FIGHT WITH A PYTHON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1891, 17 October 1918, Page 1

FIGHT WITH A PYTHON.

THRILLING ADVENTURE,

WOMAN SAVES HER/ DOG,

The following story affords a noteworthy example of pluck and enndrance on the part of an English sportswoman who may well ho congratulated on the result of her adventure. Miss Col Iyer, who recounts her experience in the .Field, lives in British East Africa: —

My house is a round log-hut, thatched with grass, and built in a narrow valley between the Olioba River and a smaller stream, known as the Simba, from which I gel my water. 1 had been herding the boys all day breaking up ground for a vegetable garden. It was a very hot day, and at 4 p.m. I went back to the hut, told my hoy to get me some tea, and in the meantime took off my gaiters and my belt, to which is attached my big, whistle with which I call my boys, and my big hunting knife. After tea my throe dogs came and bogged me to take them for a walk, so I started off for. a short; stroll jus! as 1 was, and not troubling to take my rille, nor even a stick. My dogs consist of a young Airedale dog, Pickles, an Airedale bitch, a mighty huntress, Dona, and a large South African buckhound, Big Man, Avhich I use for pulling down wounded buck. I walked down the Simba River, and let the dogs-try for a jackal. The young dog was on in front out of sight over the brow of the incline. Suddenly I heard him give longue and thought he had hit off (he buck, so I cheered on the other two. When in a second his joyful opening turned to howls and yells of agony. Thinking a- leopard had probably got him, 1 ran about 50 yards and I saw him still on the track which crossed the bed of the stream in the coils of a huge python. Three coils as big as my body were round him, blood was streaming from bis mouth, Ids eyes implored me to help. The other dogs were barking round the snake, but not going for it. The snake was open-mouthed, trying to got hold of the dog’s bead. ATTACKED WITH A PIECE OF WOOD. Here I was, quarter of a mile from help, quite alone, and my dog being strangled to death in the grip of the biggest snake I had ever seen. I felt for my whistle which I bad left on my camp-bed. There was no time to lose, and no use to shout for help. The, dog was being killed, and was now past bowling. 1 looked round for some weapon, and seized a heavy root of a partlyburnt tree. It was only about 3ft. long, so I bad to go right in. There was 3ft or so of the snake feeling round Pickle’s head, and I made a whack at the back of its neck. I bit fairly hard, and it came for me like a flash and struck me and bit me on the shin. I jumped bade, and Dona, seeing it go for mo, grabbed it in the neck and pulled it back, and the big dog got hold of its tail. Dona was whirled into the air in a. second, and either let go, or was shaken off. I went in again and bit twice, as hard as T could, and it made another lightning plunge at me, dragging Pickles with it. It gol my other leg lids time. I did not move, but banged and banged its. neck and bead with the root, and Dona got hold again. I think I must nave partially stunned it, for, to my utmost relief, it began to unloose the dog. I hit several times more,