corner to the
left something was lying and, above it, a dark object was moving
backwards and forwards.

"It is a big boa," Meinik said. "Now, master, do you take the two
torches in one hand, and have your knife ready in the other. If it
coils round you, cut through it at once. This is a good place for
fighting it, for there is nothing here for it to get its tail
round; and a boa cannot squeeze very hard, unless he does that."

Stanley, feeling that in a combat of this sort the Burman would be
perfectly at home, while he himself knew nothing about it, did as
he was told; determining to rush in, should it attack his follower.

"You can advance straight towards him, master. I will steal round.
He will be watching you, and I may get a cut at him, before he
notices me."

Illustration: The great snake moved his head higher and higher,
hissing angrily.

Stanley moved slowly forward. As he did so, the great snake moved
its head higher and higher, hissing angrily, with its eyes fixed on
the torches. Stanley did not take his gaze from it; but advanced,
grasping his knife. He knew that the boa's bite was harmless, and
that it was only its embrace that was to be feared.

He was within some eight feet of the reptile, when there was a
spring. The snake's head disappeared and, in a moment, it was
writhing, twisting, and lashing its tail so quickly that his eyes
could hardly follow its contortions.

"Stand back, master," Meinik shouted. "If its tail strikes you, it
might do you an injury. It is harmless, otherwise. I have cut its
head off."

Stanley stepped back a pace or two, and stood gazing in awe at the
tremendous writhing of the headless snake.

"It is a monster, Meinik," he said.

"It is a big snake, master. Indeed, I should say that it must be
about forty feet long, and it is as thick as my body. It would be
more than a match for a tiger."

"Well, I hope there are not many more of them about, Meinik."

"That depends, master. It may have its mate, but it is more likely
there will be no other. It would eat any smaller ones of its own
kind, of course; but there may be some small poisonous ones about."

As the writhing of the snake ceased, Stanley looked round and saw a
narrow doorway, in the corner opposite that in which it had been
lying.

"Here is a passage, Meinik. Let us see where it goes to."

Meinik had, by this time, lighted two more torches.

"The more light the better," he said, "when you are looking