“No, no,” gasped Rob in agonised tones; and, speaking in a frightened whisper, “There’s something alive in here.”
“Nippers o’ some kind, eh?”
“No, no,” cried Rob faintly; “I can feel it moving. Oh! help! It’s a snake.”
As he spoke there was a curious scuffling noise inside, as if something was struggling to extricate itself, and Shaddy lost no time. Bending down, he seized Rob by the chest under the armpits, stooped lower, gave one heave, and lifted him right out; when, following close upon his legs, the head of a great serpent was thrust up, to look threateningly round for a moment. The next, the creature was gliding down through the dense coating of parasitical growth, and before gun could be fetched from the cabin, or weapon raised, the rustling and movement on the side of the trunk had ceased, and Joe in turn gave a bound to one side.
“It’s coming along by here,” he cried, as, in full belief that he would the next moment be enveloped in the monster’s coils, he made for the fire.
“Where is it now?” cried Shaddy, knife in hand.
“The grass is moving there,” said Brazier, pointing a little to the right, where the tree trunks cast a deep shadow.
“Can’t see—so plaguey dark,” growled the guide; “and it’s no good if I could. Yes, I can see the stuff moving now. He’s making for the water. Now, sir, send a charge o’ shot where the grass is waving.”
But before Brazier could get a sight of the reptile it had glided into the river, down among the branches of the fallen tree, as if quite used to the intricate tangle of pointed wood beneath the bank, and accustomed to use it for a home of refuge, or lurking place from which to strike at prey.
“Did it seize you?” said Brazier excitedly.