FURTHER ADVENTURES 113

must in order to reach the foot of the
mountains. There was neither bridge nor
boat to be seen, and the first idea that came
into the Prince’s head was that he should
have to swim for it. This he thought he
could manage, having learned the art of
swimming early in life, but then it would
be impossible to swim through the river
without getting wet, and how to keep his
clothes and banjo dry if he stripped and
plunged into the water, was more than he
could decide. :

He had not much time to think, how-
ever, for scarcely had he arrived upon the
bank of the river, and looked down upon
its waters, than he perceived something
which made him still more dislike the idea
of swimming than he had done on account
of his clothes and banjo. The water was
full of snakes: not harmless little water-
snakes which would fly at the approach of
man, but great scaly monsters with evil eyes
and threatening coils which looked as if they
longed to wind round any victim that came
within their grasp. The whole river seemed
to be alive with these disagreeable and
horrible creatures, and the sight of them put

I