148 WASTE-LAND WANDERINGS. 



From what I have seen of these creatures, something 

 very extraordinary must have occurred to induce them 

 to attack, or even face, you when menaced. In this case, 

 the snake disputed my approach as I proceeded to draw 

 my boat into the bushes. It darted at me, full half its 

 length, and suddenly withdrawing, again struck out. A 

 moment's consideration of this unusual exhibition of 

 courage on the part of a black snake revealed the fact 

 that it was very fixed in its movements, not passing to 

 any of the surrounding branches, as I moved from side 

 to side to get a better view. This fixedness of position 

 as well as of purpose so piqued my curiosity that I went 

 within striking distance, and warding off the attack with 

 one arm, pulled down the bushes with the other. This 

 action on my part led to the discovery that I was not 

 the first person the snake had recently encountered, and 

 I am glad to add that I have never been so cruel, even 

 towards snakes, as had the coward who had found this 

 snake. It had its back injured, and had been impaled 

 about the middle of its body upon a sharpened branch 

 of the bushes. I quickly destroyed the snake. Perhaps 

 the fellow who did this deed may meet with this record 

 of his cruelty, and learn that I write him here a coward 

 and a brute. 



As I walked home this evening, I thought of the 

 tenacity of life exhibited by many of the lower verte- 

 brates. How long this tortured black snake had been 

 impaled in the bushes I could not tell, but probably for 

 twenty-four hours. How long it could have lived un- 

 der such circumstances I should like much to know. 



There is an old saying current in this neighborhood. 



