Year: 1875

TdptulIy III ltS Hdii-OpcuCu uiouIhs


The body was of a dark color, and had
the appearance of being covered all over
with slimy-looking spots of scales. Un
der the throat were two stringy appen-
dages like miniature hammocks to that
part of the creature, and adding to the
uncouth aspect of the reptile.


Sylveen had heard descriptions enough
of this fearful pest of India, to realize at
n glance, that her terrible visitor was the
terrible cobra de cdpetL0-one of the most
venomous of the serpent tribe. tbs.


What could she do? ,setsg


The slightest cry-the feeblest move
ment on her part would insure her de-
struction.


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


Scarcely daring to breathe, she lay,
keeping even her eyelids steady, while a
cold prespiration 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, igno-
rant of her perilous position.


Would they never come? Vainly she
listened for her fathersapproaching foot
steps. Several times she saw his shadow
across the threshold of the tent, and once
she beheld his arm ; but he did not enter


Suddenly the serpent elevated its head
higher than before. The beating Of heI
heart, the heaving of her breast, which
she could not suppress, had probably
reused the creature to action.
Slowly the head was thrust forward
then its shiny touch was on her flesh
IL lay nestled on her tohite throat! In q
few moments she would probably feel its
horrid fangs! r-.e


Just then her father looked in the tent
He saw the serpent at 6nce--at once
realized the peril of his child. An in
voluntary cry escaped him. The HindoC
guides were soon at his side.


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


For them to attempt to seize the crea
ture with their hands must also prove
fatal to the young woman. Themoment
they touched it, il would bite her throat
What was to be done? How was the
serpent to be removed?


Not one of them could think of any
plan, and the old captain wrung hi
hands in silent agony, believing that the
fate of his child was sealed.


Suddenly Henry Melton made his ap
pearance at the door of the tent. The
guides and the captain, in their trepi
datien and alarm, had forgotten him
He might have escaped, had he SC
wished.


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


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


"Holdp whispered the captain, seiz
ing his wrist. off you fire at the ser
pent you will kill my childv'
| Will save IcI, dDSWcISu NlCltOu.


"My God / cannot risk it! Youl
| bullet will fail-it must fail, with the ser
pent right on herP'


"Have no fear, sir" answered Mel
ton, calmly.


He looked SO confident that the cap
tain, who had heard that he wasa cracl
shot" from some of the midshipmer
abroad, let go of his wrist.


Then kneeling, Henry leveled hi
pistol straight at the serpent's head
which still rested on the gir's threat!


There was moment of fearful sus
pense. The guides shook their head
solemly, believing that . the young
woman's doom was sealed and the cap
tain was about seizing Henry's arm
again, when a fiery streak of fam'
leaped from the pistol, followed by {
sharp, ringing peal


Pale as death, the captain rushed t.
his daughter. Henry smiled.


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


"He has saved you~ cried the ole
captain, straining the girl to his bosom


Yes, papal Oh, papa, now save him
toow


The captain did so. Henry was par
doned for his temporary desertion. Ii
the course of time he became an officer
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