“Look out, Nat,” he cried. “It’s coming your way.”
“Yolly-to, yolly-to!” cried Ebo; but I hardly heard him, for, rushing down amongst the reeds and canes, writhing and bounding in the most extraordinary way, beating, whipping the tall leaves, tying itself up in knots and then throwing itself out nearly straight, came what to me seemed to be a most monstrous serpent.
I ought to have fired, but as the reptile came towards me I felt as if I must run, and I turned and fled for a dozen yards before shame stopped me, and I faced about.
The creature was close at hand, writhing horribly, and leaving behind it a beaten track, as in a fit of desperation I raised my gun, took quick aim, and fired, leaped aside to get away from the smoke, and fired again at something close to me.
The next moment I was knocked down, my gun flying out of my hand, and when I struggled up the serpent was gone.
“Hurt, Nat?” cried my uncle, who came running up with Ebo, who began to feel me all over.
“I don’t think I am, uncle,” I said angrily; “but the thing gave me a horrible bang.”
“Pick up your gun then and come along, lad. You hit the brute with both barrels, and I know I did once. Come along; load as you run.”
Ebo had already gone on in the serpent’s track, for after I had been sent over by a blow as the reptile writhed so fiercely, it had straightened itself out, and gone straight down the little valley towards more open ground.
“Obe-ally-yolly!” shouted Ebo, and running after him I found that the serpent was gliding about in a rapid way amongst some tall trees, with the black darting at it and hitting it with his club from time to time, but apparently without making any impression.