Serpent

How Alphonse Met A Wicked Serpent

By Roberta M. Rhodes

THIS is the true story of Alphonse, a tropical Cat.

When interviewing him to-day on the near-loss of one of his nine lives, in the jaws of a python, Alphonse himself remarked that, although constantly reading of the difficulties of life south of Latitude 12 deg. South, he was sure no Sydneyside cat had to contend with such disadvantages as he met, in living in the tropics.

For instance, he said, on the night in question, he had taken up his usual and favourite sleeping position, in the Haus-coOk. He was lying dreamily in a pleasant relaxed state, halfway between reality and a catty Eldorado, teeming with mice, milk, and voluptuously amenable maiden cats. Suddenly one of those fierce tropical storms arose, to which he is accustomed, and he hardly stirred from his dreaming.

But, under cover of the storm’s barrage, an Enemy was secretly advancing.

And then one of those things occurred, he said, which are so annoying to the dweller in the Tropics. He was seized, without warning, and from behind, by a great, clumsy python.

At this point in his story the poor fellow broke down at the horrible recollection, and was unable to continue.

However, his master appeared, and finished the tale. He told me that on the night of the storm he heard a faint

Haus ' Cook

always^dim, il he Ii complained, Missus forgets to buy new batteries) he saw only two green eyes, which appeared to be standing forth from their sockets and indulging in a secret life of their own. After a stunned period of cogitation, he recognised the orbs of his favourite cat, Alphonse. u Further investigation revealed that the hind portion of Alphonse was in trouble.

He was now encircled, as lovingly as ever old Omar embraced a brewer’s daughter by a python. Round his neck he wore, like a coral jewel, a cruel band of gleaming needle-teeth. The snake was in the very act of preparing to swallow the cat. v, rpHE good kind Mastah, unheeding any 1 danger to his own person, then tore the snake from the body of the cat.

With infinite caution, he placed it in a filing cabinet, which hitherto had found no suitable purpose in life, and later despatched it to a friend, who, in a foolish moment of abandon, had once professed an affinity with snakes. This one, he later told us, measured a bare 14 feet.

However, let us return to our muttons, The Master looked again upon his cat.

Alphonse was undoubtedly in a mess.

Lying on the floor, released f r pni the py thon’s embrace, a large pool of blood was spreading round his head. This, allied to the fact that his limbs were rapidly growing colder, led us to entertain little hope for his ultimate recovery. .

But then, having filed away the snake, and whilst reviving himself with rum, the Master was astonished i to see Al phonse being feebly animated hy sign of returning hfe. Soon he was sit ting up, looking distrait, it is true, but alive, . he Al l?ad e recoTOred Pl sufflciently )S to Veinter you knowhe remarked u^anely what I consider really did the trick, and shot me right back to the £°od Milk tus Quo? It was that Rum the Missus save me. f d woman >» Yes, curse the fcml-favo mu tter I heard Alphonse s a w ith mv darkly, as I wandered awa; 7 mth my notes, and now you re so g head won’t drink your milk straight.