192 JUNGLE PEACE 



dread plaque, this reptilian mirage, silent and 

 motionless, rested the head. I knew it was 

 triangular and flattened, because I had dissected 

 such heads in times past, but now my senses 

 revealed to me only an irregularity in the con- 

 tour, a central focus in this jungle mat, the un- 

 raveling of which spelt death. 



It was a big snake, seven or eight feet long, 

 and heavy bodied by no means a one-man job. 

 Again we carefully examined the screw-eyes on 

 the pole, and each looked behind for a possible 

 line of escape. 



I quickly formed my method of attack. Nu- 

 pee was sent to cut forked sticks, but his en- 

 thusiasm at having work to do away from the 

 scene of immediate conflict was so sincere that 

 he vanished altogether and returned with the 

 sticks only when our shouts announced the end 

 of the struggle. An Indian will smilingly 

 undergo any physical hardship, and he will face 

 any creature in the jungle, except the bush- 

 master. 



We approached from three sides, bringing 

 snake-pole, free noose and gun to bear. Slowly 

 the noose on the pole pushed nearer and nearer. 

 I had no idea how he would react at the attack, 



