Combat with a Boa.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 227, 5 November 1887, Page 7

Combat with a Boa.

One afternoon, a farmer in Strnthern, having got his friend the smith to forge him an axe, set off to a neighbouring town to get it shafted. Being told that a menagerie of wild beasts was then exhibiting, and knowing he had time to pay it a visit, he went to see it, and had just satisfied his curiosity as the carpenter had just finished his job. The evening being cold, the two friends' must needs have a gill ; and what between toddy and a long talk about snakes, the farmer appeared decidedly elevated at parting. With axe on shoulder, he left the town, ruminatingas best he could, on the wondeis he had seen. He had not proceeded far, however, when a sudden breeze came round, he perceived with horror by the faint glimmering of the new moon, a huge boa-constrictor rolling in enormous folds towards him. To fly was madness — death was certain — but to die without a struggle was unmanly. So hastily drawing his breath, he made three desperate strides back, and by a well-aimed blow with his axe, fortunately cut the monster in two ; but before he could do more, each half of the animal suddenly became instinct with life, and both head and tail began to move as vivaciously as before. Again and again the axe came down with dreadful execution : but ply it as he might, and cut it into as many fragment showed vitality and a disposition to sting if they had had the fangs to do so. Feeling that he had c scotched the snake/but despairingof killing it effectually, our heroic friend at last shouldered his axe and go', home as steadily as he could. 'Gude guide's, John, what's made you so late ? cried his better-half as he entered the door. 1 I've killed a sarpint, and saved the country side,' replied the farmer, with a look of conscious heroism. ' Ah, John, it's no the auld serpent, I doot, else ye wadna hae been tempted to drink so muckle whisky/ 'It was a show sarpint, broken out o' a caravan ; a boy contractor as they ca' it, replied John, with warmth. ' Gae to the milestane and yell see as dead as a herrin.' ! John's two sons learning the exact locality of the dreadful conflict, hastened off to witness the trophies of his rowess : when they found not a boaconstrictor, cut a lady's boa, worth twenty-five shillings, cut into fifty pieces.