"Let them have another try, father," cried the boy. "Phra and I don't mind missing a shot apiece."
"Very well," said Mr. Kenyon, and turning to the men—"Take it alive, then, if you can."
From wearing a dull, heavy look of disappointment the faces of the Siamese were all smiles once more, and they prepared to rush in at their enemy on receiving a word from Sree, who now advanced with one of the bamboo poles he had picked up, and held out the end toward the quivering, menacing head of the snake.
The latter accepted the challenge directly and struck at the end of the thick pole, its jaws opening and closing, and the dart of the drawn-back head being quicker than the eye could follow.
Sree was as quick, though. The slightest movement of the wrist threw the end of the pole aside, and the serpent missed it three times running. After that it refused to strike, but drew back its head and swung it from side to side till it was teased into striking once more.
This time there was a sharp jar of the bamboo, as the reptile's teeth closed upon the wood, and the pole was nearly jerked out of the man's hands. But he held on firmly without displaying the slightest fear, swaying to and fro as the reptile dragged and gave.
"Better kill it at once, Sree," cried Mr. Kenyon.
"Pray no, Sahib. He is very strong, but we shall tire him out. I am going to have his neck bound to the great bamboo pillar with a sarong."
"My good fellow," cried the merchant, "if you do it will drag the pillar down."
"And pull half the roof off," said Phra. "Yes, they are very strong, these big serpents."