ed bark, and quite inodorous. Amid the fibres of these roots
lay the antidote to the snake-poison--in their sap was the saviour of my
rife!

Not a moment was lost in preparing them. There were no hieroglyphics
nor Latinic phraseology employed in the prescription of the
snake-charmer. It was comprised in the phrase, "_Chaw it_!" and, along
with this simple direction, a piece of the root scraped clear of the
bark was put into my hand. I did as I was desired, and in a moment I
had reduced the root to a pulp, and was swallowing its sanitary juices.

The taste was at first rather sweetish, and engendered a slight feeling
of nausea; but, as I continued to chew, it became hot and pungent,
producing a peculiar tingling sensation in the fauces and throat.

The black now ran to the nearest brook, filled one of his "brogans" with
water, and, returning, washed my wrist until the tobacco juice was all
removed from the wound. Having himself chewed a number of the leaves of
the plant into a pulpy mass, he placed it directly upon the bitten part,
and then bound up the wound as before.

Everything was now done that could be done. I was instructed to abide
the result patiently and without fear.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

In a very short time a profuse perspiration broke out over my whole
body, and I began to expectorate freely. I felt, moreover, a strong
inclination to vomit--which I should have done had I swallowed any more
of the juice, for, taken in large doses, the seneca root is a powerful
emetic.

But of the feelings I experienced at that moment, the most agreeable was
the belief that _I was cured_!

Strange to say, this belief almost at once impressed my mind with the
force of a conviction. I no longer doubted the skill of the
snake-doctor.

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

CHARMING THE CROTALUS.

I was destined to witness still further proofs of the wonderful
capabilities of my new acquaintance.

I felt the natural joy of one whose life has been, saved from
destruction--singularly, almost miraculously saved. Like one who has
escaped from drowning, from the field of slaughter, from the very jaws
of death. The reaction was delightful. I felt gratitude, too, for him
who had saved me. I could have embraced my sable companion, black and
fierce as he was, like a brother.

We sat side by side upon the log, and chatted gaily;--gaily as men may
whose future is dark and u