AN EXCITING GAME OF WHIST.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1112, 31 May 1883, Page 3

AN EXCITING GAME OF WHIST.

This article is reprinted from Tit. Bits, in which it gained a guinea prize. We had been playing all the evening at whist. The stake had been gold m.ohur points, and 20 on the rubber. Maxey, who is always lucky, had won five consecutive bumpers, which lent a sel-fsatis-fied smile to his countenance, and made us, the losers, look anything but pleased, when he suddenly changed countenance, and hesitated to play. This tho more surprised us, since he was one who seldom ppndered, being so completely master of tile game that he deemed long consideration superfluous. “Play away, Maxey, what are you about ?” impatiently demanded Churchill, one of tho most impetuous youths that ever wore the uniform of the bodyguard. “Hush !” responded Maxey, in a tone which thrilled through us, at the same time turning deadly pale. “ Are you unwell!” said another, about to start up, for ho believed our friend bad suddenly taken ill. “For the love of God sit quiet!” rejoined the other, in a tone denoting extreme pain, and he laid down his cards. “ If you value my life, move not.” “ What can he mean!—has he taken leave of his senses ?” demanded Churchill, apealing to myself. “Don’t start—don’t move, I tell you,” in a sort of a whisper, which 1 can never forget, uttered Maxey. “If you make any sudden emotion I am a dead man!” We exchanged looks. He continued — “ Remain quiet, and all may yet be well. I have a cobra capella round my leg.” Our first impulse was to draw back our chairs; but an appealing look from the victim induced us'to remain, although we were aware that should the reptile transfar but one fold, and attach itself to any other of the party, that individual might already be counted as a dead man, so fatal is tho bite of that dreaded monster.

Poor Maxey was dressed as many old residents still dress in India, namely, in breeches and silk stockings ; be, therefore, the more plainly felt every movement of the snake. His countenance assumed a livid hue : the words seemed to leave his mouth without that feature altering its position, so rigid was his look, and so fearful was he lest the slightest muscular movement should alarm the serpent and hasten the fatal bile.

We were in agony little leas than liia own during tlie scene. “He is coiling round !” murmured Miixey ;“ I feel him cold—cold to my limb; and now he lightens! For the love of Heaven call for some milk ! I dare not apeak loud. Let it be placed on the ground near me ; let some be spilt on the floor ” Churchill cautiously gave the order, and a servant slipped out of the room.

‘ Don’t stir, Northcote—you moved your head ; by everything sacred, I conjure you not to do so again ! It cannot be long ere ray fate is decided. 1 have a wife and two children in Europe ; tell them that I died blessing them—that ray last prayers were for them—the snake is wnding itself around my calf—l leave them all I possess—l can almost fancy I feel his breath!” The milk was brought and carefully put down ; a few drops were sprinkled on the floor, and the affrighted servants drew back. Again Maxey spoke ; “ No, no !it has no effect. On the contrary, he has clasped himself tighter—he had uncurled his upper fold. 1 dare not look down, but I am sure he is about to draw back, and give the bite of death with more fatal precision. Receive me, 0 Lord, and pardon me; my last hour is come !” Again he pauses. “ I die firm ; but this is past endurance. Ah ! no, he has undone another fold, and loosens himself. Can he be going to someone else f’ We involuntarily started. For the love of Heaven stir not! I’m a dead man ; but bear with me. He still loosens ;he is about to dart! Move not, but beware ! Oh, this agony is to hard to bear ! Another pressure, and lam dead. No, he relaxes! he relaxes !” At that moment poor Maxey ventured to look down. The snake had unwound himself ; the last coil had fallen, and the [ reptile was making for the milk. “I am saved!" and Maxey bounded from the chair, and fell senseless into the arms of one of bis servants In another instant, need it be added, we were all dispersed ; the snake was killed, and our friend carried more dead than alive to his room.