THE BLACK SNAKE. lOj 



they mutually tried with open jaws to lacerate each 

 other. What a fell aspect did they present ! Then- 

 heads were compressed to a very small size, their 

 eyes flashed fire ; and, after this conflict had lasted 

 about five minutes, the second found means to dis- 

 engage itself from the first, and hurried toward the 

 ditch. Its antagonist instantly assumed a new pos- 

 ture, and half creeping, half erect, with a majes- 

 tic mien, overtook and attacked the other again, 

 which placed itself in a similar attitude, and pre- 

 pared to resist. The scene was uncommon, and 

 beautiful, for thus opposed they fought with their 

 jaws, biting each other with the utmost rage ; but, 

 notwithstanding this appearance of mutual courage 

 and fury, the water snake still seemed desirous of 

 retreating towards the ditch, its natural element. 

 This was no sooner perceived by the keen-eyed 

 black one than, twisting its tail twice round a stalk 

 of hemp, and seizing its adversary by the throat, 

 not by means of its jaw r s, but by twisting its own 

 neck twice round that of the water snake, he pulled 

 it back from the ditch. To prevent a defeat, the 

 latter took hold likewise of a stalk on the bank, and , 

 by the acquisition of that point of resistance, be- 

 came a match for his fierce antagonist. Strange wa s 

 this to behold: two great snakes strongly adhering 

 to the ground, mutually fastened together by mean s 

 of the writhings which lashed them to each other, 

 and stretched at their full length, they pulled, bu t 

 pulled in vain ; and, in the moments of greatest ex - 

 ertion,that part of their bodies which was entwinec I 

 seemed extremely small, while the rest appe; 



