252 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



time of danger, and thus for ever spoil his skin. On tak- 

 ing their cutlasses from them, if I might judge from their 

 physiognomy, they seemed to consider it as a most in- 

 tolerable act of tyranny in me. Probably nothing kept 

 them from bolting, but the consolation that I was to be be- 

 twixt them and the snake. Indeed, my own heart, in spite 

 of all I could do, beat quicker than usual ; and I felt those 

 sensations which one has on board a merchant-vessel in 

 war time, when the captain orders all hands on deck to 

 prepare for action, while a strange vessel is coming down 

 upon us under suspicious colours. 



We went slowly on in silence, without moving our arms 

 or heads, in order to prevent all alarm as much as possible, 

 lest the snake should glide off, or attack us in self-defence. 

 I carried the lance perpendicularly before me, with the 

 point about a foot from the ground. The snake had not 

 moved ; and on getting up to him, I struck him with the 

 lance on the near side, just behind the neck, and pinned 

 him to the ground. That moment, the negro next to me 

 seized the lance, and held it firm in its place, while I 

 dashed head foremost into the den to grapple with the 

 snake, and to get hold of his tail before he could do any 

 mischief. 



On pinning him to the ground with the lance, he gave a 

 tremendous loud hiss, and the little dog ran away, howling 

 as he went. We had a sharp fray in the den, the rotten 

 sticks flying on all sides, and each party struggling for 

 superiority. I called out to the second negro to throw 

 himself upon me, as I found I was not heavy enough. He 

 did so, and the additional weight was of great service. I 

 had now got firm hold of his tail ; and after a violent 

 struggle or two, he gave in, finding himself overpowered. 

 This was the moment to secure him. So, while the first 

 negro continued to hold the lance firm to the ground, and 



