172 OPHIDIA. — BOAD^. 



ing, I could observe that the shot had taken effect, 

 for blood was beginning to drop from its head. 

 But the wound aj^peared rather to have enraged 

 than subdued him. Unfortunately, all my shot was 

 expended, otherwise I would most certainly, at a 

 respectable distance, have given him a salutation 

 of the same kind as I had just bestowed. All 

 that I have described passed in a much shorter 

 time than I have taken up in recounting it. 



" As I went up the stream with all the velocity 

 I could impart to the canoe, I heard the reeds, 

 among which the animal was apparently taking 

 refuge, crashing under its weight. 1 never once 

 thought of the lines I had left ; but hurrying as 

 fast as the canoe would go through the water, I 

 was not long in reaching the landing-place below 

 my friend's house. Hastily mooring the canoe, 

 I jumped ashore, and hurried ujd to the house, 

 where you may be certain I lost no time in com- 

 municating the almost miraculous escape I had 

 made, and the wound I had inflicted on the ani- 

 mal. * In that case,' said Mr. H., ' it cannot 

 escape ; we must immediately go in search of it ; ' 

 and instantly summoning Caesar (a black servant), 

 he told him to get the guns ready, and to bring 

 two of his fellows with him. ' If you choose to 

 assist us in finishing the adventure you have 

 begun, and to have a second encounter with your 

 novel antagonist, we shall shew you some of the 

 best and most dangerous sport our country af- 

 fords.' I protested that nothing was farther 

 from my intention than staying behind, and 

 added, that had not my shot been expended, we 

 should not have parted on so easy terms. * In 

 general,' said he, * it is very dangerous to attack 



