THE LAST MOMENTS 177 



snake which was panting, exciting work and 

 Nous came and lay down close to my chair, in a 

 comfortable attitude, as if he were going to sleep. 

 In a minute or two I heard Klinker growling as if 

 he were talking in his sleep, and I noticed him 

 rubbing his chin up and down on the earth. I 

 thought he was playing, and went over to look at 

 him. He did not get up, and then I saw something 

 was the matter. 



" He is dying ! he has been bitten," I said. 



"Yes," said the coolie, "he is dying." 



I then looked at Nous. He had pushed his 

 nose over to the soft earth, as if he were trying to 

 get into it, and lay there. My heart stood still. 



" And Nous ! dear Nous ? " 



"Yes," said the coolie, "both are dying." 



" Call the door-keeper, call everyone," I shrieked. 

 " Oh ! what can be done ? " 



Brandy ! up to the house I hurried, while the 

 tears blurred my eyes. Oh ! the distance it was 

 interminable. Brandy and a spoon I brought. By 

 then there were thirty people assembled. Brandy 

 was poured into each dog's mouth, but it was too 

 late. They were both just dead, painlessly it 



