HIDDEN DANGERS. 331 



charm that snake again, as he had deceived the rep- 

 tile by the exercise of his power. 



I have several times narrowly escaped from the 

 bites of these reptiles. On one occasion, I made up 

 the number of a party for the purpose of fishiog 

 and shooting on a small island, off the coast of 

 Florida. We crossed in a boat, landed at the 

 north end of the island, and fixed our camp 

 in a very pleasant spot, under the shade of a grove 

 of live oak and laurel-bushes on the bank of a small 

 stream, which had its source in a marsh in the centre 

 of the island. The situation commanded a very plea- 

 sant view. On one side was the green coast-line of 

 the great continent, where the wave dashed itself 

 into white foam on the sandy beach, with here and 

 there rocks of fantastic shape, and verdure-clad 

 islets; on the other hand was the mighty ocean, 

 stretching away till it was lost in the distance, where 

 wave and sky seemed to mingle together. We 

 shot ; we caught fish and oysters ; and, when the day 

 was at an end, a good supper was followed by two or 

 tliree ^ goes ' of grog beyond the usual allowance. 



During the night I felt thirsty, and walked down to 

 the stream two or three times, as did some of my com- 

 panions. Strange to say, everyone returned with the 

 tidings, that a rattlesnake had been heard not many 

 yards away, and always exactly at the same spot. 



As soon as it was light, I once more took my way to 



