336 THE YOUTH'’S CABINET.

 

 

 

when the captain orders all hands on | “ We went slowly on in silence, without
deck to prepare for action, while a strange | moving our arms or heads, im order to
vessel is approaching under suspicious | prevent alarm as much as possible, lest

colors.

 

the snake should glide off or attack us in

A S8OUTH AMERICAN BOA.

self-defence. I carried the lance perpen-
dicularly before me, with the point about
a foot from the ground. The snake had
not moved; and on getting up to him, I
struck him with the lance on the near
side, just behind the neck, and pinned
him to the ground. That moment the
negro next to me seized the weapon, and
held it firm in its place, while I dashed
head foremost into the den to grapple

with the snake, and to get hold of his tail
before he could do any mischief. On
pinning him to the ground, he gave-a
tremendous loud hiss, and the little dog
ran away, howling as he went. We had
a sharp fray in the den, the rotten sticks
flying on all sides, and each party strug-
gling for superiority. I called out to the
second negro to throw himself upon me,
as I found I was not heavy enough. Hv