142 AN EXCITING BUSINESS. 



tighter grew the ropes, when " crack " went one of them. 

 Still the strain was increased, until again " crack " — the 

 other had snapped also, leaving the snake in statu qyio. 



We were now at our wits' end as to how we should pro- 

 ceed to dislodge the creature without injuring its skin by 

 shooting into the hole. After a short consultation and an 

 inspection of the surrounding ground, we came to the con- 

 clusion that before resorting to this last resource there still 

 remained one chance. 



Situated on the other side of the den, and pretty close to 

 it, was the abrupt extremity of a small ravine. By counter- 

 mining from this we might be able to attack the place in 

 rear. We accordingly turned-to once more at our excavat- 

 ing operations, which were now more rapid and easy from 

 our having proper tools to work with. Our perseverance 

 was rewarded by finding that we had luckily hit off the 

 right direction from the ravine, and we had soon succeeded 

 in boring a hole large enough to be able to stir up the crea- 

 ture with a long stick. The snake, finding itself assailed 

 both in front and rear, and that its stronghold was becom- 

 ing too hot for it, now began to show symptoms of an in- 

 clination to quit it. I therefore, with one of the Goorkhas, 

 took up a position that commanded the front door of the 

 den, leaving the other two to watch the back. 



The business was now becoming decidedly exciting. My 

 jolly little companions were getting quite wild with delight, 

 and were carrying on a hurried altercation, in their own 

 peculiar dialect, as to which way the creature intended 

 making its exit. 



" He's coming out on this side," shouts one of them from 

 the ravine. " He's not going out on your side, for here's his 

 head coming our way," argues the lad beside me. " Why, 

 we can see his head here ! " comes the reply from the others, 

 half frantic with excitement. " Then there must be tivo of 

 them," exclaimed my fellow, jumping up in a transport of 

 glee at the idea. 



