Year: 1879

 the reared head and small bright eyes of @ kraft, one of the most poisonous snakes in India Its bite was all but certain death, and that in very short time. Stand still ? I cried, in an agony. sDo not stir, Ashley, as you value your ifep One glance, and the brave young fellow comprehended the situation. The snake was now slowly curling itself about his shoulder. If he snuddered, I never saw it; indeed, my eyes were riveted upon the horrid spectacle, and prayed as I had never done before, that this most terrible fate might be averted from my poor friend. Just one glance ventured at MT. Gordon, who with his friends had turned round on hearing my exclamations, and stood silently by, still as the grave, hardly daring to breathe. The poor old gentleman was piteous to see. His face was pale as death, his eyes almost start ing from his head, great drops of perspiration stood on his forehead. Mercy OGod mercy r heard him once faintly murmur.

 "You must remember that all this oc- cured in less than 8 minute in far less time than have taken to tell it. But what an age it seemed l And if it felt so to mo, what must it have been to the poor fellow who knew that his only chance was to remain perfectly still He did so. He stood as if he were made of stone, never moving even muscle. The snake crawled round his neck and shoul- ders, reared itself for moment against his head, and again I saw it's horrid glittering eyes. Once more it curled it. self round his arm, and then, after mo- ment's pause, it glided down his leg to the ground, and rapidly made off in the direction of hedge not far off, where we did not attempt to pursue it, being only too relieved by it's disappearance. Thank God you're safe. Oh, thank God for it ? said MT. Gordon, rushing up to young Ashley, and seizing him warmly by the hand. My dear young fellow, can you ever forgive me? for I never, never can forgive myself! One thing, however, I am cured. Never from this day forward shall I do such a senseless, iaiotic thing again-never, neverP Perhaps it will be as we'll, sir, replied Ashley, with faint attempt at 8 smile; but the nsxt instant he tainted. The strain had been tremen- dous, and it was good while before he came round. He was not ultimately the worse for his fright, however, and the incident proved greatly to his ad- vantage; for he found a staunch friend in MT. Gordon, who never forgot the peril to which he had exposed the young man, and did all in his power to assist him in his profession, of which he after ward became very successful and lead ing member. And so ends my contri- button to the evenings entertainment, whereupon the worthy judge leaned back in his deck chair with an express sion of considerable relief, and waved his hand in deprecating manner, in re- ply to the thanks hs received from the circle who had been listening to him.

 "story-telling is like eating; it only wants beginning" observed Dr. Beam ish, oheerfully. ''I knew the judge would come nobly out of the diaaculty and I see MT. Barry there has an anec- dote at the tip of his tongue. Let us have it, my dear sir, by all means"

 Cautiously enough, said MT. Barry, that story of the judges reminded me of 8 case that happened many years ago in my district. I did not see the occur renee myself; but 8 man who did told me about it, and in fact the thing was perfectly we'll known. It took place at dinner party or social gathering of some kind. A lady sat down to the piano. and had just begun to play, when some one chanced to look at the leg of the music-stool on which she was seated, and perceived something moving there. A closer inspection showed that the moving object was snake, one of a most venomous species. It had been closely coiled round the spiral leg of the stool; and when the poor lady uncon- sciously seated herself in it's vicinity, it had been disturbed, and immediately began to move. She was quickly warn ed of her great danger, and urged to sit perfectly still, which she very heroically did, not stirring hand or foot, or ut tering a cry. It must have been fear fully trying ordeal for the poor thing, as there was no telling what course of as- tion the snake might pursue. However. in this case, it never touched her at all |; but after curling round and round the music stool for half minute or SO, it dropped on the floor, and was killed be. fore it could effect it's escape"

 "How exec ssively unpleasant p said young fellow; one of those, like myself, new to Indian life and ex- periences. "Why, the horrid reptiles seem to meet you at every turn Is no place safe from them9"

 "Don't be alarmed, my dear Sir,'' replied the doctor, easily; s'the snakes are not so freq uently encountered after all-the poisonous ones at least. And though it is unhappily the case that thousands of people, chiefly natives, lose their lives by snakes, there are at the same time numberless instances in which those who have been bitten by the less dangerous species have re- covered, and in fact suffered little or no uneasiness. There are plenty of harm

 less snakes, but you are not sure which are which for time. The stories you

 have been hearing are what we may call

 special cases.'" | Among the orou, that bod for,oo5 ov,