BOA CRUSHING A ROEBUCK. 177 



were only two folds of the heaviest part of 

 the snake's body fairly round the body of the 

 deer, just behind the shoulders; one fold over 

 the other to increase the weight and power 

 concentrated upon one spot. The head and 

 neck of the boa passed under the neck of 

 the deer, and rising high on the other side, 

 held fast by the teeth upon the back of the 

 deer's head. The tail had two turns round 

 a young tree close by. 



So furiously was the boa engaged with his 

 prey, that he never remarked the observers ; 

 it is true they were well concealed by the 

 underwood, but no doubt, if he had not been 

 so well occupied he would have been aware 

 of their presence, and glided off. On a pro- 

 position to pitch into the snake and save the 

 deer, the Indian answered by walking very 

 gently off and signing to the other to follow 

 him. 



On regaining the horses, the Indian re- 

 marked that it would have been madness to 

 have fought such a large, irritated brute like 

 that, as one or other of them would most 

 likely have got such a squeeze he would not 

 soon forget. This was about seven o'clock 

 in the morning ; so, after marking the trees 

 carefully with the machetes, the party went 



