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INDIAN TRAGEDIES AND ROMANCES.

off to sleep, but the crawling motion and the rattling aroused him in an instant.

" ' Oh! murder! captain! there's a rattlesnake crawling along my back !   What in the world am I to do ?'

"' I know it,' I answered, ' I hear him rattling now (and I gently shook the rattles I held in my hand). Lie still, and do n't move a muscle until he coils up.'

"' Oh, yes,' said the poor fellow, and his teeth fairly chattered from fright, ' it's easy enough for you to say " lie still," when I am between you and the snake; but it is not so easy for me, for I can feel him squirming along my back now.'

"' I know that,' said I, ' but you must lie still, for the first motion you make, he will have his fangs into you, sure.'

"1 Oh !' said the poor fellow, as I gave the vine another serpentine twist along his back, ' this is more than human nature can bear   ugh ! ugh! Captain, can't you do any thing for me ?'

"' There's no danger at all,' I said, ' if you will only keep still; he will soon settle himself, and then you can jump up without the least risk of being bitten. When he quits rattling altogether,' said I, shaking the rattles in my hand, ' you will know that he is asleep.'

"' Captain,' he replied in a faint and husky Aroice, as I gave the vine another twist and shook the rattles, ' this is past endurance.   I must get out of this at all hazards.'

"' Unless you want to die,' said I, 1 do n't do it, but lie as still as a mouse when puss is about. By the way, Mr. Author,' said I, ' can you tell me whether the rattlesnake is confined to the American continent, or if he is to be found also in other countries ? I have heard a great many opposite opinions on the subject, and some pretend to think,' I continued, giving the vine another twist, ' that they are a species of the cobra de capello, the most poisonous serpent in the world.'

"' Ugh !' said the poor fellow, ' this is past all endurance. Captain, remember me to all inquiring friends, and do n't forget