little, unclaspng, my heart stood still with
hope and fear. Perhaps, upon being freed, the be-
numbed arm, uncontrolled by my WILL might fall from
the cuhsion-like bed in which it lay And such mis-
hap might bring the spare fold around my neck or
chest, and then farewell to the sources of the Nile
Oh, how hardly, how desperately struggled to COM
mand myself glanced at Grant and saw him hand
ling his life auxiously; glanced the negroes, and
them still gazing as though petri6ed with astonsh
ment. glanced at the serpent's loahsome head, and
its bright, beady eyes, watching for the least sign
Of life in its prey Now then the reptile oosened the
fold on my hairs breadth, and ~ little
more, until half inch separated my 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
itself! The second fold was removed entirely, and
the next one easing. Should dash away now,
or wait more favorable moment? decided upon
the former and, with lightning speed, bounded away
toward Grant the crack of whose piece heard at the
instant. For the first time in my life was thoroughly
overcome, and sinking down, l remained in semi
npT TSpi,I ctato forc al hours


When fully recovered, Grant and the overioyed
negroes held me up and pointed out the boa, who was
still writhing in his death ag6n'es. l shuddered as
looked upon the effects of his Tremendous dying
strength. For yards around where he lay grass and
bushes and sappngs and, in fact every thing except
the fully grown trees, cut clean off, as
though they had been trimmed with animmense scythe.


This monster, when measured, was ffty-one feet two
inches and half in extreme length, while round the
hickes portion of his body the girth nearly three
feet thus proving believe, to be the largest serpent
that was ever automatically heard Of