ENCOUNTER WITH A BOA CONSTRICTOR. 17 



and the Shikaree having bolted with the Cap- 

 tain's rifle, he also was compelled to run, and 

 had just time to climb up into a tree when his 

 pursuer arrived at its foot. Captain Croker lost 

 no time in reloading, but to his dismay found 

 that the Shikaree had carried off all his balls ; 

 luckily, however, he had plenty of shot, and 

 having reloaded, saw that one of the Boa's eyes 

 was knocked out ; nevertheless the animal ap- 

 peared quite aware of his proximity, having 

 seemingly followed him by the scent. By this 

 time the Boa was twining itself round the bole 

 of the tree in order to ascend it, when Captain 

 C. fired one barrel into its remaining eye, at a 

 distance of only about ten feet ; the creature at 

 once fell back, but again and again renewed its 

 efforts to reach him, though without effect, and 

 Captain Croker continued to fire at it till life 

 appeared to be extinct ; though for a consider- 

 able time it continued to writhe and lash the 

 bushes with its tail, the vast muscular power of 

 which seemed quite astonishing. At length. 

 Captain Croker's firing having ceased, the 

 Shikaree returned, accompanied by a number of 

 villagers, who were both delighted and aston- 

 ished at beholding the dead Boa, in whose 



VOL. II. 2 



