out between the widely parted fangs, as the head, waving to and fro was
suddenly drawn back as if to strike. And the man had been actually
standing upon the hidden coils of this huge and terrible reptile.

For a moment Blachland stood as one petrified, as well he might be by
the awfulness and suddenness of this blasting apparition. Then,
instinctively, he drew his revolver, as being more sure at close
quarters than the rifle, the while stepping back cautiously, and keeping
his face turned to the reptile.

The fury of the latter seemed in no wise to diminish. Hissing
hideously, its eyes glared, as more and more of its horrible length rose
into view, and the further floor of the cave heaved and trembled with
the still concealed coils.

Blachland had now drawn back as far as he could, short of clambering out
of the place altogether, and, his blood all curdling with horror and
dread, he stood watching the monster with a kind of fell fascination.
He dared not fire. The cavernous echoes of the report would go booming
forth over all the land so to say, and bring an entire hornet's nest
about his ears from which there would be no escape. The King's Snake!
He recalled the utter derision wherewith he had received Sybrandt's
statement on the subject--and yet it was only too fearfully true. A
black _imamba_, Sybrandt had said, and this was one, and an enormous one
at that. He knew, moreover, that this species was the most deadly and
ferocious of serpents. No, he would stay here no longer--not another
moment. Better meet death a hundred times in the ordinary way at the
hand of enemies in the open, than remain here, shut up in a charnel
house, with this awful black fiend.

Acting on this idea, he began to feel for a firm hold of the stone
parapet, intending to spring out quickly and at all risks, but still
keeping his eyes on the reptile. It, strange to say, still remained
where it was, just behind the skeleton of the King, and though still
hissing furiously, made no movement forward to attack him. Encouraged
by this, he got a firm grip on the topmost stone, and hoisted himself
carefully up. Then he let himself down again. For simultaneously with
the appearance of his head above the stones, a shout had broken forth
from beneath, then another and another. His presence there had been
discovered. Well, he had a choice of two deaths, both equally horrible.
Was there not a third, however, which was less so? There was.