336 AMERICAN SNAKES. 



The negro had joined a conspiracy to revolt, but 

 being suspected of lukewarmness in the cause, was 

 commanded to destroy his master's only daughter as a 

 proof of his zeal, or suffer death himself. The rascal 

 accomplished the deed without attracting the least 

 suspicion towards himself. He discovered the haunt 

 of a pair of deadly snakes, and by means of those 

 arts peculiar to his half-savage race, enticed them to 

 the neio^hbourhood of the house. He then informed 



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his master that he had reason to believe that there 

 was a venomous reptile in the neighbourhood. A reward 

 was offered for its destruction, which was gained by the 

 negro himself, who killed the female snake the follow- 

 ino' mornino-. His courage and devotion was hiofhlv 

 complimented by the master, and an additional reward 

 given by the daughter of the planter. The moment 

 the negro was unobserved, he set to work to complete 

 his plans. He dragged the body of the dead snake 

 along the ground, through the house into the young 

 lady's bedroom, and allowed it to remain for some 

 minutes between the sheets on the bed. This done, he 

 concealed the snake about his bodv, and carried it to 

 a distance. Night came, and the surviving snake 

 beo-an to seek its mate. The scent was still on the 

 ground, and the reptile followed it up to the door, and 

 then glided across the hall to the chamber of the 

 planter's daughter. The trail was quite warm ; the 

 snake worked its way beneath the coverlet to the place 



