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A RUN FROM A DANGEROUS SNAKE. 39 
I saw at the same moment an enormous black shining 
snake (a species of naja), one of the most dangerous 
species. I knew he was coming in our direction and be- 
longed to that species that when bullied raises itself 
erect and wants to fight. He was a terribly big fellow, 
one of the largest I had ever seen ; he looked loathsome 
and horrid; I could see distinctly his triangular head. 
I fired in haste, hoping to break his spine, but missed 
the reptile, and immediately he erected himself to a few 
feet in height and whistled in the most horrid man- 
ner, his tongue coming out sharp and pointed like an 
arrow. I fired again right into his head, and I do not 
know why, but I missed him again. Then the fellow 
gave a spring; I really do not know if he came toward 
me, for I fled panic-stricken, and when at a safe dis- 
tance reloaded my gun with small shot, and returned 
to the spot where I had shot at him. I spied something 
just getting out of a little rivulet. It was the very 
snake itself which had crossed the water, and before he 
was entirely out I fired and killed him, or rather I suc- 
ceeded in breaking his spine and making him helpless 
for attack or for running away. But he was not dead, 
and when I approached him he again gave a sharp whis- 
tle. I cut a branch of a tree for a stick to kill him with, 
and then examined his fangs: they were of enormous 
size, and almost an inch in length. 
This snake was about ten feet long. We left it on 
the spot, taking its head and tail with us, which we 
carefully packed in leaves, for we wanted to show to our 
fellows of the camp what a big snake we had killed. 
This species-of naja is the only one I have ever seen 
which could erect itself. 
