WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 



suspected that the fugitive would be hiding among the 

 boxes and cages, which were all mixed up under the glass 

 cases containing snakes, i. e. ranged along each side of the 

 room. I placed the men at all corners of the room, and 

 one was told off to pull out the empty boxes one by one 

 with a long-handled hook, each man being on his knees 

 so as to catch sight of the snake, if there. After a few 

 boxes had been moved, sure enough there he, or she, was 

 coiled up between two boxes. I immediately told my son 

 Edward to shoot it, and he was obliged to lie down in 

 order to get a shot at it. I am thankful to say the 

 shot took effect and released all present from a most 

 embarrassing position. 



276 



