THE SEA-SERPENT. 
35 
wide. Up came the snake over the sand ; the 
bathing-house there was just in his course. What 
can the strength of the serpent withstand ? On he 
came, with resistless force, over the house, the 
mother and child. On, right on, the Saurian 
sped ; — what cared he for their outcries wild ? for 
the mother and infant crushed and dead ? On, right 
on, he scrambled along, up the bank, and over the 
rocks. The boat held on, for the rope was strong ; 
the man on the keel got some pretty hard knocks, 
as he tumbled off and rolled in the sand, and 
thanked his stars he was safe on land. On flew 
the snake up to the door of the house where so 
many had talked of him ; but who ever thought or 
dreamed before that he ’d really come, all cold 
and grim, as then he came crashing along, o’er 
the piazza, and into the hall, into the midst of the 
jolly throng ? Untasted they let their goblets fall ; 
uprose a shriek of horror then ; the serpent roared, 
and hissed, and growled, while some beaux and 
belles, say eight or ten, who all the morning had 
merrily bowled in the alleys, that moment were 
