ADVENTURE WITH A SNAKE. 



three old buffaloes ; they were all enormous old bul^s, and one of 

 them carried a most splendid head. The lions had cleaned out 

 all his enl AJs : their spool was immense. Having taken some 

 ouffalo breast and liver for breakfast, I dispatched Ruyter to the 

 wagons to call the natives to remove the carcases, while I and 

 Kleinboy held through the hills to see what game might be in the 

 next glen which contained water. On our way thither we started 

 a fine old buck koodo, which I shot, putting both barrels into him 

 at one hundred yards. . As I was examining the spoor of the game 

 by the fountain, I suddenly detected an enormous old rock-snake 

 stealing in beneath a mass of rock beside me. He was truly an 

 enormous snake, and, having never before dealt with this species 

 of game, I did not exactly know how to set about capturing him. 

 Being very anxious to preserve his skin entire, and not wishing 

 to have recourse to my rifle, I cut a stout and tough stick about 

 eight feet long, and having lightened myself of my shooting-belt, 

 I commenced the attack. Seizing him by the tail, I tried to get 

 him out of his place of refuge ; but I hau',ed in vain ; he only 

 drew his large folds firmer together ; I could not move him. At 

 length I got a rheim round one of his folds about the middle of 

 his body, and Kleinboy and I commenced hauling away in good 

 earnest. 



The snake, finding the ground too hot for him. relaxed his coils, 

 and, suddenly bringing round his head to the front, he sprang out 

 at us like an arrow, with his immense arid hideous mouth opened 

 to its largest dimensions, and before I could get out of his way he 

 was clean out of his hole, and made a second spring, throwing 

 himself forward about eight or ten feet, and snapping his horrid 

 fangs within a foot of my naked legs. I sprang out of his way, 

 and, getting a hold of the green bough I had cut, returned to the 

 charge. The snake now glided along at top speed : he knew the 

 ground well, and was making for a mass of broken rocks, where 

 he would have been beyond my reach, but before he could gain 

 this place of refuge I caught him two or three tremendous whacks 

 on tne head. He, however, held on, and gained a pool of muddy 

 water, which he was rapidly crossing, when I again belabored 



