We had both reloaded now, and then, without heeding a shout from Ebo, we stood looking in the direction taken by the reptile, though now all the luxuriant canes and grasses were quite still.
“What do you say, Nat?” said my uncle. “Shall we follow the monster and try and shoot it?”
“It must be forty or fifty feet long, uncle,” I said, feeling a curious creeping sensation run through me.
“Forty or fifty nonsenses, my boy!” he said, laughing. “Such serpents as that only exist in books. They rarely exceed twenty feet where they are largest. That fellow would not be fifteen. What do you say—will you come?”
“Ye–es, uncle,” I said hesitatingly, feeling hot and cold by turns.
“Why, Nat,” he said quietly, “you are afraid!” I did not speak for a moment or two, but felt the hot blood flush into my face as I stood there looking him full in the eyes, and unable to withdraw my gaze.
“Yes, uncle,” I said at last. “I did not want to be, but a serpent is such a horrible thing, and I am afraid.”
“Yes, it is a horrible monster, Nat,” he said quietly. “I don’t like them myself, but if we could kill it—”
“I can’t help feeling afraid, uncle,” I said, “but I’m ready to go on now.”
“What! to attack it, Nat?”