230 ADVENTURE WITH A COBRA DI CAPELLO. 



that was my nightmate was of a nature to be quickened 

 into deadly activity by any movement of mine, I felt the 

 pressing necessity of lying quite still. So that, when I 

 at last awoke, and felt that as I lay, with my face towards 

 the roof, there was a thick, heavy, cold, creeping thing 

 upon my breast, I neither moved or uttered a sound. In 

 this case, at least, danger put an edge to all my faculties, 

 and ere I could wink my eyes, I was broad awake and 

 aware that, coiling itself into a circle of twists, an enor- 

 mous serpent was on my breast. The whole of my chest, 



\ 

 and even the pit of my stomach, were covered with the 



chilly folds of the reptile. Where are the words for the 

 thoughts of such a moment ? It was evident, the loath- 

 some creature had at length settled itself to sleep. This 

 was a state of affairs for which I should have felt thankful, 

 but for the all-absorbing feeling of horror. The serpent 

 had become quite still, and the pressure seemed to burn 

 into my breast. The indescribable odor which exhaled 

 from its body, and pervaded the whole air, so overwhelmed 

 me, that it was only by a mighty effort of self-command, 

 that I preserved myself from shrieking. As it was, a 

 cold sweat burst from every pore, and a kind of palsy of 

 terror began to agitate my limbs. 



At this crisis, a wall-lizard, or a large beetle, fell from 

 the ceiling upon my left arm, which lay at my side. The 

 snake slowly raised its head, with a low hiss, and then, 



