"Very good leaves," said Kadok. "When little Missa have no water, chew these, not be thirsty. White men call them hibiscus."
"I'll remember that," said Jean. "Kadok, tell me a story about when you were a little boy. What did you used to do at home?"
"Not do very much in wuuries,"[19] he said with a broad grin. "Blacks not have much home like white people. Like woods better than wuuries. Like hunt. Make many fine hunt, sometimes hunt animals, sometimes hunt other Blacks. Very good eat, before white man comes," he hastened to add as he saw Jean's expression of terror. "Not eat people now."
"I should hope not," cried the child.
"Little Missa keep quiet," said Kadok, raising himself on his elbow, grasping a stick he had and peering through the bushes. "Something coming. Think not black man. Don't move!" They sat so quiet it seemed to Jean that she could hear her heart beat, but heard nothing more. Just as she was about to speak, Kadok raised his stick quickly and brought it down with great force and Jean saw something black whirl and twist at the opening of the cave.
"Missa help quick. This hard to hold," cried Kadok. "Take stick, hold very tight here," and he gave her the handle of the forked stick which, to her horror, she saw held down by its neck a large snake. She shut her eyes tight, but held the stick bearing down with all her might while Kadok struck the snake over and over with his stick.
"Good Missa, let go stick, snake very dead now," and she looked with a shudder at the dead body of the serpent.
"Him tree-python," said Kadok, calmly. "Him make very good supper for Missa."
"Oh, I couldn't eat snake, really, I couldn't," she said, but Kadok laughed.