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Show sergeant awoke. He fainted with f right, but the danger was past. The slipknot had saved him and a stroke of the saber cut off the serpent's head. SAVED BY A SLIPKNOT. It Was Thrown Over av Serpent's Head Just in Tine. The traveler in the uncivilized regions of South Arheriea has to face many . perils. If he escapes the savages, who are adroit and bitter enemies; if he can secure water and food, and survive tlie intense heat, and believes his expedition expedi-tion has every chance of success, he may die within an hour from the bite of a poisonous serpent, says Youth's Companion. M. Thouar, in his diary, kept during his explorations in the Pilcomayo dells under a commission from the Argentine government, describes an experience which prompted him to eternal vigilance vigi-lance in regard to snakes. lie was lying In his hammock; tlie sergeant of his guard was asleep under a tree close by. Suddenly he noticed an immense serpent coiled about the sergeant's leg and extending its head toward his bare chest. What should he do? To wake the man meant certslu (k&th to him; bnt how to kill the creature or attract it away without waking- him? He recalled re-called a method of capturing the eobra, in India. He prepared a Blipknot. By stealthy, almost imperceptible movements he attracted at-tracted tho serpent's attention. It turned its head. Then ho leaned from his hammock and with a long piece of grass tickled it gently on the throat. It raised its beeJ. He cast the noose over it and drew it tight around the serpent's neck, It was not a momert- : . |
