sped, hastily closing the
window. A little captive monkey whined pitifully.

The massive creature, distracted by the sound, paused, head up,
forked tongue darting in and out of the open jaws, for the Regal
Python has no ears, but hears with its tongue. That delicate nerve
center registers sounds by vibration, and when a python is eager to
listen, it extends its black, forked tongue.

"Oh, will it go into the trap?" breathed Piang. The boar, watching
its fate, squealed, and the python advanced. Missing the easy lane,
it approached the cage from the side, and tried to batter it down
with its powerful head. Failing in this, it attempted to slip over
the fence, but the pickets had been sharpened to prevent this, and
finally it discovered the opening.

Seeming to disapprove of the symmetrical structure, it hesitated to
thrust its enormous length into the strange-looking thing. The Moros
were fearful lest the creature escape and continue to overshadow their
barrio. Once the python seemed about to retreat, but at that moment
the boar struggled so desperately that the python's natural instinct
prevailed, and without a moment's hesitation, it writhed into the lane,
past the first loop, past the second, until it reached the cage.

"Now, Piang, now!" softly whispered Kali. Calculating the distance,
Piang jerked the ratan cable, and the noose tightened around the
snake's throat.

In a moment the fence was lashed to pieces, and the pickets were flying
about like so many chips, as the serpent fought and struggled. Piang
and his helpers secured the cable to a post and rushed into the
campong. Catching hold of the other cables, they pulled them tighter
and tighter until the snake was unable to move.

The clouds were heavy and the moon shone fitfully.

"Torches!" yelled Kali, and the women scurried about in search
of them. Piang and Tooloowee cautiously approached the monster's
head, holding on a stick some cotton soaked with poison. Savagely
the python bit at the extended stick, and the cotton caught on the
long recurved teeth. Try as it would, it could not get rid of its
mouthful. The Moros congratulated themselves, thinking the danger
past, little knowing what the fatal consequences would be. Under the
stimulus of the poison the python began to expand, until the loops
of ratan creaked and snapped. The snake did not plunge or struggle,
but quietly, steadily pulled. That python broke green ratan thongs
half an inch in diameter