288 SNAKES. 



hundreds by a single blow to each, while hundreds more 

 were saving themselves by a quick return to their den. 



While counting the five or six hundred slain, and holding 

 another council of war on the battle-field, a rattle was heard 

 of one which in the death-struggle had escaped over a ledge 

 instead of into its cave. With a forked stick a man 

 approached that misguided reptile and held down its head, 

 while another brave expert seized it by the neck so close to 

 its head that it could not turn and bite him. 



It was a very large snake, and young Catlin, inspired by 

 the sudden thought, exclaimed, ' Tie a powder-horn to its 

 tail and fasten a slow fuse to it, and let it go back into its 

 den.' 



' George, you are the best hunter in the Valley of 

 Ocquago ! ' cried the man who held the snake ; and forth- 

 with the plan v/as agreed upon. 



The largest powder-horn in the party was filled to the 

 brim from the other horns, and tied to the snake's tail by a 

 string of several feet long ; and to the horn was fixed a slow 

 fuse of about a yard in length, made of wetted, twisted 

 tow, in which gunpowder was rolled. This accomplished 

 while the reptile was still firmly held, it was then set free 

 close to the mouth of its den, the whole party speedily 

 escaping to a safe distance. 



Listening, they heard the horn rattling over the rocky 

 floor as the snake was carrying it home into the midst of its 

 comrades, when, after the silence of a minute or so, an 

 explosion like a clap of thunder shook the ground on which 

 they stood, and blue streams issued forth between the 

 crevices around the den, and a thick volume from its mouth. 



