82 CRUSOE'S ISLAND. 



the air. The head, with cruel white fangs and red 

 mouth, seemed aimed directly at me, and I drew 

 back in alarm, fearing the rest of the serpent would 

 follow. 



Directly in front of the horrible mouth, which was 

 opened to its widest capacity, sat a small and inoffen- 

 sive little agouti. It is somewhat like a rabbit in shape, 

 but brown like a muskrat, and about as big as a wood- 

 chuck. The serpent's head hung dangling within a 

 foot or so of the trembling animal, which seemed un- 

 able to stir from the spot. It did not notice my near 

 presence either, nor did the serpent seem to, they were 

 so absorbed, the one in the capture of its prey, and 

 the other as though fascinated by the glittering eyes, 

 which flashed like diamonds. 



But I could not endure the thought of the little 

 creature going down into that cavernous maw, and, 

 quickly sighting my gun at a spot between the boa's 

 eyes, I fired. There was a great commotion, then the 

 bamboos rattled as though they had been struck by a 

 hurricane, and tliere was a thrashing in the grass as if 

 some one was beating it with the branch of a tree. 

 Through the smoke, however, I saw enough to con- 

 vince me that my aim had been true, for the great 

 body hung rather limp, and the head dangled almost 

 straight down. 



Meanwhile the little agouti had recovered his 

 senses, and skipped away, I suppose, for I did not see 

 him after ; he didn't even stop to thank me for his 

 rescue from a living grave. I was on the point of going 

 into the bamboo thicket to draw out the monster. 



