magnify when they're a bit scared."

"But it is a monstrously huge serpent," said Brazier, shading his eyes,
as he watched the reptile.

"Yes, sir, and as nigh as one can judge, going round his loops and
rings, a good five-and-twenty foot, and as big round as my thigh."

"We can't stay here, then!" cried Rob excitedly.

"Don't see why not, sir. He hasn't come after us, only to take care of
himself; and I'm beginning to think it's a bad sign."

"That it does mean to attack us?" said Brazier.

"Not it, sir. I mean a bad sign about the flood, for somehow, stupid as
animals seem, they have a sort of idea of when danger's coming, and try
to get out of its way. I should say that before long the waters will be
all up over where we are, and that it's our duty to get up a bit, too,
and take enough food to last till the flood's gone down."

"And how long will that be?" Rob asked.

"Ah! that's what I can't say, sir. Let's get together all we can, and
I'm sorry to say it ain't very much, for we punished the provisions
terribly last night."

"Yes, we are low," said Brazier thoughtfully.

"There's some nuts on that tree where the lion is, so we'll take to
that," said the old sailor thoughtfully. "He'll have to turn out and
take to another, or behave himself. Now what's to be done beside? We
can't get any fire if the flood rises much, and for certain we can't
catch any fish with the river like this. What do you say to trying to
shoot the big boa with your bow and arrows?"

"What?" cried Rob, with a look of disgust.

"Oh! he's not bad eating, my lad. The Indians feast on 'em sometimes,
cutting them up into good stout lumps, and it isn't so much unlike eel."

"What, have you tasted it?"

"Oh yes, sir; there's precious few things used for food when men are
hungry that I haven't had a taste of in my time."

Just then Mr Brazier pointed to the place where they kept their fire,
and over which the water was now lapping and bearing off the soft grey
ashes, which began to eddy and swim round the little whirlpools formed
by the swift current, before the light deposit from the fire was swept
right away.

By this time, as Rob kept his eyes upon it, the great serpent had
gradually settled itself down upon one of the far-spreading horizontal
boughs of the huge monarch, which, growing upon the edge of the forest,
found ample space for its spreading branches, instead of being kept back
on all sides by fellow-trees, and s