BE LIKE RI. 59 



Evidently the snake had entered 

 through a hole of four or five inches 

 square by which the water escaped, and 

 he might at any moment retreat by the 

 same way ; so I shouted for a gun and a 

 big stick, and presently Kistnama, one of 

 my Lascars, rushed in with a gun and 

 two stout staves. One barrel was 

 loaded, and I instantly fired at the head ; 

 but either the snake moved or the light 

 deceived me, and he reared himself up 

 at us higher than our heads. Then we 

 belaboured him with all our strength, 

 and in a second or two beat him down, 

 so that he fell across the low wall which 

 enclosed the bathing-place ; in that posi- 

 tion our blows broke the snake's spine, 

 so that he could not raise himself again, 

 and we soon finished him. Dragged out- 



