An Exciting Encounter.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 208, 25 June 1887, Page 7

An Exciting Encounter.

A" workmak on Linsay Point has informed a reporter of a terrible conflict between a snake and a rat. His story is as follows :— The snake was of unusual size, and of a different appearance from those commonly found in water. The rat was of the drdinary brown variety, and was running along the shore when tho fight began. The snake was coiled upon a little point of mud just above tho water, gunning itself, and probably asleep. The rat, apparently without noticing the snake, ran directly into the latter's jaws ; that is, it jumped directly upon the folds of tho serpent's body. The snake struck instantly, fastening its fangs between the rat's shoulders. Then began a contest that in its small way was truly thrilling. The rat, struggling violently, endeavoured to shako itself free, while tho snake as persistently endeavoured to drag the head of its victim into its own mouth. This feat it was at first unable to accomplish. The rat was game, and as it writhed in its convulsive efforts to escape bit the big snake severely in the neck, just at the back of the head, until the bipod flowed and mixed with its own. The counter attacks became at last so savagely painful that tho snake loosened its grip, remaining, however, in half-coil. But the respite was too brief to afford the rat an opportunity to escape, for again the snake's lierco jaws descended and closed, this timo around the rat's head. But the struggle was by no means over. The heavy bony of the rat .still swayed violently, but dragged with it the head of the snake, until the latter, was thrown completely out of coil. By this time, however, the rat's struggles had grown comparatively faint, and tho snake was apparently tho victor. But tho next moment the snake in its turn began to struggle violently, as if to release its adversary's head, but ineffectually ; the rea&on soon became fully apparent. The rat had bitten quite through the snake's throat and its sharp teeth could be distinctly seen in the narrow slit they made. The writhings of the snake were now intense. It lashed the ground with its thick folds to almost half its length from tho ground. The spectator stood he&itant, scarcely knowing whether he ought or not to interfere. The next moment he was powerless in the premises, for the snake, with one last convulsive effort, threw half its length into the muddy water, and the doughty twain sank together to a common death.