NORTH AMERICA* 
pomble. My old friend turned about to carry my 
anfwer to the Indians. I prefently heard them ap- 
proaching and calling for Puc-Puggy. Starting up 
to efcape from their fight by a back door, a par- 
ty confifting of three young fellows, richly dreffed 
and ornamented, Hepped in, and with a countenance 
and action of noble Simplicity, amity and complai- 
fance, requefted me to accompany them to their 
encampment. I defired them to excufe me at this 
time \ they pleaded and entreated me to go with 
them, in order to free them from a great rattle 
fnake which had entered their camp ; that none of 
them had freedom or courage to expel him ; and 
understanding that it was my pleafure to collect all 
their animals and other natural productions of their 
land, defired that I would come with them and take 
him away, that I was welcome to him. I at length 
confented and attended on them to their encamp- 
ment, where I beheld the Indians greatly dilfurbed 
indeed. The men with flicks and tomahawks, and 
the women and children collected together at a 
diftance in affright and trepidation, whilft the dread- 
ed and revered ferpent leifurely traverfed their 
camp, vifiting the fire places from one to another, 
picking up fragments of their provifions and licking 
their platters. The men gathered around me, ex- 
citing me to remove him : being armed with a 
lightwood knot, I approached the reptile, who in- 
flantly collected himfeif in a vaft coil (their attitude 
of defence) I caft my mifTile weapon at him, which 
luckily taking his head, difpatched him inftantly , 
and laid him trembling at my feet. I took out 
my knife, fevered his head from his body, then turn- 
ing about, the Indians complimented me with every 
demonftration of fatisfaction and approbation for 
my heroifm, and friendfhip for thern, I carried off 
S % the 
