we went to sleep. Numerous other trees and masses of wood, some of
considerable size, floated around us on either hand. The banks were
further off than I had expected to find them. True, pressing his head
against me, looked up affectionately in my face, as much as to ask,
"What are we to do next, master?" It was a question I was puzzled to
answer. I had to call loudly to Duppo to arouse him. After looking
about for some time, I was convinced that the tree had been drifted into
the main stream. On and on it floated. I began to feel very hungry; as
did my companions. We were better off than we should have been at sea
on a raft, because we could, by scrambling down the branches, quench our
thirst. I brought some water up in my cap for True, as I was afraid of
letting him go down, lest he should be washed off. I was holding it for
him to drink, when Duppo pointed, with an expression of terror in his
countenance, to the upper end of the tree, and there I saw, working its
way towards us along the branches, a huge serpent, which had probably
remained concealed in some hollow, or among the forked boughs, during
the night. A second glance convinced me that it was a boa. To escape
from it was impossible. If we should attempt to swim to the other trees
it might follow us, or we might be snapped up by alligators on our way.
I might kill it, but if I missed, it would certainly seize one of us.
It stopped, and seemed to be watching us. Its eye was fixed on True,
who showed none of his usual bravery. Instinct probably told him the
power of his antagonist. Instead of rushing forward as he would
probably have done even had a jaguar appeared, he kept crouching down by
my side. Unacquainted with the habits of the boa, I could not tell
whether it might not spring upon us. I knelt down on the tree and
lifted my rifle; I did not, however, wish to fire till it was near
enough to receive the full charge in its body. Again it advanced along
the boughs. It was within five yards of us. I fired, aiming at its
head. As the smoke cleared away, I saw the huge body twisting and
turning violently, the tail circling the branch on which it was
crawling. Duppo uttered a shout of triumph, and, rushing forward with a
paddle which he had saved from the canoe, dealt the already mangled head
numberless blows with all his might. The creature's struggles were at
length over.

Pointing to the boa, Duppo now made signs that we should not b