IC8 THE BLACK SNAKE. 



inflated, and now and then convulsed with strong 

 undulations rapidly following each other. Their 

 eyes appeared on fire, and ready to start out of their 

 heads. At one time the conflict seemed decided ; 

 the water-snake bent itself into great folds, and by 

 that operation rendered the other more than com- 

 monly outstretched ; the next minute the new strug- 

 gles of the black one gained an unexpected supe- 

 riority, it acquired two great folds likewise, which 

 necessarily extended the body of its adversary in 

 proportion as it had contracted its own. These ef- 

 forts were alternate, victory seemed doubtful, in- 

 clining sometimes to one side, sometimes to the 

 other; until at last the stalk to which the black 

 snake was fastened, suddenly gave way, and, in 

 consequence of this accident, they both plunged 

 into the ditch. The water did not extinguish their 

 vindictive rage, for by their agitations I could still 

 trace, though I could not distinguish, their attacks. 

 They soon re-appeared on the surface, twisted toge- 

 ther, as in their first onset: but the black snake 

 seemed to retain its wonted superiority j for its head 

 was exactly fixed above that of the other, which it 

 incessantly pressed down under the water, until it 

 was stifled, and sunk. The victor no sooner per- 

 ceived its enemy incapable of further resistance 

 than, abandoning it to the current, it returned to 

 the shore and disappeared*." 



* Hector St. John, 244.. 



