‘Choke him! I should think?’
‘No, sir; no—it won’t choke him.’
The man studied the duck, and studied the size of the python’s head and throat for some time. The duck apparently going to rest, but not quite reconciled at so many persons intruding upon her, the man looked disappointed, and again began:
‘Now is that duck charmed, sitting there?’
‘I should think, sir, she was not at all charmed with the prospect,’ sedately replied Holland.
‘Does that duck know it’s going to be eaten?’ then inquired the man after fresh scrutiny.
‘No, sir,’ returned the keeper with the utmost gravity.
‘That snake don’t seem to be hungry,’ then said the disappointed observer.
‘No, sir. He’ll eat well enough next Friday. He’s going to change his skin.’
‘Oh!’ said the man to a boy by his side, satisfied, though still rather puzzled, ‘that snake’s going to change his skin next Friday.’