“Six-footer? No!” I said. “It’s about as big as a fat baby.”

“I thought so,” said my uncle. “Never mind the poor little thing; look-out for the monstrous snake. I daresay it’s one of the anacondas crept up out of the river. See it?”

“No, uncle; but there might be a dozen up there.”

“Keep on looking. You must see it if it’s as big as Pete here says. Was it close to the trunk, my lad?”

“Not very, sir; it was just out a little way, where the boughs spread out.”

“I see it!” I cried. “Keep the boat quite still. It’s curled up all in a knot.”

“A hundred feet long?” said my uncle, laughing.

“Not quite, uncle.”

“Well, fifty?”

“I don’t think so, uncle.”