62 MAY 



seen you for an age ! " and promptly fell upon his 

 shoulder, putting his arms round his neck in the 

 chummery's usual playful way. When his hands 

 came in contact with the cold snake, he leapt about 

 3 feet in the air, and with lurid language, inquired 

 what he had got there. The Ancient explained, 

 but he was unable to repeat to us the remarks 

 made to him, and he brought his boa back, well 

 pleased with the result of his little trick. 



About this time the Ancient had his own little 

 cobra episode all to himself. He had often 

 wondered how and why the youngest pigeons so 

 frequently disappeared during the night ; and got 

 up very early one morning to try and find out. 

 The first thing that met his eyes was a large cobra 

 with his head through the wire netting, making 

 frantic efforts to get through ; which the pigeon he 

 had swallowed effectually prevented him from 

 accomplishing. Here was an opportunity not to 

 be missed ! Indeed it would have been very 

 difficult to miss it, with the stout stick he had in 

 his hand ; the situation was made the most of, and 

 the cobra was added to the Ancient's bag. 



May is the time of the mango harvest. This is 



