246 IN THE INDIAN JUNGLE. 



and, in spite of the merciless belabouring it got with 

 great sticks, it had nearly reached its shelter when 



S g rushed forward and seizing it by the tail, 



which he placed over his shoulder, and turning his 

 face downhill, began hauling away as if at a great 

 cable. More than half its body was now off the 

 ground, so that the creature could not obtain a 



purchase, yet it struggled hard and S g swayed 



and shook with each movement of its great body, 

 and I expected momentarily to see him knocked 

 to the ground or in the coils of the gigantic brute. 

 But his football experience stood him in good stead, 

 and clinging to the tail of the serpent in regular 

 Rugby style he struggled onwards, pulling the 

 snake after him. A native now rushed up and split 

 open its head with a battle-axe, and a fourth shot 

 finished the fight. 



Before skinning, it measured twelve feet two 

 inches in length, and was about as thick round 

 as the small of a man's thigh. We removed the 

 skin, thinking to send it home to Cooper's Hill to 

 show the fellows there what was expected of 

 Foresters in India, but before morning there was 

 but little of it left, for the ants having found their 

 way up had played havoc with the whole carcase. 



