"Well, it's a beastly place, as I said before. And talking about water,
that's the worst of this country--you always have either not enough or
else too much of it. All the same, I'm glad to hear we shall soon have
some to dilute our grog with tonight. This rattling over stones is dry
and throaty work, and the water in your leathern thing must have touched
boiling point by now. What's the row?"

The last came in a quick, startled tone. Renshaw had suddenly slid from
his saddle, and was picking up some of the large stones which lay in
such plentiful profusion. As he arose from this occupation a great
rolling, writhing shape became apparent upon a sandspit barely a dozen
yards off. Up went the hideous head into the air, waving to and fro
above the great heaving coil, and the cruel eyes scintillated with a
baleful fire. The horses backed and shied in alarm, snorting violently.
Shorter and shorter became the movements of the head, and the forking
tongue protruded as the formidable reptile emitted a bloodcurdling hiss.
Maurice Sellon felt himself shuddering with horror and repulsion as he
gazed for the first time upon the glistening, check-patterned coils of a
large python.

Whizz! Whack! The stone launched from Renshaw's practised hand just
grazed the waving neck, knocking splinters from the rock behind. With
another appalling hiss, the creature, its head still aloft, began to
uncoil, as if with the object of rushing upon its antagonist.

Whack! With unerring aim, with the velocity of a catapult, the second
stone came full in contact with the muscular writhing neck. The
frightful head dropped as if by magic, and the great scaly coils heaved
and sprawled about on the sand in a dying agony.

"Broken his neck," said Renshaw, cautiously approaching the expiring
reptile, and letting into him with the remaining stones he held in his
left hand. "Python. Twelve feet if he's an inch."

"Good old shot! First-rate!" cried Maurice, enthusiastically. "I say,
old chap, I envy you. A great wriggling brute like that makes me sick
only to look at him. Pah!" he added, with a shudder.

"Look out for his mate," said Renshaw, remounting. "Pythons often go in
couples. And I am sorry to say there are a good many snakes about
here."

"Baugh! Bau--augh!"

The loud sonorous bark echoed forth in startling suddenness among the
overhanging cliffs. But it didn't seem to come from high overhead. It
sounded almost in their