CHAPTER XIII 



The Rnd 



A 



COBRA was coiled in 

 the sunshine on the 

 dusty plain, each curve making 

 a point of light : near by lay 

 a ghostly replica of himself, a 

 transparent tissue reproducing 

 every scale and every marking of his body ; 

 and now, resplendent in a new coat of mail, at 

 ease after long days of inconvenience, with 

 poison glands full and stomach empty, the 

 snake awaited what the future should bring. 

 The birds twittered 

 overhead and the 

 rays of the sun 

 struck with agree- 

 able warmth ; and 

 then a hot wind 



