194 JUNGLE PEACE 



this new disturbing thing, he chose dignifiedly 

 to withdraw. 



I crept quickly along on one side and with 

 the gun-barrel slightly deflected his course so 

 that he was headed toward an open space, free 

 from brush and bush-ropes. Here the pole- 

 man awaited him, the noose spread and sway- 

 ing a few inches from the leaves. Steadily the 

 snake held to his course, and without sensing 

 any danger pushed his head cleanly into the 

 circle of cord. A sudden snap of the taut line 

 and pandemonium began. The snake lashed 

 and curled and whipped up a whirlpool of debris, 

 while one of us held grimly on to the noose and 

 the rest tried to disentangle the whirling coils 

 and make certain of a tight grip close behind the 

 head, praying for the screw-eyes to hold fast. 

 Even with the scant inch of neck ahead of the 

 noose, the head had such play that I had to pin 

 it down with the gun-barrel before we dared 

 seize it. When our fingers gained their safe 

 hold and pressed, the great mouth opened wide, 

 a gaping expanse of snowy white tissue, and 

 the inch-long fangs appeared erect, each draped 

 under the folds of its sheath like a rapier out- 

 lined beneath a courtier's cloak. 



