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Show SVAhE AOinST KATS. TUB ROUUNTS KILL A EIO JlOCC-l-8M AITBR A L1VEI T FIUIIT. Oneof ournelghborslivlngseveral miles below the writer tells of a marvelous snake story. He has. It appears, been greatly troubled with rats and mice, and has tried every effort to exterminate them, but to no iurpose He bad brought many cats to thb bo jsr, but they all rau off, as the rats are too large and ferocious for the felines. Polwned food seemed only to make the rats fat, and the geutlemingave It up as abadjjb. But now he bas changed his mind, and says they are better than a dog or even cati. And this Is his story: They live In a large one story house near the banks of the river.. Tho gentleman an J his wife sleip In a room at tho back of the Iiou-e, and a young daughter sleeps in a low bed In the room connectirr. The other night, about midnight, ther were awakened by a loud curious noise in their room LijVn-iug, LijVn-iug, they beard the sound of the squeaking of' rats and mien, and also of a heavier sound like something some-thing being thrown on the floor, mingled with angry hissings, which, to their horror, they recogiiiz-d as a snako's as soon as they had gotten their dezed sense? Mr. B hastily rose In bed, but did cot dare step upon thu floor for fear cf stepping upon the serprnt or whate ver it was. The daughter was aroused also and was greatly frightened at the uproar. Being a brave and courageous cour-ageous girl, as soon as sho could comprehend that the soun is Jrere in an adjoining room She Jumped out of bed, and running to the tire-place, tire-place, threw a piece of pitch pineou the smouldering coals and then scrambled on top of thu table. As the flames leaped up, lllumlnaliug the room, a slrauge sight was revealed re-vealed to their eyes. In tho centre of the room was a big moccasin snake colled up and striking Ieloua-ly Ieloua-ly at its opponents, whicll were seen to be score of rats and mice They arould ru a all ro J ud the big serpent, and then, when at its back, spring at It, glvo a bile and then a Scurry oil In time to avoid its strlko Several lay dead on the floor, showing that the snake had hit some of them One old rat seemed to be the leader and he sat afT to one side. He would utter a queer squeak and the others would all act as If obeying bis orders. Suddenly the snake turned swiftly swift-ly and struck at this eld fellow as if recognizing hlmas his old tncmi. The old rat was too quick, howeer, and as thesnake struck at him ha retaliated by giving it a vicious Lite back o the neck, which the serpent received with a horrible hiss and an angry shake of its-head Tbeothers then made a grand rush upon the reptile, and before it emild recoer Its coll had it completelj covered. The angry rodents bit and gnawed at the snak, which curled and thrashed about on the pine floor like unto a flail. The battle continued for a few minutes atd then the snako stretched, bim-..lf bim-..lf nut In death The big nit again squeaked, and Jn au Instant every one of the rats and mle-e scampered off. and, strange to saj . carried ofl the dead bodies, of those Tlie'specUUrs to this strange battle bat-tle Anally found rourage to get up and throw out the snake's lifeless body. He was covered with scores of bites and bis head was almost severed from his body. The geatle-man geatle-man now says that the rata and mice may stay with him if they will only continue to guard bis property as well as this Ha.lanv of Wo family gotten un In the night they would undoubtedly have len bitten, as the moccaiiu seldom gives any warning of his presence, but strikes to kill OUaaaha Idler in St. Tmuu Oto6e lkmccrat. |
