"And that's a man and a half too long, Sree. What's to be done?"
Sree looked disconsolately at the merchant, and slowly rubbed his blacking-brush-like hair.
"The Sahib told me to bring everything I could find in the jungle, and this was a lovely snake, all yellow and brown and purple like tortoiseshell. The Sahib would have been so pleased."
"No doubt, if I could have got it shut up safely in some kind of cage; but you see you have let it go."
"If the Sahib will pardon me," said the man humbly.
"Of course; yes, it was not your fault, but Michael's. Well, Michael, how are you going to catch this great snake?"
"Me catch it, sir?" said Mike mildly.
"Yes, of course; we can't leave it at liberty here."
"I thought perhaps you would shoot at it, sir, or Master Harry would have a pop at it with his gun."
"That's all very well, Mike; but it's of no use to shoot till you can see it," cried Harry.