A TERRIBLE MOMENT.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XI, Issue 36, 9 September 1893, Page 191

A TERRIBLE MOMENT.

It was in India. Dinner was just finished in the mess-room, and English officers were sitting about the table. The bronzed faces had the set but not unkindly look common among military men. The conversation, at best, had not been animated, and just now there was a lull, as the night was too hot for small talk. The major of the regiment, a clean-cut man of 55, turned toward his next neighbour at the table, a young subaltern, who was leaning back in his chair with his hands clasped behind his head, staring through the cigar smoke at the ceiling. The major was slowly looking the man over, from his handsome face down, when, with sudden alertness, and in a quiet steady voice, he said :—

‘ Don’t move, please, Mr Carruthers, I want to try an experiment with you. Don’t move a muscle.’ ‘All right, Major,’ replied the subaltern, without even turning his eyes. ‘ Hadn’t the least idea of moving, I assure you. What’s the game ? ’ By this time all the others were listening in a lazily expectant way.

‘Do you think,’ continued the Major, and his voice trembled just a little, ‘ Don you think you can keep abso lutely still for, say, two minutes —to save your life?’ ‘ Are you joking ?’ ‘ f In the contrary, move a muscle and you are a dead man. Can you stand the strain ?’

The subaltern barely whispered, • Yes,’ and his face paled slightly.

* Burke, said the Major, addressing an officer across the table, ‘ pour some of that milk into a saucer, ami set it on the floor here just back of me. Gently, man ! < hriet ! Not a word was spoken as the officer quietly filled the saucer, walked with it carefully around the table, and set it down where the major had indicated on the floor. Like a marble statue sat the young subaltern in his white linen clothes, while a cobra <li which had been crawling up the leg of his trousers, slowly raised its head then turned, descended to the floor, and glided towards the milk.

Suddenly the silence was broken by the report of the major’s revolver, and the snake lay dead on the floor. ‘ Thank you, major,’ said the subaltern, as the two men shook hands warmly. • You have saved my life.’ ‘You’re welcome my boy,’ replied the senior. • Hut you did your share. ’