the snake, though it was not likely to attack us, might injure other
people or destroy some cattle, I took aim and fired; but I merely grazed
its head, for it was a small mark to hit with a carbine. The creature
then gave a hiss, as if it did not like such treatment, and whisking its
tail urged its float towards the bank.

"I say, Barry, the brute's coming towards us," cried Gerald. "I'll have
one more shot; and if I miss we'd better gallop off, for these snakes
move with fearful rapidity through the grass, and this one might catch
hold of us in a way we shouldn't like."

I was glad to find that Gerald was as cautious as he was brave; and
considering his advice good, I agreed to take to flight rather than risk
an encounter with the serpent on dry land. I might transfix it with my
lance, as Saint George did the dragon, but I had no wish to engage in
combat with the terrible beast.

While I was reloading my carbine Gerald fired. "Missed again!" he
shouted; "now let's gallop for it,--the brute's in earnest, and will
have us if he can!"

We turned our horses' heads, and digging our spurs into their flanks,
left the serpent, should it land, to search for us in vain.

After going some distance we pulled rein and looked back, but as we
could nowhere see it, we concluded that, not discovering us on the
shore, it had continued its voyage to wherever it was bound.

"I don't care for human foes, or for any wild animals, but these snakes
are my detestation," said Gerald. "The boa and anaconda, and the big
tree-snake, are bad enough; but there are others which, on account of
their bite, are still worse. There is one called the aques, seldom more
than eight or ten feet long, which is the most savage creature
imaginable; and its fangs are so deadly that a person seldom lives more
than a few hours after being bitten. Not only will the creature spring
out upon a passer-by, but it will follow him to a considerable distance,
and then fly at his throat and kill him,--unless he has a long stick to
defend himself. The Indians and blacks are, with good reason, mortally
afraid of the aques. I have often seen them, but never had a fight with
one; though I shouldn't care about it, provided I was armed with a long,
tough stick."

I confessed that I should not wish to make the near acquaintance of so
terrible a reptile; but, young as he was, Gerald had shot a jaguar and a
puma (on each occasion while quite alone), and several smal