“Yes; there he is!” I said with a shudder, and I pointed up among the branches.
The black who was the doctor’s fellow-watcher had seen me approach, and following with his eyes the direction pointed to by my hand, he too looked up into the tree, where, glistening in the fire-light, there was the reptile swinging slowly to and fro with a pendulum-like motion.
In spite of the horror inspired by such a creature, free and within a few yards of where I was standing, I could not help noticing the beauty of the scales, which shone in the fire-light as if of burnished bronze. But I had little time for examination; one moment I was noting the head and curved neck of the reptile, the next there was a sharp twanging noise, and I saw the serpent’s head jerk upwards, and then what seemed to be a mass of thick rope fell near the fire; there was a tremendous lashing and tossing about, and when the doctor and I approached the spot cautiously with our guns, it was to find that the reptile had glided off into the forest depths.
“A good shot for a bow and arrow,” said the doctor, turning to our black companion, who smiled complacently, our manner plainly showing him that we were admiring his skill.
“You are getting a poor night’s rest, Joe,” said the doctor smiling. “Now go and lie down again.”
“It is of no use,” I said fretfully. “I can’t sleep, and I only lie thinking about home and him. I shall stay and watch.”
The doctor protested, but finding at last that I was unwilling to lie down again, he said:
“Well, I am quite different, for I am so tired that I cannot keep awake. I will go and lie down then, if you promise to come and wake me as soon as you are drowsy. Mind and keep up a good blaze.”
I replied that he might be sure of that.
“Don’t fire unnecessarily,” he continued. “If any wild animal comes near, a piece of burning wood will scare it away at once.”