Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis raised their rifles and took long and careful aim. Bob followed suit, although he was not sure that his aim would be true.
Then, just as the snake prepared to strike, the men fired simultaneously, and Bob pulled the trigger a second later.
In such a crisis it was necessary that their bullets take effect, and they did.
The reptile’s head was shattered into a horrible pulp that was all but sickening, and the great body lashed about in pain. For several minutes the movements continued; then, as life faded out, the snake became less active, finally stretching out into one last mass.
“Whew!” breathed Bob, relaxing for the first time. “That was some encounter.”
Mr. Holton nodded in affirmation.
“If we had been stung by those terrible fangs it would have been the last of us,” he said, casting a resentful look in that direction.
“The venom is extremely powerful,” remarked Mr. Lewis, wiping the perspiration from his brow. “It is yellow in color, and takes effect almost immediately. The nervous system becomes paralyzed in a very short time.”
“A pleasant way to die—I don’t think,” muttered Joe, shrugging his shoulders.